(AllHipHop News) Tupac Shakur is set to be immortalized as the first solo rap act included in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
The iconic emcee/actor/activist was selected for induction into the Rock Hall’s class of 2017.
Tupac will join Hip Hop groups N.W.A, Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five in the Cleveland museum.
Five other inductees will be part of the ’17 class – Joan Baez, Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Pearl Jam, and Yes.
Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers will receive the Award for Musical Excellence.
“Rock and roll means so many things to so many different people,” stated Hall of Fame CEO Joel Peresman. “To have a class that has everything from Joan Baez to Tupac Shakur, from Pearl Jam to Yes, is terrific. It gives a lot of people something to hang onto.”
Some critics, such as Gene Simmons of Kiss, have been adamantly against rap acts being included in the Rock Hall, but Perseman embraces the rhymers.
“It’s a broad definition and we consider Hip Hop an important part of the whole genre,” he said.
A special exhibit for the new members will open at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 30. Then each performer will be honored at the 32nd annual induction ceremony on April 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The New York event is scheduled to premiere on HBO and SiriusXM.
Ticket sale dates will be announced in January and broadcast details will be announced in early 2017.
