Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 – Funktasy Favorites

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have been chosen for 2025! With a mix of renowned artists stretching through hip-hop, pop, rock and R&B, the new names to be placed in the pantheon of music history have certainly earned their stay.

On the new artists to be given their spot, John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, said this: “Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of Rock & Roll forever. Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

In a press release, the organization describes its mission:

“Born from the collision of rhythm & blues, country, and gospel, rock & roll is an inclusive and ever-changing spirit. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates the sound of youth culture and honours the artists whose music connects us all.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was first established in 1983 to commemorate the contributions of recognized figures in rock history. Nowadays, it not only celebrates ‘rock and roll’, but also essential artists from various genres, shifting in the mid-2000s to feature iconic inductees with a range of styles.

The new crop of classic musicians to be inducted shows a beautiful musical mix, from the genre-bending hip-hop of Outkast to the powerful pop anthems of Cyndi Lauper. Today, Funktasy will look at four of the artists who have earned the esteemed privilege as the 2025 inductees of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!

Salt-N-Pepa

Salt-N-Pepa are synonymous with catchy hooks, bold lyrics and daring looks. Blurring the lines between hip-hop and R&B, the group made their debut in 1985 with the radio hit “The Showstopper”, setting the stage for a revolutionary shift in the industry. As the first female rappers to be certified platinum, they took mainstream hip-hop by storm, an impressive feat in a genre that was then mainly populated by male artists. 

Their success extends to their debut album “Hot, Cool & Vicious”, released in 1986 and featuring tracks like “Push It”, which peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their subsequent albums “A Salt with a Deadly Pepa” and “Black’s Magic” further solidified their position in the music industry. Among these, powerful songs like “Shake Your Thang” and “Let’s Talk About Sex” really contributed to shaping an era where hip-hop could be commercially successful as well as thoughtful.

The latter went on to break taboos around sexuality, sparking national conversations on issues like the AIDS epidemic and safety concerns around sex. Their most successful album, “Very Necessary”, featured breakthrough hits like “Shoop”, “Whatta Man” and “None of Your Business”, with the latter handing them over a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1995. 

Salt-N-Pepa also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023, proving again their lasting impact on the musical culture and being celebrated as true iconic figures in music history. Their artistic exploits broke barriers for women and reshaped the whole imagery of feminism and sexuality within hip-hop. Given their immense influence on music culture, they surely deserve a spot in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

The White Stripes

Heavy drums, piercing guitar riffs, and punk-rock vocals characterize one of the most popular rock songs: “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. While this is their second time to be nominated, the duo Jack and Meg White are now among the performers to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025. “Seven Nation Army” may be considered their most popular song, but their musical contributions go beyond the rock anthem’s commercial success. The White Stripes hail from Detroit, Michigan, and they first broke into mainstream popularity when they re-released their third album, “White Blood Cells”, under a major record label. After releasing two more albums and performing live internationally, The White Stripes dissolved in 2011, but their music remains in the broader indie rock genre.

The duo’s sound captivated the punk rock and garage scene, employing their minimalist approach to rock and roll by stripping it down to its essentials over a blues musical foundation. As mentioned before, “Seven Nation Army” was composed primarily of drums, guitar, and vocals, and this formula applied to most of their songs, which allowed for more nuance and room to experiment within their music. Jack White’s raw, soulful, often-screeching vocals are distinct and powerful, adding a layer of depth and passion that fuels the fire from his guitar riffs and the simple yet strong drumming of Meg White.

Their visual aesthetic centred around heavy reds, black, and white, adding a bold, punky look that was as strikingly minimalist as their music. Overall, The White Stripes have made an undeniable impact in the rock scene that will be talked about for many more years to come, especially with their legacy now being immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Born from the collision of rhythm & blues, country, and gospel, rock & roll is an inclusive and ever-changing spirit. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates the sound of youth culture and honours the artists whose music connects us all.”

Outkast

The two that brought the South into the forefront of mainstream hip-hop, pushed sonic boundaries and became one of the most revered and respected groups in rap history, Outkast, have rightfully earned their place in the hall of fame. Already known as one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time (#1 on Billboard’s list), Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton, aka Andre 3000 and Big Boi, have etched their names into the walls of hip-hop history as a gold standard for artistry, lyricism and creativity within the genre.

Over their career, they’ve built an undeniable discography, from the darker, soul-searching style of “ATLiens” in 1996 to the eclectic electro, pop and funk fusions of “Speakerboxx/The Love Below”. With 6 Grammys and 13 platinum records to date, the pair proved themselves to be an unstoppable force in modern hip-hop, and music in general – “Hey Ya!” was even ranked number 10 in Rolling Stone’s 2021 list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Picture the 1995 Source Awards, at the height of the infamous West Coast/East Coast beef. Rising to the stage amongst a chorus of boos after winning the “Best New Rap Group Award”, Andre 300 defiantly stated “The South got something to say”. And people listened. They were one of the first groups to break down the wall for Southern rappers, bringing credibility and commercial success to a region that couldn’t find an open door. During OutKast’s peak (2002), 50–60% of rap music played on the radio came from the South. And just turn on the radio or put on your Spotify playlists today and see how Southern artists and sounds are commanding the culture of hip-hop music today.

Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a powerful acknowledgment of an artist whose creativity, authenticity, and fearless spirit transformed the music industry. Lauper burst into the spotlight with her 1983 debut album “She’s So Unusual”, becoming the first female artist in history to have four top-five singles from a debut record – an unprecedented achievement at the time. Her distinctive voice with an impressive vocal range, vibrant personality, and playful, rebellious style made her an instant icon, and her music, particularly the era-defining hits “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “Time After Time” and “True Colours”, cemented her place in pop culture.

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” in particular evolved into a timeless feminist anthem, celebrating freedom, self-expression, and joy, connecting with generations of women across the globe in a way that felt revolutionary then – and still feels urgent now. 

Throughout her career, Lauper has sold over 50 million records worldwide, won two Grammys, an Emmy and a Tony Award, and has used her platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights and humanitarian causes. In 2008, Lauper co-founded the organization The True Colours Fund, which addresses the issue of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness. Her songs and her activism continue to resonate across generations, proving her work to be not only timeless but transformative. With such a decorated career spanning over four decades, Cyndi Lauper is more than deserving of this honour – a true trailblazer whose impact on music and culture is immeasurable.

Being Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a Great Honour and Achievement to Reach as a Musician…

These are just some of the 2025 inductees who have earned their spot here. Each of the names above has made integral contributions to art, having lasting effects both in and outside of music. Many more talented musicians were not covered in this article, like Soundgarden, Chubby Checker and Bad Company, but that does not dismiss their influence in the music industry! It’s also worth noting that while being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a great privilege, there’s still a plethora of talented musicians in the world who are yet to be inducted. We’ll be waiting to see who will win the honour of next year’s induction – for now, enjoy Funktasy’s favourites from the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!