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Jay-Z Will Be Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame

Brian Ives // Managing Editor, Beasley Media May 12th

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced their next class of inductees this morning, and Jay-Z is among the nominees. Other hip-hop artists to be inducted over the years include the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, N.W.A., Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., the Beastie Boys and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.

Other inductees in the Performer category include the Go-Go’s, the Foo Fighters, Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner.

LL Cool J was also on the ballot, and was not voted in. However, he will be honored with the “Musical Excellence Award.” Per the Rock Hall’s press release, that award is given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music. Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne’s former guitar player) will also be honored in this category.

Meanwhile, Gil Scott Heron, who inspired many early hip-hop artists, will be honored with the Early Influence Award, along with Kraftwerk and bluesman Charley Patton.

The 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The Induction Ceremony will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max at a later date.

2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

  • Foo Fighters

    Inductees: Dave Grohl (previously inducted in 2014 with Nirvana), Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear.

  • The Go-Go’s

    Inductees: Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin .

  • JAY-Z

    JAY-Z is considered by many to be the greatest rapper alive. His accolades include 14 number one albums (most ever by a solo artist), 22 Grammys (most in hip-hop history), and first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2017.)

  • Carole King

    King was previously inducted into the Rock Hall in 1990 receiving the Ahmet Ertegun Award alongside songwriting partner and former husband Gerry Goffin.

  • Todd Rundgren

    Previously nominated in 2019 and 2020.

  • Tina Turner

    Turner was previously inducted as a performer in 1991 with Ike Turner. This was the first year she was nominated as a solo artist.

  • Clarence Avant

    Clarence Avant, the Godfather of Black Music, is cool, savvy, confident, and fearless – someone who makes the impossible possible. He’s served a variety of roles during his illustrious career, including manager, label owner, concert organizer, event producer, political fundraiser, and mentor. Avant is the quintessential impresario, with an uncanny ability to connect people, open doors, and provide opportunities to countless musicians, actors, and politicians. Bill Withers summed up his impact by declaring, “He puts people together.”

  • LL Cool J (Musical Excellence Award)

    LL Cool J has been called the Little Richard of hip-hop. Both artists combined youthful exuberance, massive charisma, and incredible musical talent to launch their respective genres of rock & roll to fans around the world. LL was still a teenager when he became the face of Def Jam records – his 1985 'Radio' was the label’s first album. He ushered in hip-hop’s second wave with hard-hitting singles like “I Need a Beat,” “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” and “Rock the Bells.” LL’s work with Def Jam paved the way for future label mates Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Slick Rick.  

  • Billy Preston (Musical Excellence Award)

    Session musician. Singer. Songwriter. Touring musician. The Fifth Beatle. Billy Preston blazed a path through the history of rock & roll with the smoking sounds of his B3 organ, the funky rhythms of his clavinet, and the exciting tones of his gospel-inspired vocals and piano. A child prodigy, Billy played organ with Mahalia Jackson, and in 1957 at the age of 10, he appeared on the 'Nat King Cole Show,' performing a duet with Cole – trading vocal parts and organ licks – Preston’s natural talent shining through.

  • Randy Rhoads (Musical Excellence Award)

    Widely acknowledged as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time, Randy Rhoads was a dramatic game changer for heavy metal and for generations of guitar players. After recording two albums with Quiet Riot (the band he cofounded in 1973), Rhoads joined ex-Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne's new solo band in 1979. In many ways due to Rhoads' stunning guitar work, Osbourne's first solo release, 'Blizzard of Ozz' (1980), is recognized as one of heavy metal’s greatest albums, and its biggest single, “Crazy Train,” features one of the most recognizable guitar riffs ever played.

  • Kraftwerk (Early Influence Award)

    Inductees: Karl Bartos, Wolfgang Flür, Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider.

  • Gil Scott Heron (Early Influence Award)

    Poet, novelist, scholar and musician, Gil Scott-Heron was many things during his prolific career but above all, in the words of music critic Nelson George, “he was a teller of uncomfortable truths.” Scott-Heron’s career path was unconventional, mirroring his nonconformist approach to music.

  • Charley Patton

    Before Jimi Hendrix mastered the guitar, before Chuck Berry pioneered rock & roll, and even before Robert Johnson had strummed a single chord – Charley Patton did it all. Without the Father of the Delta Blues, American popular music as we know it would not exist.

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