Last week, when it was announced that Eminem would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year along with the likes of Dolly Parton, Judas Priest, Pat Benatar and Duran Duran, the rapper joined an increasing list of hip-hop artists who’ve been bestowed the honour.
Over the last decade, the Rock Hall has steadily moved away from strictly defining rock in its most conventional terms, with the likes of Public Enemy, N.W.A., Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z among those to be inducted.
In fact, back in 2009, Em himself inducted Run-DMC into the Hall of Fame. At last year’s ceremony, he and inductee LL Cool J performed ‘Rock the Bells’ together.
Now, in a recent interview with Audacy, Rock Hall President Greg Harris discussed Eminem’s inclusion among this year’s inductees and hip-hop’s growing presence in the Hall of Fame.
“For a lot of years people asked about hip-hop. [Eminem is] the 10th artist to be sort of categorised that way,” Harris explained during the conversation.
“But you listen to his music, it’s as hard-hitting and straight ahead as any metal song. It’s right there. It’s a chest punch with a message and with a power and with a rhythm and with a band,” he continued. “We’re thrilled he’s going in [his] first year of eligibility. It’s a big statement.”
This year’s Rock and Roll Hame of Fame ceremony will take place Saturday, 5th November at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater. Other artists who will be inducted include Lionel Richie, Eurythmics and Carly Simon.
