The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 class of inductees, celebrating artists who have shaped the cultural landscape.
Among those to be honored this year are two cultural icons whose musical and artistic influence spans generations: Southern hip-hop legends OutKast and trailblazing rap icons Salt-N-Pepa.
This marks the sixth consecutive year that one or more rap acts has been in the induction class.
For OutKast, the honor marks a major milestone in a career that reshaped the course of hip-hop. When Big Boi and André 3000 exploded onto the scene in the mid-1990s, they shifted the industry’s focus to the South and put Atlanta on the world stage.
With albums like ATLiens, Aquemini, and the Grammy-winning Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, they built a legacy as fearless innovators who pushed the genre’s boundaries.
According to Essence, Salt-N-Pepa, the iconic rap group that kicked down doors for women in hip-hop and beyond, will receive the prestigious Musical Influence Award.
With platinum albums, several Grammy wins, and crossover hits like “Push It” and “Whatta Man,” Salt-N-Pepa proved rap wasn’t just a boys’ club.
“Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of Rock & Roll forever,” John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame said in a statement to the outlet
“Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”
Other artists set to be inducted into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame include Warren Zevon (who will be honored with the Musical Influence Award alongside Salt-N-Pepa), Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, and Bad Company.
Key behind-the-scenes figures like Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye will receive the Musical Excellence Awards, as industry titan Lenny Waronker receives the Ahmet Ertegun Award for his contributions to the business side of music.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction is set to take place on November 8 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
The 2025 ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+, with a special airing on ABC at a later date and available on Hulu the next day.
