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 n March of last year, I made a prediction for 2007, concerning this year's inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I predicted it would be the first year that a Rap/HipHop artist would be inducted and that the artist would be Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
 On January 8th, it was announced that this year's inductees were Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Patti Smith, The Ronettes, Van Halen, and R.E.M.
To be fair, I also made some auxiliary predictions concerning The Sugarhill Gang and Sylvia Robinson riding on the coattails of GF+F5. I also was apparently wrong about their eligiblity; GF+F5 have been eligible AND nominated for the past three years running. However, I have to bask in the glory of calling-out the dissenting opinions of ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) lossfound and welfy, who didn't think rap artists would even be included in the Hall of Fame, and to a certain degree, democritus and thawaltzingfool who didn't think this would be the year. Just a moment or two... oh yes, it feels good.
For me, the question still remains: will any more of rap's first old-school be recognized? The precedent has been set and the flood gates are now officially open. I personally don't think The Sugarhill Gang or Kurtis Blow are worthy, though I still think Robinson should get a non-performing recognition someday as a producer and founder of Sugarhill Records. In addition to being instrumental in giving rap it's first hit ("Rapper's Delight"), her duties in that capacity resulted in writing credits on dozens and dozens of rap's early songs, including "The Message". Maybe Afrikka Bambaataa? The second old-school starts becoming eligible over the next 4-5 years. Technically, my beloved Beastie Boys are already eligible, but I doubt they'll get a nomination until 2011 (the 25th anniversary of Licensed to Ill). Run-DMC are eligible in 2009. LL Cool J in 2011 and Public Enemy in 2013.
The Stooges were snubbed yet again, 13 years and counting. I think this year made like, 5 straight years they've been nominated but not inducted. I can't think of any other artist currently eligible that has had more wide-ranging influence than the Stooges. Certainly more than Patti Smith or The Ronettes. As for next year, there are a couple of first-year shoo-ins on-deck: Madonna and Metallica. Sonic Youth becomes eligible next year, too. They're certainly deserving, but if the Stooges can't manage an induction I don't have much faith Sonic Youth will make it the first go-around.
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  rediction:
2007 will be the first year that a rap group will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The rules of eligibility state that it must be at least 25 years since the the first recording of an artist before they can be inducted. This would mean that The Sugarhill Gang have been eligible since 2004.
The problem is The Sugarhill Gang were never very good, but they are destined to be honored by the Hall of Fame for their contribution of rap's first recording. Kurtis Blow was rap's first cross-over star, the first to chart a certified gold single. He was eligible in 2005, but I think the considerably weak entirety of his eponymous album has stalled his induction.
Which is why I think 2007 will be the first year to see rap artists inducted. 1982 was the year of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's debut LP The Message. My prediction is thus: The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash will be inducted simultaneously as performers in 2007, with Sylvia Robinson (Sugarhill Records producer and co-founder) being inducted in the non-performing category. Kurtis Blow will be inducted the following year.
Thoughts? Rebuttals? Elaborations? Predictions? | |
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