Tupac Shakur nominated for 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Late rapper, Tupac Shakur with 21 other musicians have been nominated for induction into the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Other big stars joining Tupac on the list includes pop star Janet Jackson, protest singer Joan Baez, British progressive rock band Yes, American rockers Pearl Jam, metal band Steppenwolf, English electronic act Depeche Mode and funk singer Chaka Khan.

Also nominated are Bad Brains, Chic, Electric Light Orchestra, J. Geils Band, Jane's Addiction, Joe Tex, Journey, Kraftwerk, MC5, The Cars, and The Zombies.

The nominee will be voted on by fans and music industry experts.

To qualify for nomination, artists must have released their first recording at least 25 years ago.

The names of next year's inductees will be announced in December at the completion of voting.

Tupac who was killed at the age of 25 in 1996 is regarded as one of the most influential singer in hip hop music, a career that has inspired the production of documentaries, movies and a Broadway musical about him.

The nomination of the rapper, who sang about social inequity and black struggles, reflects the increasing acceptance of rap as a force in music.

50 -year-old Janet Jackson, the youngest of the famed Jackson singing family, is also known as one of the best-known pop singers in the world.