The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced the slate of inductees for 2017 and it’s lit! Included on the list are Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Berry Gordy, writing duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and, wait for it…Shawn “Jay Z” Carter rounds out the list as the first rapper ever inducted. Legendary record producer, Nile Rodgers took to CBS This Morning to make the announcement.
Founded in 1969, The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the work of groundbreaking composers and lyricists. This year's inductees have earned their bliggity black places through consistent, hit-laden careers, penning some of the most classic jams of all times. Receipts, please.
Photo: Lipstick Alley
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
Photo: Dancing with the Stars
Babyface owned the 90’s producing over 26 number-one R&B hits throughout his career and has garnered 11 Grammy Awards. When this brother wrote the entire soundtrack of Waiting to Exhale from a woman's perspective, I knew he was anointed with supernatural powers.
Berry Gordy
Photo: Publicist
Aside from founding the Motown record label and creating the assembly line hit factory of musicians, writers, and superstars that changed the sound of music as we know it, Berry Gordy Jr. put on legendary artists like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Photo: Rolling Stone
If you didn’t live through the 1980’s, ‘The New Edition Story’ on VH1 provided a tiny glimpse of the dominance that James Samuel “Jimmy Jam” Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis brought to the decade. The legendary songwriting and record production duo wrote 41 top ten hits and put Janet Jackson in Control.
Shawn “Jay Z” Carter
Photo: Popkey
Sure, Shawn Carter is an investor, sports impresario, mogul with a rapidly increasing business portfolio, but don’t you ever in your melanated life forget that Jay Z, the rapper, is one of the best-selling artists of all time. With over 100 million records sold and 21 Grammy Awards, Jay is your favorites fav.
Congrats to all the inductees to The 2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame!
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