By Elahe Izadi
The Washington Post
Tupac has made history as the first ever solo hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The slain rapper joins Pearl Jam, Journey, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra and Joan Baez as performers who will join the institution this year, the rock hall foundation announced Tuesday.
Musicians who have been nominated multiple times were, by and large, snubbed in favor of first-timers. With the exception of Yes, all of the inductees were new to the ballot. To be eligible, nominees had to release their first album or single at least 25 years ago. The ballots were distributed in October, and sent to more than 900 musical artists, historians and people in the industry — including all living inductees — who are able to vote.
Chic has appeared on the ballot 11 times, including this year, but failed to make the cut. But band co-founder Nile Rodgers, a writer-producer who has worked with everyone from Diana Ross to David Bowie, will received the rock hall’s musical excellence award this year.
Tupac’s inclusion will likely be controversial among rock purists who question whether hip-hop musicians qualify for the rock hall. Such picks have drawn criticism in the past. N.W.A’s 2016 induction inspired a back-and-forth public argument with Kiss’ Gene Simmons, whose comment to Rolling Stone that he was “looking forward to the death of rap” was alluded to during the rap group’s induction speech.
“(I) respect N.W.A,” Simmons responded to the criticism. “But when Led Zep gets into Rap Hall of Fame, I will agree with your point.”
“Who stole the soul?” Ice Cube responded. “Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Chubby Checker help invent Rock ‘n’ Roll. We invent it. Y’all reprint it.”
In recent years, the rock hall foundation has increasingly found rap artists to be worthy of induction. Four other hip-hop acts have been inducted into the rock hall of fame: Public Enemy in 2013; the Beastie Boys in 2012; Run-DMC in 2009; and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 2007.
And Ice Cube’s 2016 induction speech, in which he loosely defines rock as not a “style of music” but “a spirit,” is prominently featured on the rock hall’s website, where the nomination process is explained.
“Besides demonstrating unquestionable musical excellence and talent,” according to the rock hall, “inductees will have had a significant impact on the development, evolution and preservation of rock & roll.”
The public was also able to participate in this year’s selection of inductees. One ballot was entered on behalf of fans, who made their picks through an online poll. Journey received the most votes, followed by Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, Pearl Jam and the Cars.
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