“I don’t come from the Ghetto”: Gene Simmons slams Rap Artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame noting “It doesn’t speak my language”

Gene Simmons criticized the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame recently. The KISS bassist spoke out against their decision to induct rap artists. As per the Legends N Leaders podcast, Simmons shared his thoughts about hip-hop on a recent episode.

Simmons mentioned Iron Maiden during the conversation.

"The fact, for instance, that Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, when they can sell out stadiums, and Grandmaster Flash is," Simmons said in the video.

The seventy-five-year-old musician also talked about Ice Cube.

"Ice Cube and I had a back and forth—he's a bright guy and I respect what he's done. It's not my music. I don't come from the ghetto. It doesn't speak my language," shared Simmons.

Simmons then explained his views on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

"I said in print many times: hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, [and] symphony orchestras. How come the New York Philharmonic doesn't get the Rock & Roll [Hall of Fame induction]? 'Cuz it's called the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame," he said.

KISS got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

Gene Simmons called out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for refusing to induct all KISS members:

Gene Simmons characterized rap as primarily verbal during the Legends N Leaders interview.

"Music has labels because it describes an approach. By and large, rap, hip-hop is a spoken-word art. You put beats in back of it and somebody comes up with a musical phrase, but it's verbal. There are some melodies, but by and large it's a verbal thing—it's rhyming and all that."

Gene Simmons also shared his opinion about Eminem, who in 2022 became the most-certified artist for singles in RIAA history.

"And I know [rapper] Eminem can [rap quickly]. I wish him more success. I really don't give a fuck. It just doesn't speak to me. With the genius of being able to put words and music and arrange it, it's much more complex," explained Simmons.

Gene Simmons spoke with TIME Magazine back in 2014 about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. He discussed the controversy that surrounded it. Gene was asked about KISS being one of the few bands that didn't perform at the induction ceremony.

"Why should we? We've been around longer than the Hall of Fame has been around, by about 20 years. We started before this organization was even a thought. We appreciate getting the award, but they are going to only honor the first seven years of the band — Ace, Peter, Paul and myself, and that's fine. We appreciate that," Gene shared.

He talked about an HBO special.

"Then they said, 'We have an HBO special and we want you to close the show and make it big,' and all that stuff. And we said, 'Okay, and you're also going to be honoring Tommy and Eric who have been in the band longer than Ace and Peter, right?' They said, 'No, no, actually we're not,'" Gene said.

Gene Simmons explained why the band refused to perform.

"We said, 'Wait a minute, you have the Grateful Dead, and you inducted all 25 or so members, plus a lyricist who was never even in the band. Metallica had a bass player who, I think, was never even on a record. The Chili Peppers had 8 or 9 members in. And you're not going to honor ours?' So, we are certainly not going to be playing there. You either honor all or none," added Gene.

Gene praised bandmates and fans in a heartfelt speech:

Gene Simmons appreciated his long-standing fans who made KISS's Hall of Fame induction an inevitable outcome. His acceptance speech was shared in a report shared by Rolling Stone.

"We are humbled—all of us—to stand up on this stage and do what we love doing. This is a profound moment for all of us. We are humbled that the fans gave us the chance to do what we love doing," he shared.

"And so I’m hear just to say a few kind words about the four knuckleheads who, 40 years ago, got together and decided to put together the band that you see on stage, critics be damned," added Gene.

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Gene Simmons continued to thank all the other band members in his speech.

"To Ace Frehley: his iconic guitar playing has been imitated, but never duplicated, by generations of guitar players around the world. To Peter Criss, whose drumming and singing…Well, there’s not a guy out there who beats the sticks who sounds just like Peter. Nobody’s got that swing and that style," shared Simmons.

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