Melle Mel has no doubt that Kendrick Lamar and Eminem are talented, but he does question their influence on Hip Hop culture.
In a new interview with The Art of Dialogue, the OG rapper has claimed that while artists like Kendrick and Em have proven themselves as capable rappers, they have yet to impact the game significantly.
The conversation came about while Melle Mel was discussing Billboard and VIBE‘s recent list of the Top 50 Rappers of All Time. Mel said that while the former TDE rapper, who ranked No.2 on the list, might have made some good songs, they “don’t translate into the street part of Hip Hop.”
“I don’t know what records he made like that,” he said. “I might know one or two of them, but I don’t think you even hear Kendrick in the club like that.”
The iconic rapper jokingly admitted that while he’s a bit of dinosaur in the game, calling himself “90-years-old,” that Kendrick Lamar’s music doesn’t resonate, and it certainly “doesn’t translate into the No.2 rapper of all time.”
Melle Mel, who landed at No.48 on the list, noted that while his legendary group, Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five, helped plant the seeds of what conscious rap is today, he believes younger, conscious rappers like Kendrick Lamar don’t have the same impact.
“Nobody wants to rap like Kendrick Lamar. Nobody wants to rap like Eminem,” he continued. “A lot of people wanted to rap, like ‘Pac and Biggie.”
This isn’t the first time Melle Mel brought up Eminem’s name in this conversation. In a previous clip from the interview, he claimed that the Detroit rapper was only considered a top MC because of the color of his skin.
“Obviously he’s a capable rapper,” he said. “If you was talking about sales, he’s sold more than everybody. If you were talking about rhyme style, okay he got a rhyme style. But he’s white. He’s white!
“So now if Eminem was another n-gga like all the rest of us, would he be Top 5 on that list when a n-gga that could rhyme just as good as him is 35? That had records and all that? He’s 35. He’s white.”
Melle Mel continued: “And anybody could be as mad … They could feel how they wanna feel. If you don’t think that race plays a part in the equation of how great he is — I heard one of the dudes that’s down with him, Royce Da 6’9″ [mislabelling Royce Da 5’9″] or one of those – I heard he’s just as good as Eminem. Why he ain’t as big as Eminem? Because he’s Black! Ain’t none of that shit hard to figure out. Eminem gets a top spot because he’s white.”
Weighing in on Billboard and VIBE’s Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list on air last month, The Breakfast Club co-host wasn’t afraid to contest Kendrick and Drake’s placements at No. 2 and No. 8, respectively.
According to Charlamagne, it’s “too early” for the Compton and Toronto top dogs to be mentioned in the G.O.A.T. rappers conversation as their careers are both far from finished.
“I feel like it’s too early for Drake and Kendrick to be saying stuff like that,” he said as DJ Envy read aloud Billboard and VIBE‘s Top 10 picks. “Of all time? God damn! Penis is a form of transportation for y’all.”
Smelly Mel is at it again I see
He on that Joe Budden hate train lol
It is sometimes annoying that artists/critics continue to have the same argument that you don’t hear certain songs in the club/street when hip-hop has long evolved past that.
I’m so over it man. Just all about the music now. Let’s be honest, the hip-hop sphere isn’t particularly known for it’s intellectual progressiveness.
He can’t relate to their lyrics. So what? just say that and move on.
“I don’t know what records he made like that,” he said. “I might know one or two of them, but I don’t think you even hear Kendrick in the club like that.”
So this is the litmus test to what constitutes a great emcee?
When I was growing up, to me that’s what made hip hop enjoyable, everyone had their own style! Hip hop was about expressing yourself and just having fun rhyming about anything, now it turned into “streets” people say they can’t relate to Eminem of Kendrick because of the stuff they rap about..a lot of people can’t relate to most artists rapping about selling drugs or killing someone so what is the difference?
A lot of the artist don’t even relate to the stuff they rap about.
Who’s the best is always going to be subjective. Personally I don’t think the conversation is needed. If your a rap fan you are always going to have your favourite artists. You could have this conversation all year. It don’t change a thing.
