Beastie Boys, LL Cool J Among 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

By Allen Starbury

This year's class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced this week, and it includes a very eclectic group of acts ... including two iconic hip-hop acts. Punk-inspired legends, the Beastie Boys, and LL Cool J and among the 15 acts on the 2011 nominees list, as well as rockers Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, and crooner Neil Diamond, among others. 500 voters decide who gets inducted into the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Both LL and the Beasties have received previous nods without making it into the Hall. To be nominated, musicians have to meet the Rock Hall's standard induction requirement of releasing a first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. With hip-hop just breaking into mainstream music in the early '80s, the genres presence on the esteemed list is scarce. The few hip-hop acts to be inducted include Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 2007, and Run-DMC in 2009 who were presented with the honor by Eminem during the induction ceremony. Inductees will be announced in December with the 26th Annual Induction Ceremony following in March 2011 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.