JAY-Z has gotten the call to the Rock Hall in his first year of eligibility. The Brooklyn-born rapper — who changed the game with such hits as “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” “Big Pimpin’,” “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” and, of course, his No. 1 smash “Empire State of Mind” — made history as the first living solo rapper to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the class of 2021.
“This diverse class of talented inductees reflects Hall’s ongoing commitment to honor artists whose music created the sound of youth culture,” Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation chairman John Sykes said in a press release.
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Artists become eligible 25 years after their first recording, with JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt being released in 1996. Joining Hov is the legendary LL COOL J who has been on the ballot for six years, will be honored with the Musical Excellence Award. Other acts in the 2021 Performer Category include The Go-Go’s, Carole King, Tina Turner, Todd Rundgren and Foo Fighters.
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Prior to Hov, the only solo rappers to make the cut in the performer category at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are posthumous inductions for both 2Pac (2017) and The Notorious B.I.G. (2020).