February 12, 2026
Gene Simmons is doubling down on his disapproval of hip-hop acts being inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.
Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS is sharing his perspective on why he doesn’t suppose hip-hop belongs within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.
Throughout a current interview on the LegendsNLeaders podcast, the KISS frontman doubled down on his opposition to hip-hop’s presence within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.
“The truth that, as an example, Iron Maiden will not be within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame, once they can promote out stadiums and Grandmaster Flash is, proper?” Simmons stated in a clip shared on-line. “Ice Dice and I had a backwards and forwards [about this]. He’s a brilliant man, and I respect what he’s performed. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t converse my language.”
He continued. “And I stated in print many occasions: Hip-hop doesn’t belong within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame. Nor does opera, symphonies, orchestras. How come the New York Philharmonic doesn’t get within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame? As a result of it’s referred to as the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame!”
Elaborating on his previous dialog with Ice Dice, Simmons stated the rapper believes hip-hop embodies the rebellious “spirit” of rock, whereas he sees clear distinctions between the 2 genres.
“However [Ice Cube] shot again and stated, ‘No, it’s the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.’ OK, positive,” Simmons stated. “So Ice Dice and Grandmaster Flash and all these guys are within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame. I simply need to know when Led Zeppelin will likely be inducted into the Hip-Hop Corridor of Fame. ‘Oh, you may’t try this.’ Oh, actually? Music has labels as a result of it describes an method. Hip-hop and rap is a spoken phrase artwork. There are some melodies however, by and huge, it’s a verbal factor.”
“It simply doesn’t converse to me,” he added. “The genius of with the ability to put music and phrases and prepare it’s rather more advanced.”
KISS was inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame in 2014, adopted two years later by Ice Dice’s group N.W.A.
Different hip-hop artists honored embrace Eminem, Jay-Z, Outkast, and Missy Elliott. The corridor’s inclusion of non-rock acts continues to spark debate amongst followers, together with critics like Simmons.
