TheRock & Roll Hall of Fameunveiled its 2026 induction class, naming eight new inductees including Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Sade and Wu‑Tang Clan, whose founding memberRZAcrossed paths with several Pittsburgh rappers during a pre-Wu-Tang stint living in Ohio.
Here's this year's full lineup of inductees and RZA's connections to eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
RZA goes Hollywood:Rapper cultivates 'roots' in 'Fists'
Phil Collins, Wu‑Tang Clan, Luther Vandross among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2026 inductees
Rock returns to the spotlight for the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class with Billy Idol among the eight new additions.The induction ceremony will take place Nov. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and air on ABC and Disney+ in December. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Joy Division/New Order
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Meet the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees
Rock returns to the spotlight for the2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fameclass with Billy Idol among the eight new additions.The induction ceremony will take place Nov. 14 at thePeacock Theaterin Los Angeles and air on ABC and Disney+ in December.
Based in Cleveland, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame selected this year's class from 17 nominees, 10 of whom appeared on the ballot for the first time and represented rock, hip‑hop, pop, soul and Latin music, according toUSA TODAY. Phil Collins, Luther Vandross and Wu‑Tang Clan appeared on the ballot for the first time.
The 2026 induction class includes:
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Phil Collins
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Billy Idol
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Iron Maiden
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Joy Division/New Order
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Oasis
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Sade
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Luther Vandross
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Wu-Tang Clan
Wu‑Tang Clan leader RZA lived in Ohio, crossed paths with Pittsburgh rappers in early 1990s
Wu‑Tang Clan formed in New York and broke through in a big way with its 1993 debut album "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", but the group has a western Pennsylvania/eastern Ohio connection through its leader and producer, RZA.
RZA (Robert Diggs) lived in Steubenville, Ohio, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according toPittsburgh City Paper. In 1990, RZA, then in his late teens, left New York City to live with his mother in Steubenville while his stepfather worked running a convenience store in Pittsburgh's Hill District.
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“Pittsburgh basically was the weekend spot,” RZA writes in the book "The Tao of Wu," according to Pittsburgh City Paper. “I’d go out once, twice a week or whatever. Met some cool dudes out there."
One of those dudes was Sam Sneed, a rapper from McKeesport, Pa., who first met RZA at a rap battle near Steubenville. Sneed told Pittsburgh City Paper RZA bought him a drum machine after crossing paths with RZA years later. Sneed also said RZA took a liking to Pittsburgh rapper Joe. T and his song "Slaughterhouse."
In Steubenville, RZA committed petty crimes, dealt drugs and was acquitted of an attempted murder charge, according to Pittsburgh City Paper, citing the book "The Tao of Wu."
Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Ol’ Dirty Bastard also spent time visiting RZA in Steubenville, Pittsburgh City Paper notes.
When is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony? How to watch
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will air on ABC and Disney+ in December. A specific broadcast date has not been announced, and ticket sale information for the induction ceremony will be released later.
The 2027 ceremony is expected to return to Cleveland.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Sam Sneed, Joe T. the Pittsburgh rappers RZA hung with pre-Wu-Tang Clan
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