Luckily, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just announced their nominees for the class of 2025! This year’s artists’ class acknowledges the significant impact of women, people of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community who rocked the music industry. This year’s class of honorees includes Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, Salt-N-Pepa, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, and Warren Zevon. This year’s inductees pay homage to a diverse array of genres and styles that have infused the fabric of contemporary music.
In many ways, Cyndi Lauper is the ultimate groundbreaking artist, a musical chameleon known for her distinct voice and exciting mix of influences. With over 50 million records sold worldwide, she has received multiple awards, including Grammys, Emmys, and Tony Awards. In 1983, Lauper broke records when her adventurous debut album, She’s So Unusual. She is the first female artist to have four songs debut in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. Her other irreplaceable anthems are “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” and “True Colors.” For many fans, these songs are still, 35 years later, making new fans worldwide.
Celebrating Cyndi Lauper’s Legacy
For Lauper, she’s winning audiences with songwriting that pushes boundaries and tells vital stories. Her unique ability to mix catchy pop tunes with social critique and commentary has given her a permanent place in music history.
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
Her legacy extends much deeper than her string of dance-pop smashes. Throughout her career, she has consistently and fervently championed LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality. Lauper’s contributions to music and culture have without question made waves that have reshaped the future of Rock & Roll.
Even John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, wanted to share how historic this year’s inductees are. He promised, “From each one of these inductees, you’re talking about an innovator that made their own sound and attitude that deeply inspired culture and altered the trajectory of Rock & Roll… eternally.”
The Rise of Hip-Hop with Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa
Outkast, consisting of Big Boi (Antwan Patton) and André 3000 (André Benjamin), are recognized as one of the most innovative acts in hip-hop. They are certified to have sold over 20 million records over six studio albums. Their innovative touch has brought them both critical acclaim and commercial success. The duo has swept the Grammy Awards, winning six out of their 11 nominations. This long overdue recognition cements their legacy as innovators and architects of the genre.
Their innovative approach to music has been genre defying, fusing elements of funk, soul, and rap. Smashes such as “Hey Ya!” and “Ms. Jackson” showcase their one of a kind artistry. These songs continue to inspire and shape the hip-hop landscape even today.
Alongside Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa are honored as the “First Ladies of Rap.” Having sold over 15 million records worldwide, they continued to make an impact for female artists in a largely male-dominated genre. Their huge hits like “Shoop” and “Whatta Man” are still coming up fresh every day, influencing a new generation of artists.
Honoring Rock Legends: Soundgarden, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, and Warren Zevon
Soundgarden helped kick off the grunge music movement with their unique and heavy sound.
Commercial success
Their fourth album, Superunknown, became their first No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200. The album launched landmark singles “Spoonman” and “Black Hole Sun,” each of which won Grammy Awards. Tragically, the band’s frontman, Chris Cornell, died in 2017 at the young age of 52. His absence is still felt profoundly across the rock community.
Chubby Checker revolutionized dance music with his cover of “The Twist,” popularizing the dance style that became a cultural phenomenon in the 1960s. His influence on pop culture remains significant.
Joe Cocker’s extraordinary career lasted more than four decades in which he put out 22 albums. His soulful voice and passionate performances transcended language and culture, connecting with audiences around the world. In the same vein Warren Zevon’s idiosyncratic songwriting crafted gems such as “Werewolves of London,” a song that exhibits his great narrative eye.
“Werewolves of London” – Warren Zevon
