Honour the rhymes! The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inducted Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa on a historic night for hip-hop

Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa were inducted into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8, joining a select group of other rap legends.

On November 8, the South had a voice when the iconic rap trio Outkast, hip-hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa, and soul stalwarts Sly and The Family Stone were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Rapper and actor Donald Glover introduced the Atlanta-born performers, citing the group’s impact on his own artistic development.

“I want to thank Big Boi and André directly. “I had a dream that we wrote a show together,” he stated in his address, referring to a letter I wrote to my brother from college around the time Speakerboxxx/The Love Below came out. “Thank you for demonstrating to me that although brothers may not always agree on their ideologies or fashion sense, they are mutually dependent in a society that would prefer to see them fail together. .. Without you, Atlanta isn’t the music hub that it has become. Childish Gambino wouldn’t exist without you. Without you, there would be no South.

The Hall of Fame invited Tyler, The Creator, Janelle Monae, Doja Cat, Jid, Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown, and Big Boi himself to perform their musical homage. Tyler’s rendition of “B.O.B (Bombs Over Bagdad)” perfectly captured the vibrant and energizing lyrics and energy of the group. Meanwhile, a highlight was Janelle’s rendition of the Grammy-winning song “Hey Ya” by Andre 3000. After performing “ATLiens” alongside Jid, Big Boi joined Killer Mike and Sleepy Brown for “The Way You Move.” Bravo!

Andre 3000 made an impression even though he didn’t sing that night. He spoke about their journey, inspirations, and brotherhood, which caused the Peacock Theater stand up.

He stated during his remarks, “A lot of the time it’s a lot more than just the notes or the instruments that you playing.” “Everyone around you is involved. My family is this one, and it’s the family. The spouses, girlfriends, and the girl you broke up with who enraged you and forced you to write a song are all examples. That’s all significant. The bands that were popular at the time and the rappers that were popular—from Busta Rhymes to Missy [Elliot], Nas, and Wu-Tang—have a big influence on us. Even before Kilo [Ali], we had Raheem the Dream. We were in Atlanta, watching dancers. Those were our childhood heroes.

Three Stacks talked about Outkast’s modest origins in one of his most moving speeches. 

Great things begin in little spaces. He cried as he recalled, “We began in a small room. 

That night, Missy Elliott took on the job of showcasing Salt-N-Pepa’s impact on hip hop, and the group was inducted as well.

Given that Missy is frequently cited as one of the most significant musicians and visual artists of her time, it was heartwarming to see her thank her mentors with flowers. She was also nominated for and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023, making her the first female rapper to serve in that capacity.

She stated in her speech that Salt, Pepa, and Spinderella are the reason you are even aware of Missy Elliott’s name. “Remember that if your favorite rapper is successful, they have a basis upon which to stand. These three women are the cornerstones of the framework that keeps hip-hop cohesive. They provided us with their shoulders to support us.

Despite their long-standing distance from their DJ, Deidra “Spinderella” Roper, Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton have recently reconnected and performed together. The fact that they put aside their disagreements for such a fantastic evening thrilled the viewers. Additionally, they invited En Vogue to sing “Whatta Man,” and Spinderella, the first female DJ to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, had a solo performance to demonstrate why she remains one of the greatest.

Although Salt-N-Pepa was there to commemorate a significant turning point in their career, they also took the opportunity to discuss how the industry preys on artists. Salt disclosed that due to a continuing ownership dispute, the group’s music is not accessible on streaming services. 

“This is dedicated to all women who took up microphones despite being told they couldn’t,” she remarked. Fans aren’t even able to stream our songs while we celebrate this milestone. All streaming services have removed it since the business still refuses to be fair. Seasoning with salt Pepa has never been scared of conflict. This award is for Influence. We must continue to use our power until the industry, including streaming platforms, treats creative with the same love, respect, and equity as the public.

Even if they are currently facing difficulties, Salt-N-Pepa will always have a permanent position in music history. They were the first female rappers to win a Grammy and the first female rap act to have gold and platinum records. They were also granted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.