It's official and the winners are in. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announces the 2024 Inductees for music's highest honor. Here are a few we would like to recognize from the performer category.
A Tribe Called Quest, an extraordinary, eclectic, and artistic rap group of the 90's. Their musical genre ranged from hip-hop, jazz, and alternative rock. The group formed while in high school in Queens, New York 1985. Tribe features Q-Tip (producer-leader), Phife Dawg (MC), Jarobi White (spirited everyman), and Ali Shaheed Muhammad ( as the DJ). Within in four years, the group released three albums People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, and Midnight Marauders. Unfortunately, Phife passed away in 2016 and will be missed for this high honor. But his lyrical prowess and energetic spirit will still live on.
The incomparable Cher has been successful and a trail blazer for women performers. Cher started her career as a duo with her late ex-husband Sonny Bono. In 1965, they came out with the hit song "I Got You Babe", which was a spark for the hippie culture. In 1971, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour was launched, helping her to become an entertainer and fashion superstar. By the 1970's, she stepped out as a solo performer producing songs like "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves". Showing her versality in entertainment, she gained roles in Silkwood and Mask. Cher eventually won an Oscar as Best Actress for "Moonstruck" in 1987. Cher has earned her right to be inducted.
Kool and the Gang is one of the funkiest groove band that ever lived. Known for their mix of pop songwriting, great vocals and dynamic horn section, helped elevate their career. In 1964, the group was formed in Jersey City, New Jersey by brothers Robert "Kool" and Ronald Bell. Their big break came in 1973 producing hit songs "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging", classic dance music. In the 80's, they added lead singer James "J.T." Taylor and made two big hits "Ladies Night" and "Too Hot". A career that has lasted over fifty years, Kool & the Gang has inspired the world through the sounds of funk, soul, disco and R&B.
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige had been holding it down for the past twenty years. Mary signed with Uptown Records in 1989, the label's youngest and first female artist. She came in dropping songs that became Number One R&B hits "Real Love" and You Remind Me". In the 90's, she began to collaborate with some big names in hip-hop such as Notorious B.I.G., Method Man, and JAY-Z for decades. By the 2000's, Blige was able to win a Grammy for the song "Be Without You", In 2018, she received an Oscar nod for the film Mudbound and for original song. 2022, Mary headlined the Superbowl halftime show along with legendary icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem, which earned her an Emmy. All these accolades have fans yelling, Hail to the Queen..
The induction ceremony will be held on Oct 19th at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. It will stream live on Disney+
Congratulations to all the winners and glad to see them receive their due 🎵