Public Enemy

In their heyday, their music was a ferocious power attack that was among the most innovative of the Hip Hop genre. Lyrically, they were a Hardcore Rap group that brought back political commentary from a true urban point of view that was not seen since the days of Gil Scott-Heron. The entire combination made for a controversial and influential group that set a blueprint for numerous Hip Hop acts that followed. Throw in the fact that they helped spear Rap Metal with Anthrax and you find a Rap group that has a lot of “Rock” credibility. Their yoke however might be Flavor Flav, whose current career as a Reality TV clown might cause a committee to dismiss the whole act as buffoons; which they certainly were not!

Inducted in 2012.

Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff & Terminator X