If you were to ask many music fans in 1990 or 1991 which band truly defined “Alternative” many would point to Jane’s Addiction. With a funky hybrid of Metal, Punk and Folk the provocative band took the music world by storm in the late 80’s.

When the Alternative scene exploded into the mainstream many pointed to Seattle as the origin of it all. Funny, how many of those bands pointed back East to the Pixies as the group who was really responsible.

Considered one of the pioneers of Gangsta Rap, N.W.A. was not just among the first of their kind, they might just be considered the best.

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