Chuck D Responds To Gene Simmons

[ad_1] by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton February 13, 2026

"Clearly RAP and another genres of motion are the ROLL," the Public Enemy frontman stated.

Gene Simmons, frontman for the rock and roll band Kiss, stirred the pot when he not solely labeled hip-hop “ghetto,” however said that the favored style “doesn't belong within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.”

These feedback led Public Enemy frontman Chuck D to reply that “RAP and another genres of motion are the ROLL of Rock & Roll” on his social media account after the heavy steel legend appeared on the podcast LegendsNLeaders.

“The truth that, as an example, Iron Maiden isn't within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame, once they can promote out stadiums and Grandmaster Flash is, proper?” Simmons stated on the podcast. “Ice Dice and I had a backwards and forwards [about this]. He’s a brilliant man, and I respect what he’s completed. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t communicate my language.”

As his beef could also be immediately with the Corridor for its choice, he nonetheless feels that the style doesn't belong to be honored.

“And I stated in print many instances: Hip-hop doesn't belong within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame. Nor does opera, symphonies, orchestras. How come the New York Philharmonic doesn’t get within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame? As a result of it’s referred to as the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame!”

Chuck D took to X to share his opinion on the matter, clearly exhibiting Simmons the respect as a musician he deserves, whereas making the purpose that though hip-hop isn't rock, the style, together with many others, encompasses the “Roll” side of the class. He goes on to say that it “splintered all over within the Nineteen Sixties” and has grown ever since.

“Gene positively has his opinion and it carries main weight… nevertheless it's The Rock And Roll Corridor Of Fame … not contemplating it ‘ROCK’ might maintain a debatable level however clearly RAP and another genres of motion are the ‘ROLL’”

Including to Chuck’s response is the conclusion that it could be referred to as “Rock & Roll,” however there isn't a class for “Roll,” although there's a “Rock” classification in music.

Gene positively has his opinion and it carries main weight… nevertheless it's The Rock And Roll Corridor Of Fame … not contemplating it ‘ROCK’ might maintain a debatable level however clearly RAP and another genres of motion are the ‘ROLL’ .. Rock and Roll clearly splintered all around the…

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 12, 2026

Later, Simmons solely spoke to Individuals and doubled down on using “ghetto,” claiming it originated with the Jews.

“Let’s minimize to the chase. The phrase ‘ghetto,’ it originated with Jews,” Simmons stated. “It was borrowed by African Individuals particularly and respectfully, not in a nasty means.”

He does admit to rock having its beginnings in Black music.

“Ghetto is a Jewish time period … How may you be, when rock is Black music? It’s only a completely different Black music than hip-hop, which can be Black music. Rock and roll owes the whole lot to Black music, assertion of reality, interval. All the most important types of American music owe their roots to Black music,” he stated.