Does Hip-Hop Belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
San Fransisco Chronicle’s music critic Joel Selvin is getting all bent out of shape because two hip-hop acts were nominated for induction into next year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Part of the reason for Selvin refused to vote for anyone this year, partly because two of the nominees, Afrika Bambaataa and Beastie Boys, probably belong in a Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.
The prejudiced critic also bitched about Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five’s induction, which made them the first hip-hop act to ever receive the honor. Word on the streets is that Rolling Stone boss and hip-hop groupie Jann Wenner insisted on inducting Flash and ‘em even though they didn’t receive enough votes. Obviously, Wenner was getting sick and tired of not having any hip-hop inductees.
Selvin, on the other hand, doesn’t think any hip-hop artist belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I agree with him. We don’t need awards from white folks to validate our standards. Isn’t that why you have the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors? And don’t get me started on the true originators of Rock and Roll.
