DJ COMMUNITY

Chuck D responds to Gene Simmons' thought that 'hip-hop does not belong' in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Story by Angela Andaloro

Feb 12 • 3 min read • Updated 1d ago

Simmons's comments on the matter have raised eyebrows

Chuck D (left), Gene Simmons, Michael Tullberg/Getty; Robin L Marshall/Getty© Michael Tullberg/Getty; Robin L Marshall/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Chuck D is discussing the relationship between rock and hip hop
Gene Simmons appeared on the Legends N Leaders podcast, where he talked about his stance that hip hop doesn't belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Simmons recently spoke to PEOPLE to provide further context for his use of the word "ghetto" in his rant

Chuck D is responding with his thoughts on hip-hop's place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

On Feb. 12, the Public Enemy frontman, 65, entered the conversation, which Gene Simmons started on the Legends N Leaders podcast. The KISS bassist, 76, shared his feelings about hip-hop acts being inducted and included ... at rock music's most sacred space.

“It’s not my music,” said the rocker. “I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language. And as I said in print many times, hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera or symphony orchestras.

“The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they can sell out stadiums, and Grandmaster Flash is... Ice Cube and I had a back and forth — he’s a bright guy, and I respect what he’s done. He shot back that it’s the ‘spirit’ of rock and roll … I just want to know when Led Zeppelin’s going to be in the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame."

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Continuing a point he's made on several occasions, Simmons continued, “Music has labels because it describes an approach. By and large, rap and hip-hop are spoken-word arts. Then you put beats in back of it, and somebody comes up with a musical phrase, but it’s verbal. There are some melodies, but by and large, it’s a verbal thing.”

Responding to a post discussing Simmons' comments, Chuck D tweeted, "Gene definitely has his opinion, and it carries major weight… however, it is The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame … not considering it ‘ROCK’ may hold a debatable point, but clearly RAP and some other genres of movement are the ‘ROLL.' "

"Rock and Roll clearly splintered all over the place in the 1960s and big-banged ever since," he concluded.

Simmons spoke with PEOPLE about his comments, saying, "I stand by my words."

Looking to reclaim the term "ghetto," Simmons explained, "Let's cut to the chase. The word 'ghetto' originated with Jews. It was borrowed by African Americans in particular and respectfully, not in a bad way.”

To questions of whether his utilization of the word bore any intended racist undertone, he said, “Ghetto is a Jewish term ... How could you be, when rock is Black music? It's just a different Black music than hip-hop, which is also Black music.”

“Rock 'n' roll owes everything to Black music, statement of fact, period. All the major forms of American music owe their roots to Black music," he said.

Read the original article on People