The Rock & Roll Hall Fame nominations are in.
The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston are among the 16 artists to be nominated for the Rock Hall Class 2020.
The late legends join a prestigious list nominees including Pat Benatar, Dave Matthews Band, Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, Judas Priest, Kraftwerk, MC5, Motörhead, Nine Inch Nails, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Todd Rundgren, Soundgarden, T. Rex, and Thin Lizzy.
Introducing your #RockHall2020 Nominees 🎉
Your voice, your vote: Let us know who you think deserves to be a #RockHall2020 Inductee. Join our @KlipschAudio Fan Vote and vote now on @Google: https://t.co/KyAG5Rn12K pic.twitter.com/muYcwl6vIS
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) October 15, 2019
This marks the first time that The Notorious B.I.G. and Houston have appeared on the ballot. To be eligible, each nominee’s first single or album had to have been released in 1994 or earlier. Houston released 11 No. 1 hits throughout her career, including “I Will Always Love You,” while Biggie’s “Hypnotize” and “Mo Money Mo Problems” both reached No. 1 in 1997.
Biggie, who received a nomination in his first year eligibility, would become the second solo rapper to join the Rock Hall after Tupac Shakur, who was inducted in 2017.
More than 1,000 artists, historians, and members the music industry will take part in the voting process. Fans will also be able to cast their vote at rockhall.com or at an interactive kiosk at the museum in Cleveland.
The top vote-getters will be announced in January and inducted during the 35th annual induction ceremony at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium on May 2, 2020.
Earlier this year, the Rock & Roll Hall Fame inducted Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, Def Leppard, The Cure, and The Zombies into the Class 2019.