The Notorious B.I.G. To Be Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Last year the late great Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious B.I.G. groundbreaking debut album, Ready To Die, celebrated its 25th anniversary.  With many honors such as having murals in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York among the many recent honors over the last year plus in celebration.

The iconic emcee gets yet another honor, as Wednesday, January 15th, it was announced that The Notorious B.I.G. is set to be just the seventh rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Joining former one-time rival, Tupac Shakur, who was inducted just a couple of years ago as the only other solo Hip-Hop/Rap act to get this prestigious honor.

A big day for Hip-Hop, it shows as Biggie’s mother Violetta Wallace recently told Billboard in a phone interview, how far the genre has come and the impact her son, as well as Tupac and so many others have still made and continue to make after their unfortunately too young and untimely deaths.  “Rap is respected.  We are in a changing time now.  People’s thoughts are different.  When you put it out there, there’s so much respect for it [now].”

Ms. Wallace still not a fan of the genre continues to carry on her sons legacy though and why once never thought of avenues such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will become more and more credible to those from Hip-Hop as well.  With Biggie also one of  four first time nominees included in this year’s 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class.  Which also includes the late great Whitney Houston, as well as Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, Nine Inch Nails and T. Rex.

Like previous years SiriusXM will broadcast the ceremony live, as well as HBO broadcasting it live at 8 p.m. ET. May 2nd when the 35th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio.  One of the only downsides for fans of Biggie and Hip-Hop being that it will obviously not take place in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center like it has in previous years.  Which would have obviously made it a little bit more special for Big’s family and friends had it taken place in his hometown.  It will obviously still be special, but could have been even more if that was the case.

Either way it’s a great honor for both Biggie and Hip-Hop as a whole.  It will be interesting to see who inducts him and performs in honor of him.  With presenters and performances set to be announced at a later date.