The Hollywood Reporter
After N.W.A. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Friday, its biopic received the True Story award at the MTV Movie Awards on Saturday. The acceptance follows Gene Simmon’s comments saying he’s looking forward to the death of hip-hop.
The Movie Awards were taped Saturday night and aired this past Sunday. After the rap group’s biopic, “Straight Outta Compton” was honored, actor Jason Mitchell, who portrayed the late Eazy-E in the film, playfully thanked the Academy before thanking MTV.
“I would just like to take a moment to thank the Academy — I mean MTV,” said Mitchell in reference to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy surrounding the lack of nominees of color at this year’s ceremony. “Compton” was only nominated for one award in February, Best Original Screenplay.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. My bad, my bad, my bad,” he said after jokingly being corrected on stage by co-star O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Mitchell thanked the founding members of N.W.A. – Ice Cube, who is Jackson’s father; MC Red; Dr. Dre; and Eazy-E. He also thanked the network for being “pioneers” for the rap group. The New York Daily News reports original member DJ Yella was on hand to accept the honor with the movie cast, and he also shouted out his band member, Eazy-E, who died in 1995.
According to Cleveland.com, MC Red responded to Simmon’s comments on rap’s demise at Friday night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.
“I want to say to Gene Simmons, hip-hop is here forever,” Ren said during his speech. “Get used to it.”
As to talk of whether the genre belongs in the hall of fame, Ice Cube responded emphatically.
“Goddamn right, we’re rock and roll,” said Cube. “Rock ‘n roll is not just a musical style but a spirit that connects people, be they blues men or punk rockers. Rock ‘n roll is not conforming to the people who came before you but creating your own path in music and in life. That is rock ‘n roll and that is us.”
The KISS member hit back at the actor-rapper on Twitter.
Respectfully– let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the hip hop hall of fame. Then youll have a point. @icecube https://t.co/BRuU8t5vYe
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 9, 2016
