Eric B. & Rakim and the Beastie Boys are among the 15 acts that have been included on the ballot for next year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

While this is the third time for the Beasties, this is the first time Eric B. & Rakim have been up for the honor.

In order to be eligible for nomination, the acts need to have released their debut single or album at least 25-years-ago, which is exactly when the Long Island rap duo were first introduced to the masses with their classic track, 1986’s “Eric B is President,” the lead up song to their seminal 1987 LP, Paid in Full.
According to The New York Times, the nominees were selected by a group of 40 critics and musicologists. They will now be sent to an additional 500 people—consisting of critics, artists and industry folk—who will vote on who they believe deserves to be in the hall. The inductees will then be announced in November, followed by a gala at the Cleveland Convention Center.

So far the only two rap acts in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are Run-D.M.C. and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. LL Cool J and Afrika Baambatta were both nominated in the past but failed to make it past the voting stages. —Elan Mancini

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