True
Idk why everybody is butthurt about a pop listeners’ choice. I wouldn’t think that these Billboard ‘journalists’ know Kool Keith, Tuff Crew, Artifacts, Equipto or even Lil Flip. As a hip-hop fan I occasionally listen to some other genres and if I made my top 50 metal list that would be just as laughable for the lifetime metal fans as this top 50 rappers bs.
i think em is the most influential rapper of all time. maybe not on black community but i see it as a global influence
But you can relate to being drug lords and gangsters living in mansions? Let’s stop with the stupid takes. And to say that the biggest selling hip hop artist of all time has had no impact goes several hundred levels beyond stupid. I can’t stand Drake’s music but I’d be an idiot to say he hasn’t made a mark in hip-hop. This is just ghetto snobbery.
Whenever I read excerpts or comments like these from so-called vets I always think about the intro to biggie’s My Downfall – “Jealousy’s a motherf**ker, you weak jealous motherf**kers! If you a jealous motherf**ker, you just a weak motherf**ker!”
It’s a shame that this now applies to Melle-Mel.
Whenever I read excerpts or comments like these from so-called vets I always think about the intro to biggie’s My Downfall – “Jealousy’s a motherf**ker, you weak jealous motherf**kers! If you a jealous motherf**ker, you just a weak motherf**ker!”
It’s a shame that this now applies to Melle-Mel.
Whenever I read excerpts or comments like these from so-called vets I always think about the intro to biggie’s My Downfall – “Jealousy’s a motherf**ker, you weak jealous motherf**kers! If you a jealous motherf**ker, you just a weak motherf**ker!”
It’s a shame that this now applies to Melle-Mel.
Em definitely has received certain advantages that’s clear he’s even admitted to it. But also Em skill level and consistent ability to put out quality work has separated him from the Majority. They’re are a lot of white people that will listen to Em and won’t listen or give any black rappers a chance at all. But these things don’t take away from what Em is done and doing. Kedrick has been the best or second best rapper for the last 8-9 years Imo with guys like Big Krit and Gibbs.
Nah they can’t rap like that that’s why it has nothing to do with want it has everything to do with limitations on their skill level. Eminem and Kendrick are on a different level than everyone else. They’re up there with Andre 3000.
I grew up in the Melle Mel Era, much love but stop it fam, “Your Playin Yourself”
Early eminem ans early kendrick definitely both has sounds and styles people wanted to replicate. New age eminem and past few album kendrick though? Agreed.
Its because there’s too many on these board who clearly haven’t done their home work they don’t support hip hop from the ground up and even think they own the culture because one of their favs is a chart topper
Old man yelling at the air again
Its because there’s too many on these board who clearly haven’t done their home work they don’t support hip hop from the ground up and even think they own the culture because one of their favs is a chart topper
That’s why nobody ask Melle for his bitter opinion. He never wanted to give up the crown, never will. People why hip hop disses it’s forefathers, prime example. They stifled it’s growth, he mentioned Kendrick because Kendrick is the target now. FOH, you were the beginning, but give props when they are due,.. calling Kendrick New is disrespectful. Living under a rock,..
That’s why nobody ask Melle for his bitter opinion. He never wanted to give up the crown, never will. People why hip hop disses it’s forefathers, prime example. They stifled it’s growth, he mentioned Kendrick because Kendrick is the target now. FOH, you were the beginning, but give props when they are due,.. calling Kendrick New is disrespectful. Living under a rock,..
Why would anyone care about a 60 year old man’s opinion on current rap ? He’s a bitter old man looking for attention
..and no one wants to be a 61 year old bitter hater like Smelly here.
I hate to break this to you, but racism toward whites doesn’t exist. So go cry to your therapist you little bitch lol.
Jews hate white people and have weaponized naggers against them.
Oh shut the fuck up.
Mell never rapped at that level when it comes bro bars, you started the print but LL, BDK and Rakim elevated it, Kenny and Em are products of them not you.
I’m gonna agree with the OG. While Kendrick makes great albums, lyrically and bar for bar, he is Mr Nicki Minaj. As for Em, i think Eminem from 1999-2002 was the one of the best lyricist in the game. He kind of overdoes the rapping now and yells too much.
Mel make doody in his diapah. He’s soiled his diapah. This geriatric fool needs a change of diapah. He is so old he soiled himself. Doody and peepee in the diapah. Demented old washed up has been one (s)hit wonder.
Em on drugs was the greatest rapper to ever live and if you don’t agree ur delusional
Einstein once said stupidity is infinite… these two are beyond any rapper’s imagination… no one wants to rap like they do coz them niggas lack the skill, Kendrick recently dropped a project that is out of this world. As for Em, he’s a double entendre no one can stand up against… this Mel grandpa really needs some candies coz he old!