Launched as far back as 1983, the annual event honours artists considered to be crucial contributors to alternative music and culture. Bands and artists become eligible for induction once 25 years has passed since the release of their first record. Ballots are then sent to over six hundred musical historians, industry members, and artists themselves- including every living member already inducted.

The Hall of Fame’s five final inductees will be announced in December. Last year the five inductees were NWA, Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple and Steve Miller, the full longlist is shown below:

Bad Brains
The Cars
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
Electric Light Orchestra
J. Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
Tupac Shakur
Yes
The Zombies

NWA’s induction last year was a sore point for KISS frontman Gene Simmons, who questioned the legitimacy of Hip-Hop in Rolling Stone, going as far as to suggest that he was “looking forward to the death of rap,” dismissing it as a trend, and even predicting its demise. “Rap will die. Next year, 10 years from now, at some point, and then something else will come along.”

As pioneers of the genre, NWA took this personally, and fired back during their Hall of Fame induction speech, with MC Ren calling out the KISS man directly:” I want to say to Mr. Gene Simmons that hip-hop is here forever. We’re supposed to be here.”

Simmons, himself a member of the Hall of Fame, chose to ignore the democratic nature of NWA’s induction, and took to Twitter to respond.

Respectfully– let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame. Then you’ll have a point. @icecube https://t.co/BRuU8t5vYe

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 9, 2016

Simmons also ignored other rap-based inductees Run-D.M.C, Grandmaster Flash, Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy in his criticism of the band.

One year on from this ordeal and another Hip-Hop icon is up for nomination, this time in form Tupac Shakur. It is well worth noting that NWA were voted into the Hall of Fame in the first year in which they were eligible, 25 years on from their debut album Straight Outta Compton, which bodes well for 2pac too, as it is his first eligible year.