Jay Z Becomes First Rapper Chosen for Songwriters Hall of Fame
The 2017 inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame were announced Wednesday morning, with hip-hop icon Jay Z and one-man hit factory Max Martin leading a class that also includes Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and three members of Chicago.
With his induction, Jay Z becomes the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall. The 21-time Grammy winner "was in a space where, even though he's had more pop albums than anyone else, because he did it through rap," it took longer for traditional voters to consider him, said Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers, who announced the inductees on CBS This Morning. "It's massive. He has changed the way that we listen to music. He's changed the way that we have fun."JUST ANNOUNCED: @NileRodgers reveals 2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees. @SongwritersHOF #SHOF pic.twitter.com/46fbJQcZIL— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 22, 2017
Shawn 'Jay Z' Carter has become the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame! #SHOF pic.twitter.com/OgNaIpbaXs— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 22, 2017
Take Jay Z out of the mix and it's still an impressive class this year: Martin holds the distinction of having written or co-written 22 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, third only to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Over the years, Gordy contributed many songs for his legendary stable of Motown artists, including hit tracks for Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye. Babyface's prolific career has yielded 16 No. 1s, including Madonna's "Take a Bow" and Boyz II Men's "End of the Road." The team of Jam & Lewis have penned hits for Michael Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, among others. Finally, the Chicago trio of Robert Lamm, James Pankow and Peter Cetera have a list of classic rock gems including "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park" and "If You Leave Me Now."
Source: Billboard
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