The Recording Academy will induct eight albums and five singles in the Grammy Hall of Fame this year. The albums include Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt, Luther Vandross‘ Never Too Much, Emmylou Harris‘ Wrecking Ball, and Cat Stevens‘ Tea For The Tillerman.
The Grammy Hall of Fame will also induct Big Star‘s #1 Record, J.D. Crowe & the New South’s J.D. Crowe & the New South, Santana‘s Supernatural, and Fela Kuti & Africa 70’s Zombie alongside singles Linda Martell‘s “Color Him Father,” Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga,” Clara Ward’s “How I Got Over,” Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood,” and Geeshie Wiley’s “Last Kind Words Blues.”
“It’s a privilege to recognize these eclectic recordings as the 2025 Grammy Hall Of Fame inductees,” Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Music has the unique power to shape culture and mark moments in time. Each inducted recording reflects that spirit, and we’re excited to celebrate these impactful works, ensuring their legacies continue to inspire generations to come.”
Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the Grammy Museum, added, “The Grammy Hall Of Fame serves as a vital bridge between music’s past and present, honoring recordings that have left a lasting mark on our cultural landscape. We’re proud to preserve and share these influential works at the annual Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala this spring.”
The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy’s National Trustees in 1973. It currently holds 1,165 inducted recordings, including the 13 new titles. To qualify, recorded works must exhibit qualitative or historical significance and be at least 25 years old. They are selected annually by a special member committee of professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees.
The honorees will be celebrated at the Grammy Museum and Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala on May 16 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The Gala will also pay tribute to this year’s label honoree, Republic Records, with performers to be announced at a later date.
Jay-Z released his landmark debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996 via his own label Roc-A-Fella Records. It featured guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., and Memphis Bleek and included the single “Can’t Knock the Hustle.”
In 2007, Jay-Z told Rolling Stone of the track, “If you listen to my first album, the song ‘Can’t Knock the Hustle,’ I was really having struggles. When I first came into the rap game, rappers weren’t very successful, so people on the street were like, ‘Why do you want to be a rapper when you’re so successful doing this?’ That’s why I was saying that you can’t knock my hustle. Rap was the hustle.”
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