Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Feud: Gene Simmons Vs. NWA Continues

There were a few feuds to be settled at last night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions in Brooklyn — although Cheap Trick seemed to do okay with estranged drummer Bun E. Carlos, and it was actually kind of funny when Steve Miller ranted about how the Hall only offered him two free tickets for the ceremony.  [photo: Theo Wargo/Getty ]
In the aftermath, though, it seems that Gene Simmons of KISS and the members of NWA remain at war. MC Ren stepped up during N.W.A.’s induction last night to declare, “I want to say to Mr. Gene Simmons that hip-hop is here forever. We’re supposed to be here!”
That was in response to some of Simmons’ recent comments while doing interviews to celebrate the 40th anniversary of KISS’s Destroyer album. It wasn’t bad enough that Simmons declared to Rolling Stone, “I am looking forward to the death of rap.” He also had to go on to Radio.com about N.W.A. being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, too…
A long time ago it was diluted. It’s really backroom politics, like Boss Tweed. A few people decide what’s in and what’s not. And the masses just scratch their heads. You’ve got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? RUN-DMC in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? You’re killing me! That doesn’t mean those aren’t good artists. But they don’t play guitar. They sample and they talk. Not even sing!
Anyway, it took a while, but Gene finally heard about MC Ren invoking his name. And now here’s his measured response…

The only Hip Hall Hall of Fame we know of is still under construction. We wouldn’t want to tell Simmons that, of course. We also think there’s a good chance that Jimi Hendrix will get in there eventually. The Pharcyde, Digital Underground, and Beastie Boys immediately come to mind as major names who sampled the guitarist. There are a lot more, of course. But we’ll let these icons battle out the finer details. We’re just having fun thinking of bands that sampled KISS right now.