N.W.A., Eminem, Janet Jackson Join Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductees Class Of 2025
The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced the nominees for its 2025 class, which is headlined by Hip-Hop legends N.W.A. and Eminem, and R&B vanguard Janet Jackson.
On Tuesday (Nov. 12), the organization released this year’s slate of nominees, which includes songwriters and performers in several genres, including country, folk, rock, and pop. Additional nominees up for induction include p-funk pioneer George Clinton, super producer and songwriter Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Sheryl Crow, and Alanis Morissette.
A songwriter or performer cannot be eligible for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame until 20 years after their first commercial release of a song. Voting for the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame class closes on December 22 at midnight ET, with each ballot allowing voters to select up to three nominees in the songwriter and performer categories.
Singer/songwriter George Clinton performs onstage at the 2017 SESAC Pop Awards on April 13, 2017 in New York City.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for SESAC
The past few years have seen an uptick in Hip-Hop artists being acknowledged by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, as multiple acts from the genre have been voted in for their contributions to music. In 2017, JAY-Z became the first rap artist in history to be inducted into the institution, and the milestone was widely celebrated by many, including former United States President Barack Obama.
The renowned music buff publicly congratulated Hov in the wake of receiving the honor. “I sampled his lyrics to close my speech at Selma,” Obama said of JAY-Z at the time. “I tweeted a reference to ‘My First Song‘ as I was putting the finishing touches on my final State of the Union Address. I had to brush some ‘dirt off my shoulders” during a campaign.’”
Record producer, songwriter, and musician Rodney Jerkins poses with his Grammy for the song ‘Stay With Me’ poses in the press room during The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
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He added, “I’m pretty sure I’m still the only President to listen to Jay Z’s music in the Oval Office,” the 44th President says with a smile. “That may change at some point, but I’m pretty sure that’s true now.”
Other Hip-Hop acts to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame include Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, and Neptunes.
Last year’s Songwriters Hall of Fame honorees included inductees R.E.M., Steely Dan, SZA, Timbaland, Hillary Lindsey, Diane Warren, and Cindy Walker.
Inductees Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes pose backstage at the Songwriters Hall of Fame 51st Annual Induction and Awards Gala at Marriott Marquis on June 16, 2022 in New York City.
Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall of Fame