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Gene Simmons Hits Back at Ice Cube’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Comments

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 06: Producer/Actor Ice Cube attends the Premiere Of New Line Cinema's "Barbershop: The Next Cut" at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 6, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Update: Ice Cube came back at Gene Simmons on Twitter yesterday. “Who stole the soul?” the N.W.A rapper wrote. “Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Chubby Checkers help invent Rock ‘n’ Roll. We invent it. Y’all reprint it.” The Kiss singer, concluding that, yes, this is the hill he wants to die on, responded. “I stand by my words,” he tweeted. “Respect NWA, but when Led Zep gets into Rap Hall of Fame, I will agree with your point.”

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KISS co-founder Gene Simmons presumably didn’t earn many friends earlier this year when he told Rolling Stone that he was “looking forward to the death of rap.” N.W.A members MC Ren and Ice Cube addressed those comments on Friday during their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Ren saying, “I want to say to Mr. Gene Simmons that hip-hop is here forever. We’re supposed to be here.” Ice Cube continued went on: “The question is, ‘Are we rock’n’roll?’ And I say — you’re goddamn right we’re rock’n’roll.”

Simmons hit back on Saturday with a tweet that said, “Let me know when Jimi Hendrix gets into the hip-hop hall of fame. Then you’ll have a point.” As Pitchfork points out, there is no such establishment — save for the one to open in Harlem this year. But still. No, Gene. Just no.

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