Over the past couple of months, the world famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been under fire with drama. They have seen quite the heap of criticism. It starts off with the rock industry allowing rappers to be inducted into the only place for rock legends. Then the other is for all the controversy about Steve Miller being inducted. There is also a lot of talk about more women being inducted. They have been slammed with racism and being sexest within the last few months.
Let’s start with the rappers becoming a huge part of this historic place. A lot of people filled with rage when they announced that rapper Kendrick Lamar was going to be inducted. Social media stormed with a mix of rage, racist remarks and people just against the whole idea.
Needless to say, the RARHOF listened to the people and decided not to induct Lamar. However, they want people to know it has nothing to do with race, just the simplicity of inspiration of music.
Leading up to these latest events of rappers becoming part of the fame here are a few other people that have been inducted that could have something to do with it. James Brown, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, B.B King, The Jackson 5 and Run D.M.C. These guys have sculpted our music, but none of them were rappers beside Run D.M.C.
Let’s jump into the Steve Miller drama. Since Lamar did not receive a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, here are the people that did: Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, N.W.A, Bert Berns and Steve Miller. The Black Keys gave the introduction speech for Steve Miller, but later regretted everything they said. The group called him out on social media calling him names and saying “he did not seem grateful at all.”
They also went on to call the music industry “gangsters and crooks.” The men did not have a real clear reasoning for why they lashed out at Miller besides him not seeming grateful. Miller later took to social media himself stating, “I wish you could pick who does your intro speech, I was going to ask Elton.”
People have also been upset about not inducting enough women into the industry. However, there is not a lot of women that have been in the Rock and Roll industry.
We’re going to jump backwards to last year’s induction ceremony, where Green Day and Joan Jett were honored. This was about the time things started getting faulty. Some people disagreed with Green Day being honored, while others thought Joan Jett was way over do.
However, it was also who did their speeches that had people talking. Everyone was confused on why Miley Cyrus got the honor of bringing Joan Jett into the Hall of Fame. What is your take on these latest issues? Do you think rappers should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Do you think they are losing touch with the real reason the place was built?
Emily Culbertson
Reporter