Gene Simmons, bassist and co-vocalist of Kiss, has addressed criticism over his use of the word “ghetto” while reiterating his view that rap “does not belong” in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
Speaking on the “Legends N Leaders” podcast in an episode uploaded to YouTube last weekend, Simmons noted that he has respect for rap performers who have been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, even though he acknowledged that he has never personally connected with their music.
He said: “The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, when they can sell out stadiums, and Grandmaster Flash [one of hip-hop’s original innovators] is.”
Simmons revisited his longstanding argument that rap artists, regardless of their talent, do not fit the definition of “rock and roll.” He recalled a debate he had with rap legend Ice Cube on the subject.
“[Legendary rapper] Ice Cube and I had a back-and-forth [on this subject], and he’s a bright guy and I respect what he’s done,” Simmons noted. “It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language. And I said in print many times, hip-hop does not belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras. How come the New York Philharmonic doesn’t get [inducted into] the Rock And Roll [Hall Of Fame]? ‘Cause it’s called the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. But he shot back and said, No, it’s the spirit of rock and roll.’ Okay, fine. So Ice Cube and Grandmaster Flash and all these guys are in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I just wanna know when Led Zeppelin‘s gonna be in the Hip-Hop Hall Of Fame. ‘Oh, you can’t do that?’ Oh, really?”
He elaborated on why the genre doesn’t resonate with him personally:
“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. And I know [rapper] Eminem can [rap really quickly]. I wish him more success. I really don’t give a f**k. 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.”
On Wednesday, February 11, Simmons provided an exclusive statement to People magazine in which he stood by his use of the word “ghetto” while repeating his argument.
“I stand by my words,” Gene said. “Let’s cut to the chase. The word ‘ghetto’, it originated with Jews. It was borrowed by African Americans in particular and respectfully, not in a bad way.”
Addressing suggestions that his earlier remarks carried a ra*ist undertone, Simmons said: “Ghetto is a Jewish term … How could you be, when rock is black music? It’s just a different black music than hip-hop, which is also black music. Rock ‘n’ roll owes everything to black music, statement of fact, period. All the major forms of American music owe their roots to black music.”
Kiss were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. Two years later, N.W.A. — featuring Ice Cube — received the same honor. Other hip-hop acts enshrined over the years include Eminem and Jay-Z.
