AceShowbiz - Jay-Z wanted to change Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to Hip-Hop, according to chairman John Sykes. The "Empire State of Mind" hitmaker proposed a radical change to the institution when he was chosen as one of the inductees in 2021.

The rapper suggested rebranding the Hall, declaring that rock music was no longer relevant. "JAY-Z told me, 'Rock is dead. Should be the Hip Hop Hall of Fame,' " Sykes told Vulture.

Sykes, however, disagreed. "Little Richard, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry - these legends were the foundation of rock and roll. Their influence directly shaped Hip Hop," he said.

Despite Jay-Z's initial hesitation, he accepted his induction, acknowledging hip-hop's journey and its parallels to the anti-establishment spirit of punk rock. During his speech, he paid tribute to icons like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and LL Cool J, highlighting their enduring impact on the genre.

"Never imagined being in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame," he said. "We were told Hip Hop was a fad. Much like punk rock, it was an anti-culture movement, a subgenre that produced heroes."

JAY-Z's induction marked a significant milestone in the Hall's recognition of hip-hop, joining Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, Run DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A, Missy Elliott, and A Tribe Called Quest.

The ongoing dialogue about the Hall's scope highlights the interconnected roots of musical genres and the need to honor contributions from all corners of the industry. As Sykes emphasized, "Rock and roll isn't about one sound - it's about breaking barriers." Hip-hop, with its transformative power and rebellious spirit, has done just that, solidifying its rightful place in the Hall of Fame.

This inclusivity was not without controversy. Over the years, rock stars like KISS's Gene Simmons, Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, Joan Jett, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, Bon Jovi and more criticized the Hall of Fame.

When country music icon Dolly parton was inducted in 2022, she was initially resistant but eventually accepted it. Her induction was followed by a release of her rock-infused album in 2023.

"I still say, 'If you're going to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, you need to earn it,' which is what prompted me to go ahead and do the rock and roll album," she said. "When they wanted to put me in the Hall of Fame, I didn't want to go. They put me in anyway, so then I'm like my daddy, I don't want nothing that I don't earn. That's when I thought, 'Well, it's now or never.' "