While many white artists were blurring the racial line across many musical genres, the traditional platform of Rock and Roll seemed to be a “whites only” club; at least that was the perception among many in the late 80’s. Virtually anyone who thought that had their opinion change when they saw Living Colour perform epically on Saturday Night Live; which was the first time that many people ever came to know who they were. Subsequently, their debut album would not only bring them acclaim, but helped to start a Funk Metal genre, and to a lesser extent, Alternative Metal. Their future albums did not do as well (and were not as good frankly), but they do have an origin that the Hall of Fame respects. That might be enough.

Although Fugazi is easily one of the most important Post Hardcore bands of note, they rarely promoted themselves. They were true DIY artists who were uncompromising with their craft regardless of whether they were in the studio, on stage, or in life in general. Their lyrics were cerebral and their music was a unique Punk sound with Funk and Reggae beats. Ironically, the very things that made them have such a rabid fan base are the very things that will likely keep them out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The sad thing is if any D.C. based Hardocre band should get a solid look from Cleveland it is Fugazi. Chances are, they won’t

Although we think we can make an overall case for the induction of Glenn Danzig’s overall career, we aren’t going to make travel arrangements for him to Ohio just yet.

While the world of Hip Hop was going into Hardcore and Gangsta directions, De La Soul came out of Long Island and set up camp as Rap’s resident hippies. They may very well have been at the dawn of Alternative Rap, as their quirky rhymes and Jazz and Psychedelic infusions made them very different from what was being showcased in the Hip Hop landscape at the time.