Gene Simmons is once again standing firm on his stance regarding hip-hop’s place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — and now he’s addressing backlash over controversial remarks he recently made.
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In a Wednesday interview with People, the KISS bassist doubled down on comments from the Legends N Leaders podcast, where he stated, “It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.” The remark sparked criticism online, particularly around his use of the word “ghetto.”
Simmons defended himself, arguing that the term originated within Jewish communities before being adopted more broadly. “Let’s cut to the chase. The word ‘ghetto,’ it originated with Jews,” he said, rejecting claims that his comments carried racist intent. He also emphasized that rock music itself is rooted in Black artistry, stating, “Rock ’n’ roll owes everything to Black music… It’s just a different Black music than hip-hop, which is also Black music.”
Beyond semantics, Simmons reiterated his broader criticism of the Hall’s selection standards. He questioned why commercially successful rock acts like Iron Maiden remain excluded while hip-hop pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash have been inducted. He referenced his past debate with Ice Cube, acknowledging Cube’s intelligence and accomplishments but maintaining that rap — like opera or symphonic music — does not belong in an institution dedicated to rock and roll.
The controversy echoes Simmons’ 2016 remarks when he said he was “looking forward to the death of rap,” comments that drew sharp pushback from Ice Cube, who argued that rock is defined more by spirit and rebellion than by genre.
Since Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five became the first hip-hop act inducted in 2007, artists such as LL Cool J, Eminem, Jay-Z, Public Enemy, and A Tribe Called Quest have also been honored — a trend Simmons continues to challenge.
As the debate reignites, the central question remains: Is rock and roll defined by sound, or by cultural impact and lineage?
