Jay Z Is the First Rapper to Be Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday, Jay Z is the first rapper to be considered for the honor.

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The Associated Press reported Friday that Jay Z was nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside 22 other artists, including George Michael, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Bryan Adams, Vince Gill, Babyface, Max Martin, and Kool & the Gang. He is the first rapper in the organization's nearly 50-year history to be considered for the honor.

To be eligible for induction, songwriters have to have a career that spans at least two decades.

The AP reports:

Eligible members can vote for three non-performing songwriters and two performing songwriters until Dec. 16. Five songwriters, or songwriting groups, will be officially inducted at a gala in New York on June 15, 2017.

Marvin Gaye, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards and Chip Taylor were the artists inducted in 2016. 

Hov's debut album, Reasonable Doubt, premiered in 1996. Fame and acclaim soon followed: The album worked its way onto Rolling Stone's lit of the 500 best albums of all time, and Jay has had 13 singles make their way to the top slot on the Billboard charts.

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the album, fans got to attend a "Reasonable Doubt" pop-up shop and exhibition in New York City this week. 

He's also one of the wealthiest hip-hop artists in the game.

 

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