The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has long been a place where music history is debated as much as it’s celebrated.
This week, that debate resurfaced — not over who should get in next, but over what “rock and roll” really means.
Gene Simmons, bassist for KISS, said on the Legends N Leaders podcast that he doesn’t believe hip-hop belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His comments quickly drew a response from Chuck D, the Public Enemy frontman and one of rap’s most influential voices.
What Counts as Rock?
Simmons, 76, argued that rap and hip-hop are primarily spoken-word art forms, distinct from what he considers rock music.
Music genres exist for a reason, he said, and while he respects hip-hop, he sees it as separate. He questioned why bands such as Iron Maiden have not been inducted while hip-hop pioneers like Grandmaster Flash have.
He also referenced a past exchange with Ice Cube, who had suggested that hip-hop carries the “spirit” of rock and roll — an argument Simmons appeared unconvinced by.
For Simmons, the issue isn’t about quality or popularity. It’s about categorization.
Chuck D’s Response
Chuck D, 65, responded on social media, acknowledging that Simmons’ opinion “carries major weight.”
But he offered a broader view of the Hall’s mission.
“It is the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame,” he wrote, suggesting that even if some debate whether rap is strictly “rock,” it undeniably represents the “roll.”
He added that rock splintered into many directions starting in the 1960s, evolving and expanding in ways that make rigid definitions difficult.
For Chuck D, the Hall reflects a cultural movement as much as a musical structure.
A Conversation About Roots
The discussion also touched on race and history.
Simmons addressed criticism over his use of the word “ghetto,” explaining that the term has Jewish origins and denying any racist intent.
He also emphasized that rock and roll owes its roots to Black music — a point widely recognized by historians — and noted that hip-hop, too, emerges from that same lineage.
“Rock ’n’ roll owes everything to Black music,” he said, adding that most major American music forms trace back to Black artists and traditions.
Why This Debate Keeps Returning
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has been wrestling with genre boundaries for decades.
As hip-hop, R&B, pop, and even electronic acts have entered the institution, the definition of “rock” has stretched. Some see that as necessary evolution. Others see it as dilution.
At the heart of the debate is a larger question: Is rock and roll a sound, a structure, or a spirit?
For many fans, the Hall represents more than a building in Cleveland. It’s a symbol of what — and who — gets recognized as foundational to American music.
Music rarely fits neatly into boxes. It borrows, blends, and reinvents itself across generations.
The exchange between Simmons and Chuck D isn’t just about induction lists. It’s about how we define cultural legacy — and who gets to decide.
