Saturday, Oct. 30 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, JAY-Z joined the ranks of legends The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, N.W.A., and Public Enemy by becoming the latest hip-hop artists (Icon) to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Former President Barack Obama and comedian Dave Chappelle headlined the tribute to the legendary artist. “I can relate to Jay-Z, President Obama says, because we are both married to women more popular than us,”.“I’ve turned to Jay-Z’s words at different points in my life, whether I was brushing dirt off my shoulder on the campaign trail, or sampling his lyrics on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the 50th anniversary of the Selma march to Montgomery,” said the former president. “Today, Jay-Z is one of the most renowned artists in history and an embodiment of the American dream, a dream he has helped make real for other young people like him.”
Former President Barack Obama helped induct Jay-Z into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this evening pic.twitter.com/zJXEAQ7vNg
— Consequence (@consequence) October 31, 2021
An introductory of A-listers reciting classic Jay-Z bars included Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter, Rihanna, LeBron James, Pharrell, Diddy, Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, David Letterman, Rick Ross, Questlove, Regina King, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Legend, Common, H.E.R., Jamie Foxx, DJ Khaled, Lena Waithe, Aziz Ansari, Trevor Noah, Usher, Ed Sheeran, Tyler Perry, and Chris Martin.
JAY–Z’s induction video features: Barack Obama, Pharrell, Beyonce, Regina King, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Legend, Common, LeBron James, Chris Rock, H.E.R., Jamie Foxx, Rihanna, Diddy, Blue and more
— JAY-Z Daily (@JAY_Z_Daily) October 31, 2021
Following the video, reported Rolling Stone, Dave Chappelle had the honor of introducing the man of the hour. opening with a joke “I would like to apologize… I’m just f**king with you,” Chappelle joked, referencing his recent Netflix controversy. “It is an incredible honor to induct this next man into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” the legendary comedian proclaimed. “But I need everybody in rock ‘n’ roll to know, that even though you are honoring him, he is ours. He is hip-hop. For ever and ever, and a day.”
“I could sit up here tonight, I could talk about his acumen as businessman. I could talk about his accomplishments in music. But I think what’s most important for everyone in this room to know is what it means to us, what he means to his culture,” Chappelle said in an extensive speech transcribed in full at Rolling Stone. In closing, “I am honored to be the n***a that gets to say, ‘My n***a, welcome to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In JAY-Z’s acceptance speech, he spoke to both his mother, Gloria Carter, and Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder, Dame Dash. “Shout out to Dame… I know we don’t see eye to eye, but I can never erase your accomplishments, and I appreciate you and thank you for that,” JAY-Z said.
“Shout-out to Dr. Gloria Carter in the house”#RockHall2021
— JAY-Z Daily (@JAY_Z_Daily) October 31, 2021
This 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was a pre-recorded telecast that will air later this year on HBO and HBO Max.
A committee of 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry members, as well as a fan vote, determines the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class. In order to be eligible for the Honor, nominee’s first recording must have been released at least 25 years ago.
