Why rappers like Run-DMC belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

It happened when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 2007, and it happened again this weekend when the Hall welcomed Run-DMC. "Run-DMC? I have lost all respect for the hall of fame." "rap and hip hop AIN'T ROCK!" "c(rap) and the wonderful word MUSIC should never be said in the same sentence." So said your fellow Music Mix commenters. Blah, blah, blah. I'm trying not to put this in inflammatory terms, but may I ask what exactly it is that bothers some people so much about the idea of honoring undeniably influential hip-hop pioneers in a rock canon?

"Rap" stands for Rhythmic Accompanied Poetry. It grew out of the Beat Poets.

It is NOT MUSIC. It is "Poetry", though the foul mouths and misbehavior of the so-called "rap artists" are such that honest poets would likely try to disown it as well.