Hip Hop Hall of Fame

Plans for a Hip Hop Hall of Fame have been in the works since at least 1998 by a few different parties, but as of yet there is no physical home for its inductees.

In the last few decades, the Hip Hop Hall of Fame has held periodic inductions, including a ceremony in 2002 which enshrined 15 members (Afrika Bambaataa, Crazy Legs (member of the Rock Steady Crew), DJ Kool Herc, Dondi (graffiti artist), Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, KRS One, LL Cool J, Notorious B.I.G., Queen Latifah, Run DMC, Russell Simmons, Salt N Pepa, Slick Rick, and Tupac Shakur). After failed attempts for additional ceremonies in 2005 and 2008, they held another ceremony in 2014, honoring a mix of rapper, deejays, graffiti artists, dancers, and documentarians. Another large induction class was announced in 2017, but there doesn't appear to be a record of the ceremony actually happening.

The owner of the trademark to the "Hip Hop Hall of Fame" is J.T. Thompson, who continues to pursue the dream of building a museum in midtown Manhattan, “It’s not just the Hall of Fame anymore. It’s a hotel, it’s a residential and retail mall and it’s a live entertainment venue. We are building something sustainable.”

ArtistYear HonoredCategory
DJ Kool Herc 1996Performer
DJ Red Alert 1996Performer
Eazy-E 1996Performer
Grandmaster Flash 1996Performer
Run-DMC & Jam Master Jay 1996Performer
The Zulu Nation 1996Hip Hop Organization
2Pac 2002Performer
Afrika Bambaataa 2002Performer
Crazy Legs 2002B-Boys/Girls Dancers
DJ Kool Herc 2002Performer
Dondi 2002Graffiti Artist
Doug E. Fresh 2002Performer
Grandmaster Flash 2002Performer
KRS One 2002Performer
LL Cool J 2002Performer
Notorious B.I.G. 2002Performer
Queen Latifah 2002Performer
Run-DMC 2002Performer
Russell Simmons 2002Performer
Salt-N-Pepa 2002Performer
Slick Rick 2002Performer
Charlie Ahearn and Wild Style 2014Film/ Documentarian
Chief Rocker Busy Bee 2014Performer
Cornbread 2014Graffiti Artist
DJ Hollywood 2014Deejay
Ernie Paniccoli 2014Photographer/ Documentarian
Mr. Magic 2014Radio DJ/Mixshow
Ralph McDaniels and Video Music Box 2014Lifetime Achievement
Spoony Gee and the Treacherous 3 with DJ Easy Lee 2014Performer
Stay High 149 2014Graffiti Artist
The Mercedes Ladies 2014Performer
The N. Twins 2014B-Boys/Girls Dancers
The Sequence 2014Performer
Wonder Mike & Master Gee Voices of Rappers Delight 2014Performer
Beastie Boys 2017Groups
Bobby Robinson and Enjoy Records 2017Classic Record Labels & Promotions
Daniel 'Dapper-Dan' Day 2017Hip Hop Fashion
DJ Jazzy Jay 2017Deejay
DJ Wanda Dee 2017Deejay
Harry Belanfonte Producer and Beat Street The Movie 2017Classic Hip Hop Movies & Producers
Joe Conzo 'Born In The Bronx' 2017Hip Hop Photography
Kurtis Blow 2017Solo Artist
LL Cool J 2017Solo Artist
Lovebug Starski 2017Deejay
Mike & Dave Records & Promotions 2017Classic Record Labels & Promotions
Sal Abbatiello and the Disco Fever 2017Classic Hip Hop Venue
Sylvia Robinson and Sugar Hill Records 2017Classic Record Labels & Promotions
The Cold Crush Brothers 2017Groups
The Crash Crew 2017Groups
The Disco Four and The Entertainer's Basketball League 2017Groups
The Fantastic Five 2017Groups
The Lockers 2017B-Boys/Girls Dancers
The Masterdon Committee 2017Groups
The Soulsonic Force 2017Groups
The U.S. Girls 2017Groups
Whodini 2017Groups

National Museum of Hip-Hop

In the late 2000s, the now defunct National Museum of Hip-Hop tried to build in the Bronx, but had trouble with funding and also caused a rift in the hip-hop community. Additionally, naming issues brought threats of legal action from the owner of the rights to the "Hip Hop Hall of Fame" name.

Universal Hip Hop Museum

More recently, the Universal Hip Hop Museum, led by founder Rocky Bucano, is under construction in the Bronx (scheduled completion in 2024) and has a promising future. Artists such as Kurtis Blow, Ice T, LL Cool J, and Nas have all publicly supported the museum. Organizers have teased a future "Hall of Respect," which sounds like it will be their version of a Hall of Fame.


VH1 Hip Hop Honors

Between 2004-2010, and again in 2016-2017, VH1 held annual award shows to celebrate the best hip hop artists of all-time. Over the nine high-profile televised ceremonies, they honored many of the early influences of the genre as well as the brightest stars. While the names listed below aren't in a "Hip Hop Hall of Fame," nearly all deserve to be.

The following are the artists who were celebrated at VH1's Hip Hop Honors:

ArtistYear HonoredCategory
DJ Hollywood 2004Performer
DJ Kool Herc 2004Performer
KRS One 2004Performer
Public Enemy 2004Performer
Rock Steady Crew 2004Breakdancer
Run-DMC 2004Performer
Sugarhill Gang 2004Performer
The Graffiti Movement 2004Graffiti Artist
Tupac Shakur (2Pac) 2004Performer
Big Daddy Kane 2005Performer
Boyz N the Hood 2005Film
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five 2005Performer
Ice-T 2005Performer
LL Cool J 2005Performer
Notorious B.I.G. 2005Performer
Salt N Pepa 2005Performer
Afrika Bambaataa 2006Performer
Beastie Boys 2006Performer
Eazy-E 2006Performer
Ice Cube 2006Performer
MC Lyte 2006Performer
Rakim 2006Performer
Russell Simmons 2006Producer
Wu-Tang Clan 2006Performer
A Tribe Called Quest 2007Performer
Missy Elliott 2007Performer
New Jack Swing (Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell) 2007Producer
Snoop Dogg 2007Performer
Whodini 2007Performer
Wild Style 2007Film
Cypress Hill 2008Performer
De La Soul 2008Performer
Isaac Hayes 2008Performer
Naughty By Nature 2008Performer
Slick Rick 2008Performer
Too $hort 2008Performer
Def Jam Records 2009Record Label
2 Live Crew 2010Performer
J. Prince (Rap-a-lot Records) 2010Record Label
Jermaine Dupri 2010Performer
Luther "Luke" Campbell 2010Performer
Master P 2010Performer
Organized Noize 2010Producer
Timbaland 2010Producer
Lil Kim 2016Performer
Queen Latifah 2016Performer
Hype Williams 2017Videographer
Mariah Carey 2017Performer
Martin Lawrence 2017Comedian

Future Hip Hop Legends is not affiliated in any way with the Hip Hop Hall of Fame, the Universal Hip Hop Museum or VH1.