Gene Simmons may think hip-hop belongs in the ghetto, but Chuck D would like a word. has responded to Gene Simmons’ recent comments questioning hip-hop’s place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Last week (Feb 7), on the “Legends N Leaders” podcast, the 76-year-old KISS bassist said, “hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” adding, “It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.”

Reacting on social media to a Complex post about Simmons’ remarks, the 65-year-old Public Enemy founder and lead rapper recognized Simmons’ influence in music but defended hip-hop’s connection to rock.

“Gene definitely has his opinion, and it carries major weight… but it is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Chuck D wrote. “Whether you consider rap ‘rock’ is debatable, but clearly rap and other forms of movement are part of the ‘roll.’ Rock and roll splintered in the 1960s and has been evolving ever since.”

Simmons also clarified on the podcast that he doesn’t think opera or symphonies should be in the Rock Hall either. He pointed out, “Iron Maiden can sell out stadiums and isn’t in the Hall, and Grandmaster Flash is. Ice Cube and I went back and forth—he’s a smart guy, and I respect his work. He said it’s the ‘spirit’ of rock and roll… I just want to know when Led Zeppelin will be in the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.”

Simmons described hip-hop as mostly verbal, saying, “Rap and hip-hop are spoken-word arts first. You add beats or musical phrases, but it’s primarily verbal. There are melodies, but the focus is on the words.”

After facing criticism for his remarks, Simmons told People on February 11, “I stand by my words.” He added, “The word ‘ghetto’ actually comes from Jewish culture and was borrowed by African-Americans. Rock is Black music, just a different style than hip-hop, which is also Black music. Rock ‘n’ roll owes everything to Black music, period. All major forms of American music trace their roots back to Black music.”

At least he got that last part right.