Jay Z Reacts To Making Songwriters Hall Of Fame

A rapper will be in the Songwriters Hall of Fame for the first time in its 48 year history.

Jay Z will be inducted as part of a 2017 class that also includes production legends Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Max Martin and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

To be eligible for the Hall, your first work has to be at least 20 years old. Reasonable Doubt came out in 1996, meaning Hov got in on his second chance.

“To be honest with you, last year we talked about it a lot," Songwriters Hall of Fame member Linda Moran said about Jay Z. "Our board and community wasn’t ready. This year we felt that they had been educated enough." "Jay Z is pop music but presents it in a different manner," she continued. This just shows that we accept it and acknowledge that. It’s a step into the future. We can’t nurture young songwriters if we can’t accept them and grow with them.”

By the way, this is a win for US. I remember when rap was said to be a fad . We are now alongside some of the greatest writers in history.

— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) February 22, 2017

Congrats.