After months of voting, the six inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 have been announced! The Hall seems to have included something for everyone, as the inductees range from alternative to hip hop to progressive rock and beyond.
The six artists chosen include: Tupac Shakur, Journey, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Yes, Joan Baez and Pearl Jam. For artists like Pearl Jam and Tupac, this marks their first possible entry into the Hall. Meanwhile, legends like Baez and Yes have waited years to be awarded such a prestigious honor, though this was Baez’s first nomination.
Though some may argue that including a hip hop artist isn’t really rock and roll, it certainly doesn’t come without precedent. Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and more have all been previously included, and some argue that hip hop embodies the energetic elements that rock set forth.
Few can argue that the other five nominees are undeserving, as Baez is legendary in folk, Yes and ELO were renowned British rockers, and Journey has racked up countless hits in their career. Of course, Pearl Jam has remained a vital rock band for the last 25 years, and are certainly deserving of the honor.
The six artists will be officially inducted on April 7th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Hall will also award Nile Rodgers with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in music.