A Hip-Hop Hall of Fame is Long Overdue
By Jake Delforte
The Notorious B.I.G. 2Pac. N.W.A. The Beastie Boys. Run-DMC. Public Enemy. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. All of these names help form a select group of hip-hop acts that crafted hip-hop as the South Bronx burned during the 1970s and elevated the culture to mainstream domination during the 80s and 90s. And on October 30, 2021, Jay-Z and LL Cool J joined this exclusive list of legendary hip-hop artists that have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Simply put, modern hip-hop and culture would not be where it is without the crucial contributions made by LL and Jay. LL Cool J popularized duality in hip-hop artists. He demonstrated how rappers can be fiery and aggressive MCs on one song, but then be sensitive smooth talkers that win the hearts of women on the next track. Jay-Z showed the world that hip-hop can transform a hustler into a hometown hero (and then a billionaire business mogul).
If we erase these contributions, it is evident that hip-hop would not look and sound like it does now. For example, without LL Cool J there is no Biggie Smalls or Eminem, and without Jay-Z there is no Pusha T or Benny the Butcher.
Much like rock & roll, hip-hop evolved from black music and black artists. Both of these genres utilized rebel voices, which created a rebel culture that differed from the status quo. But with time, both rock & roll and hip-hop grew in popularity, and these rebel cultures evolved into the pop culture of the time.
In 2021, it is clear that hip-hop is not just a facet of popular culture anymore. It is the culture. Aside from being the most popular music genre in the world, hip-hop influences popular and modern fashion, footwear, artwork, and the vernacular, among various other staples of culture. On that note, as rap music currently dominates the charts and hip-hop culture continues to prove itself as a global phenomenon, it is time to create an official Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.
There are too many revolutionary artists that have shaped pop culture throughout hip-hop’s 50 year history to keep going unnoticed and unappreciated. For example, DJ Kool Herc, who is often credited with creating hip-hop as we know it, has not been recognized in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Big L and Nas, who both elevated lyricism in hip-hop through the use of multisyllabic rhyming and vivid storytelling through song, should be recognized for their work. Groups such as OutKast and Wu-Tang Clan, who helped popularize the southern and northeastern hip-hop subgenres respectively, also deserve recognition. Additionally, the producers who have shaped the sound of hip-hop should be celebrated. DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and the RZA created the gritty sounds that established New York City as the Mecca of hip-hop, even as Dr. Dre put the West Coast on the map with the smooth sounds of G-Funk.
Of course, there are countless rappers and producers not mentioned above who also deserve a place in history. Eric B and Rakim. MF Doom. Redman. The Alchemist. Big Pun. Snoop Dogg. Although the list and debate for who deserves their spot is endless, one thing is certain: A Hip-Hop Hall of Fame is necessary for the preservation and continuation of this ever evolving culture.
