Should non-rock artists be added into the Rock Hall of Fame? | The Tylt

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has faced many controversies over the years. But one of the most relevant is the HOF's identity crisis. While Gene Simmons has criticized the HOF for inducting pop and hip-hop artists, Ice Cube and others have argued rock and roll is a versatile genre.

Here are the 2017's nominees.

Simmons has been vocal about HOF inducting non-rockers. He isn't for it. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame traditionally has been for the rock genre, and some aren't open to pop music icons being included. Simmons cries genre fraud. 

Instead, there are other Hall of Fames for different genres. There's a new Hip and Hop Hall of Fame. Also, there's a Country Music Hall of Fame, R&B Hall of Fame and Pop Music Hall of Fame. It's clear that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the most famous and prestigious to be inducted into. It's music's version of the honorary Academy Award.

Ice Cube responded to Simmons' rant. He argues that rock and roll is more than the "rock genre." It's music and culture, and many different genres fit into rock and roll's culture and its music history. N.W.A. was the fifth hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. 

Cube ultimately says:

The question is, 'Are we [N.W.A.] rock 'n' roll?' And I say—you're goddamn right we're rock 'n' roll.

Critics agree with Simmons. Some people prefer that the Rock Hall of Fame cater to that specific genre rather than be a combination of many genres.

Many have argued that artists like 2017 nominees Tupac and Janet belong in the Rock Hall of Fame. Janet even won in our poll against Tupac on who deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame more, but many feel both artists are iconic and also helped shape modern-day rock music.