KISS Legend Slams Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for Including Rappers

Gene Simmons questions why rap artists are honored while rock bands are left out.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

KISS co-founder Gene Simmons has reignited the debate over who belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In a podcast interview, the 76-year-old rocker said rap and hip-hop artists should not be in the same hall as rock legends, questioning how acts like Grandmaster Flash could be honored when bands like Iron Maiden remain excluded. Simmons argued that genres exist for a reason and mixing them distorts their purpose, stating that hip-hop and rap are a "spoken word art" that "just doesn't speak to me." The exchange has highlighted a larger cultural question of whether every form of music should share the same stage under one brand, or if redefining 'rock' erases what it once meant.

Why it matters

Simmons' comments reignite an ongoing debate about the identity and boundaries of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. As more diverse musical acts have been inducted, some traditionalists argue that the hall is straying from its original purpose of honoring rock music specifically. This raises questions about how to define 'rock and roll' in an evolving music landscape.

The details

In the interview, Simmons questioned how rap pioneers like Grandmaster Flash could be honored when bands such as Iron Maiden remain excluded from the Rock Hall. He argued that genres exist for a reason, and that hip-hop and rap are a "spoken word art" that "just doesn't speak to me." Simmons said the "genius" of rock music in arranging words and music is "much more complex." His exchange with rapper Ice Cube, whose group N.W.A. was inducted in 2016, delved into the cultural implications, with Ice Cube arguing it's about the "spirit of rock 'n' roll."

  • Simmons was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with KISS in 2014.
  • Artists like Eminem, Jay-Z, and others from the hip-hop world have joined the Rock Hall since Simmons' induction.

The players

Gene Simmons

The 76-year-old co-founder of the rock band KISS, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

Ice Cube

A rapper whose group N.W.A. was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Grandmaster Flash

A pioneer of hip-hop music who has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Iron Maiden

A British heavy metal band that Simmons believes should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but has not been inducted.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I don't come from the ghetto. It doesn't speak my language.”

— Gene Simmons (LegendsNLeaders podcast)

“The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they can sell out stadiums and Grandmaster Flash is, right? Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Nor does opera, symphonies, orchestras. How come the New York Philharmonic doesn't get in? Because it's called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”

— Gene Simmons (LegendsNLeaders podcast)

“Ice Cube shot back and said, 'No, it's the spirit of rock 'n' roll.'”

— Gene Simmons (LegendsNLeaders podcast)

What’s next

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has not yet responded to Simmons' comments, but the debate over the institution's scope and purpose is likely to continue.

The takeaway

Simmons' criticism of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's inclusion of rap and hip-hop artists highlights the ongoing tension between traditionalists who want to preserve the identity of rock music and those who view the hall as a broader celebration of popular music's evolution. This debate reflects larger cultural questions about how to define and honor different musical genres.