The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2026 class has been announced, and if you are a lover of Hip Hop and R&B music, it’s a doozy. The stars of the show are the Wu-Tang Clan, the 9-man tour de force featuring RZA, Method Man, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastid [RIP], Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Raekwon, and Inspecta Deck, who are going into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

The Wu-Tang Clan influenced Rap music in so many ways, from their ruffneck New York style to their ability to sign each individual member to a record contract with different labels. The Clan have been icons for all of the 25 years since they put out their first record, and are still doing shows today.

It’s hard to name a bigger female rapper than Queen Latifah. She kicked through glass ceilings in music and on TV, and now she is one of the most well-respected celebrities in the game. She also did well with the music business side, turning her crew, the Flavor Unit, into an influential entertainment company, while also helping the careers of OGs like Black Sheep, Naughty by Nature, and even early Outkast.

From the age of 16, MC Lyte has been on the mic and she hasn’t stopped. From her ground-breaking debut album, Lyte as a Rock, to her recent management company, Hip Hop Sisters Foundation, Lyte has been a beacon for females in the male-dominated Hip Hop space.

Sade is the coolest of the cool R&B band with a distinct sound that never goes out of style, Luther Vandross has to be played at every BBQ, and Rick Rubin was an integral part of the building blocks of Hip Hop. Other nominees include Phil Collins, Oasis, and Iron Maiden. The class of 2026 is one of the best ever.

The induction ceremony is November 14, which will be recorded and shown at a later date.