Since NWA became the fifth and latest rap artist inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, many have been questioning rap’s place within the Hall of Fame. Although many regard rap as being a product of some more traditional types of rock and roll, others see it as something that represents a movement away from everything that makes up rock and roll. This conflict stems from two different definitions of what rock and roll was and is, one of which does not recognize the presence of rock in rap music since it’s origins.
Rap often incorporates aspects of rock music through the use of similar instruments, sounds, and themes. Take for example, the song “Rock Box” by Run-DMC, who’s music is led by a strong electric guitar playing power chords in the same way that many more traditional rock artists such as Boston or Led Zeppelin make use of guitars. Thematically, many of …show more content…
Simmons stipulates that he will recognize the addition of artists such as NWA to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when Led Zeppelin is admitted to the Rap Hall of Fame(), equating the two as equally large steps from the core definition of each genre. However, rock and rap are not two completely distinct genres that just happen to share similarities, but rather, rap is a subgenre of rock, in the same way that heavy metal and progressive rock are subgenres of rock. In response to Simmons, Ice Cube, one of the MCs from NWA, defined rock as “a spirit. It’s been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, heavy metal, punk rock and yes, hip-hop… Rock’n’roll is not conforming to the people who came before but creating your own path in life. That is rock’n’roll”. This definition is perhaps the most encompassing and most applicable to the artists that have been admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of
Rap often incorporates aspects of rock music through the use of similar instruments, sounds, and themes. Take for example, the song “Rock Box” by Run-DMC, who’s music is led by a strong electric guitar playing power chords in the same way that many more traditional rock artists such as Boston or Led Zeppelin make use of guitars. Thematically, many of …show more content…
Simmons stipulates that he will recognize the addition of artists such as NWA to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when Led Zeppelin is admitted to the Rap Hall of Fame(), equating the two as equally large steps from the core definition of each genre. However, rock and rap are not two completely distinct genres that just happen to share similarities, but rather, rap is a subgenre of rock, in the same way that heavy metal and progressive rock are subgenres of rock. In response to Simmons, Ice Cube, one of the MCs from NWA, defined rock as “a spirit. It’s been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, heavy metal, punk rock and yes, hip-hop… Rock’n’roll is not conforming to the people who came before but creating your own path in life. That is rock’n’roll”. This definition is perhaps the most encompassing and most applicable to the artists that have been admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of