The songs and albums in this class of inductees are: All Eyez On Me (Album) by 2Pac, Amor Prohibido (Album) by Selena, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (Album) by Lucinda Williams, Dreamboat Annie (Album) by Heart, "Jesus Gave Me Water" (Single) by The Soul Stirrers, Journey In Satchidananda (Album) by Alice Coltrane, Maggot Brain (Album) by Funkadelic, Ok Computer (Album) by Radiohead, "Orange Blossom Special" (Single) by The Rouse Brothers, Paid In Full (Album) by Eric B. & Rakim, Pink Moon (Album) by Nick Drake, Rhythm Nation 1814 (Album) by Janet Jackson, "Trouble In Mind" (Single) by Bertha "Chippie" Hill and You'll Sing A Song And I'll Sing A Song (Album) by Ella Jenkins.
"It's an honor," Janet Jackson said to On The Red Carpet's Rocsi Diaz.
"The thing we did with Janet really was just let her be her. You know and just try to capture that," said Jimmy Jam, who produced Rhythm Nation 1814.
Chris Perez, husband of the late Selena, said it's heartwarming to see her music live on.
"I mean we gotta thank the fans, for keeping it alive, keeping the music alive, her legacy alive and passing it down from generation to generation," he said.
"Well it's kinda like a dream. It's fantastic it really is," said Ann Wilson of their album's induction.
Ann, along with sister Nancy blazed trails in rock with their band Heart. And they're thankful to be able to break ground for young artists.
"It's awesome when girls coming up behind us feel, like, braver because we were out there busting doors down a little bit," said Nancy Wilson.
"Everybody has their music, everybody had their time. We had our time. We're the upperclassmen and it's a great thing," said Eric B. .
"The Grammy Hall of Fame is a big thing so, you know, to be part of that, an underground artist, I feel good about that," added William "Rakim" Griffin about their groundbreaking album Paid In Full.
Tupac Shakur's nephew Malik and niece Nzingha were on hand for the gala and talked about the artist's legacy.
"You go around the world, his face is on murals, on statues, on people's t-shirts from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich. This is nice and everything but that's kind of what it's all about," he said.
"For him, he would be honored. He would be over the moon about it and he would be saying 'I told you I was a legend,'" added Malcolm Greenidge, (E.D.I. Mean), who frequently collaborated with Tupac
Norah Jones was honored with the Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award.
"I think the reason I love Ray Charles so much is that he made everything his own. And that's what I strive to do. That's what most artists strive to. You try to make it your own. Even tonight, I don't want to copy Ray. I just want to honor him in the best way I can, which is to make him my own," she said.
The gala also serves as a fundraiser to support the Grammy Museum's national education programs.