Music is undoubtedly something that connects us all, a universal language so to speak. There are plenty of institutions all over the world that recognize the work of musicians who have done incredible things with their careers and connected fans worldwide, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame located in Ohio is one of them.

Every year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts artists, dead or alive, into its Hall of Fame to honor their careers and contributions to the music industry. This year’s inductees include the following: Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nich Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., and T. Rex, the most well-known among the group being Whitney Houston and The Notorious B.I.G. (also known as Biggie Smalls). 

The Rock  & Roll Hall of Fame has received backlash over the past years for including artists that aren’t really known for rock and roll at all, like Whitney Houston (r&b, gospel, pop) and “Biggie” (hip hop, rap). 

Gene Simmons, a band member of the legendary rock group KISS, notoriously slammed the institution in 2017 when NWA, a popular 90s rap group, was inducted. 

In an interview with Radio.com, he stated, “ You’re killing me! That doesn’t mean those aren’t good artists. But they don’t play guitar. They sample and they talk.”

He is obviously not alone in his opinion, but other celebrities have had their say on the issue as well.

According to the Rolling Stone, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, one of this year’s nominees said, “Rock doesn’t have to be guitar-bass/drums. It can be a turntable, a computer, a synthesizer, sequencer. They are all tools and a spirit of expression.”

Regardless of the controversy, this year’s inductees have all made their marks on the music industry, whether it be by the smooth-crooning soft rock of the Doobie Brothers, or by the grandiose belting of Whitney Houston.