Gene Simmons defends controversial comments on hip-hop’s inclusion in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: “I stand by my words”
Kiss’ Gene Simmons has refused to back down amid criticism for saying hip-hop acts don’t belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Earlier this week, during an episode of the Legends and Leaders podcast, Simmons ranted against the inclusion of hip-hop stars in music’s most exclusive club, stating, “The fact that Iron Maiden is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, when they can sell out stadiums, and Grandmaster Flash is.”
Notably, Grandmaster Flash was the first hip-hop act to be inducted in 2007. Over the last 19 years, many other stars from the rap industry have also joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including LL Cool J, Eminem, Jay-Z, Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest.
While Simmons has regularly criticised the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for diversifying their list of inductees, his recent comments attracted controversy due to him saying, “It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.”
He also questioned why Led Zeppelin have yet to be inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame during his rant.
Now, in a new statement to People, Simmons has said, “I stand by my words”, and also defended the use of the word “ghetto”.
Simmons added, “Let’s cut to the chase. The word ‘ghetto,’ it originated with Jews. It was borrowed by African Americans in particular and respectfully, not in a bad way.”
He also denied that his choice of language carried racial undertones, stating, “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.”
Simmons went on to say that “rock ‘n’ roll owes everything to Black music” and “all the major forms of American music owe their roots to Black music”.
The most recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class celebrated a vast mix of artists across the musical spectrum, with inductees ranging from hip-hop icons OutKast to rock legends Bad Company and pop royalty Cyndi Lauper.
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