Over the weekend, history was made as Kendrick Lamar inducted legendary rap group, N.W.A, into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. Detailing what each member brought to the group, as well as what the group gave him, Lamar outlined why it is about time these pioneers got some of the recognition they deserve. “It was dubbed gangsta rap, but what it was for me was an intimate look at what was actually happening in our community in Los Angeles, and in Compton in particular,” He said.
However, not everyone was too happy about the Hall of Fame’s most recent additions. KISS‘s Gene Simmons, who is like a bad smell that just happened and now won’t go away, has shared his unwanted opinion on the situation saying N.W.A are not technically “rock n roll”.
“You’ve got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Run-D.M.C. in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You’re killing me. That doesn’t mean those aren’t good artists. But they don’t play guitar. They sample and they talk. Not even sing,” He said, before exclaiming his excitement for the death of hip-hop to Billboard.
Now, aside from the fact that the Hall of Fame has inductees like Aretha Franklin, James Brown and more artists who aren’t technically “rock n roll”, it has to be said- who the hell cares what Simmons has to say? The man has come into recent media attention like that weird uncle that comes to Christmas lunch and just talks to make noise, and Simmons’ desperate attempts to become relevant again are thinly veiled. But thankfully, even people like Ice Cube can see through it too.
Cube hit back at Simmons in his acceptance speech, drawing attention to the facts that they sure as hell deserve to be there, and that it’s happening whether Simmons likes it or not. Cube said in his speech, “The question is, ‘Are we rock ‘n’ roll?’ And I say — you goddamn right we rock ‘n’ roll. Rock ‘n’ roll is not an instrument. It’s not even a style of music. It’s a spirit that’s been going on since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, heavy metal, punk rock, and yes, hip-hop.”
Unfortunately for Simmons, he doesn’t know when to quit, and had this to say in response to Ice Cube:
Respectfully– let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame. Then youll have a point. @icecube https://t.co/BRuU8t5vYe
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 9, 2016
You’re playing with fire, Simmons…
Image: NY Daily News