I Think It’s Time For A Black Music Hall Of Fame

Earlier this week, The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame announced the nominees for their 2021 class.

The museum and Hall of fame, located in Cleveland, Ohio serves as the place where the most notable names in popular music history are honored.

The genre "Rock and Roll" began in the 1950s blending gospel music, jazz, blues, country, and R&B that made black artists like Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Chuck Berry well known. But white artists like Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis were more successful, and some would say they copied from black artists.

Then the mid to late 60s came around and there groups like the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin just to name a few.

What has always thrown me off was the actual name of the Hall Of Fame.

Rock and Roll.

And the fact so many great Black Artists have not been inducted is insulting.

But then again, it's Rock and Roll and not necessarily "Black Music"

While it is an amazing accomplishment to be honored and recognized amongst the greatest, why not create one for R&B, Hip Hop, Gospel, Pop, etc?

I don't think there has been a more influential genre or culture in the past 40 years to hit us like Hip Hop, and yet there are only 7 artists that have made it to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

They include Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Public Enemy, 2pac, Notorious B.I.G, N.W.A, The BeastieBoys, and Run DMC.

Yet L.L. Cool J has been nominated 4 times and has not made it!

But if there a Hip Hop Hall Of Fame, L.L. Cool J would probably one of the first inducted.

Out of this year's nominees, the black artists include Mary J. Blige. LL Cool J, Jay-Z, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, and Dionne Warwick.

My point again.

Why hasn't everyone I named made it into the Hall Of Fame?

To be eligible, it has to be more than 25 years after the release of your first record, and of course the artist's impact on pop culture is a deciding factor.

Though they've been on the ballot a few years for the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, if there was an R&B Hall Of Fame, Mary, Tina, and Chaka would be in there in a heartbeat!

While there is a National Museum of African American History and Culture, and because there are so many talented R&B and Hip Hop Legends, the music community has got to do better!

To vote for this year's nominees and to take a look at the full list go here.