Recordings By 2Pac, Janet Jackson, Selena & More Inducted Into Grammy Hall of Fame

The Recording Academy has unveiled the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees, with a spotlight on 2Pac, Eric B. & Rakim, Janet Jackson and Selena — artists whose recordings redefined popular music and continue to reverberate across generations.

Among this year’s honorees is 2Pac’s landmark double album All Eyez On Me. Released in 1996, the Death Row Records project cemented Tupac Shakur’s status as a defining voice in hip-hop. Blending West Coast production with stark introspection, the album remains one of rap’s most studied and commercially successful releases.

Eric B. & Rakim’s 1987 single “Paid in Full” also enters the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2026. The track reshaped rap lyricism with Rakim’s internal rhyme schemes and measured flow, setting a new technical standard for MCs. Decades later, its influence still threads through contemporary hip-hop.

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, her socially charged 1989 opus, joins the roster as well. The album fused pop, R&B and industrial-leaning production with pointed commentary on race, inequality and unity. Its visual aesthetic and choreography helped define the modern pop spectacle.

Grammy Hall of Fame Inducts New Records By 2Pac, Janet Jackson, Selena & More In 2026

Selena’s Amor Prohibido, released in 1994, receives Hall of Fame recognition as a watershed moment in Latin music. The album expanded Tejano’s reach and propelled Selena Quintanilla to international prominence, reinforcing her legacy as a cultural icon.

The 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame class will be celebrated May 8 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills during the annual gala hosted by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum.

“It’s a privilege to recognize these influential recordings as the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Each selection reflects the creativity, craft and cultural impact that recorded music can carry across decades.”

Michael Sticka, president and CEO of the Grammy Museum, added, “The Grammy Hall of Fame is a vital bridge between music’s past and present — honoring recordings that changed the way we listen, create and connect.”