Legendary rapper Tupac Shakur will join the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
The 'Hit 'Em Up' hitmaker will be inducted along with Joan Baez, Pearl Jam, Yes, Journey and Electric Light Orchestra on April 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Tupac will be the sixth hip-hop act to be added to the Hall, following Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and N.W.A.
Some have criticised the inclusion of musicians from genres that aren't traditionally considered rock and roll, but the people in charge are determined to remain inclusive.
"Rock and roll means so many things to so many different people... It's a broad definition and we consider hip-hop an important part of the whole genre," Hall of Fame CEO Joel Peresman told USA Today.
"To have a class that has everything from Joan Baez to Tupac Shakur, from Pearl Jam to Yes, is terrific. It gives a lot of people something to hang onto."
However, voices within the hip-hop community itself are also questioning the decision to honour Tupac before other rappers.
Chuck D of Public Enemy stated on Facebook in October that LL Cool J should've been inducted before the 'Picture Me Rollin' rapper, but today tweeted "salutes" over the official announcement.
Newshub.
