The Memphis Music Hall of Fame enshrined 7 new members to its temple of excellence.
Among them, 8Ball & MJG received their plaudits for their contribution to the local scene. But Memphis isn't just any local scene with a beating pulse. The city of Memphis was a forerunner when the bedrock of American music was being created, and it continues to prevalent at a grassroots level.
8Ball & MJG's induction makes them the second hip-hop to gain entry following Three 6 Mafia's admittance in 2012. Other artists honored by the MMHoH committee over the years include Justin Timberlake, The Bar-Kays, Johnny Cash, Al Green, B.B. King, Elvis Presley, The Staples Singers, Rufus Thomas, Otis Redding, ZZ Top, Ann Peebles, just to name a few.
The induction ceremony included performances by most of its inductees, save for George Klein, an influential radio personality with close ties to Elvis Presley in the days where "Roll & Roll" was causing mass hysteria. Aretha Franklin may have built her foundation in the Motor City, but it was in Memphis, Tennesee that she was born outright, a musical lineage she carried forth wherever she ventured. Her cousin Brenda Corbett accepted her award at her behest. "My heart is full, and I just want to say thank you for loving my cousin," Brenda Corbett expressed as she accepted Aretha's induction into the Hall of Fame.