KISS’ Gene Simmons Reignites His Beef With Rap Musicians Being in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
If there is one thing consistent in the chaotic landscape of music history, it is Gene Simmons having a very specific, very loud opinion about things that arguably don’t concern him. The KISS bassist and marketing magnate has decided to return to his favorite soapbox: he is telling everyone why hip-hop and rap artists have no business being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (the emphasis being on rock and roll).
Gene Simmons is Gatekeeping
It’s a debate as old as the induction of Grandmaster Flash, but Simmons seems determined to keep the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame argument alive. In a recent appearance on the “Legends N Leaders” podcast, the rock icon didn’t hold back, offering a mix of “old man yells at cloud” energy and rigid musical purism that has the internet divided.
The Iron Maiden vs. Grandmaster Flash Debate
The core of Simmons’ argument rests on a perceived injustice regarding who gets in and who stays out. He points to the fact that heavy metal titans Iron Maiden – a band that fills stadiums globally without radio play – are still waiting for their invite, while hip-hop pioneers like Grandmaster Flash and Missy Elliott are already in.
“I just wanna know when Led Zeppelin’s gonna be in the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame,” Simmons quipped during the interview, a line he has used as a “gotcha” moment for years. His logic? The institution is named the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, not the “Music Hall of Fame.” To Simmons, the words actually have specific meanings. He argued that if the New York Philharmonic Orchestra isn’t getting inducted, neither should rappers.
He doubled down on the technical differences, dismissing hip-hop as “spoken-word art.” according to Simmons, “You put beats in back of it and somebody comes up with a musical phrase, but it’s verbal.” He then compared this with the complexities of writing melodies and arranging the instruments, while implying the creation of rock music requires a “genius” that other modern genres lack. He even took a swipe at EDM, noting that “nobody covers” Skrillex songs and that there are no Skrillex tribute bands.
The “Ghetto” Comment That Sparked Outrage
While musical debates are standard fare for rock dinosaurs, Simmons took the conversation into uncomfortable territory when explaining why he doesn’t connect with the genre. Simmons stated:
“It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language,”
Naturally, social media users were quick to pounce. For many, equating the entire genre of hip-hop solely with “the ghetto” felt like a dog whistle, with critics on X (formerly Twitter) calling the comments “racist” and “outdated.” One user pointed out that saying “I don’t come from the ghetto” is a loaded way of dismissing Black culture, while another simply labeled him an “old man yelling at clouds for the millionth time.”
It highlights a massive disconnect. By reducing a global, multi-billion dollar genre that has influenced fashion, politics, and language down to a stereotype, Simmons weakened his own argument about musical theory.
Ice Cube and the “Spirit” of Rock & Roll
This isn’t the first time Simmons has picked this fight. He famously clashed with N.W.A’s Ice Cube back in 2016. When N.W.A was inducted, Ice Cube delivered a speech that essentially dismantled Simmons’ rigid definition. Cube argued that “Rock & Roll is not an instrument… It’s a spirit.” It’s about not conforming, creating your own path, and rebelling against the status quo – something that hip-hop does better than lots of modern rock bands.
Simmons, however, isn’t buying the “spirit” argument. He respects Ice Cube as a “bright guy,” but refuses to budge on the nomenclature. To him, the label matters.
Does the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Need a Name Change?
To be fair to the “God of Thunder,” he is highlighting a valid branding issue. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has slowly evolved into a general popular music museum, but it still refuses to change its name. This creates an annual cycle where rock purists get angry that Dolly Parton, Eminem, or Jay-Z are getting nods over bands like Motörhead or Soundgarden.
However, culture evolves. Per Consequence, Greg Harris, the CEO of the Rock Hall, has defended the inclusion of artists like Eminem, noting that his music hits “as hard as any metal song.” The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has decided that “true rock & roll” is really an attitude – not riffin’ on a guitar. As long as hip-hop continues to dominate the cultural zeitgeist while legacy rock acts rely on farewell tours, the Hall of Fame will likely continue to ignore Simmons’ advice.
