Melle Mel vs. Eminem
As hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary on August 11th, two of the genre’s legendary figures found themselves embroiled in a dispute. The sequence of events unfolded with Melle Mel, the lead vocalist of the iconic rap ensemble Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, making a compelling statement during a March interview with The Art of Dialogue. Discussing Eminem’s position at number five on Billboard’s list of the greatest rappers of all time, Mel contended that Eminem’s success was amplified due to his racial background, even though he was undeniably a skilled rapper.
Mel posed a thought-provoking question: “If Eminem were another artist from our community, would he have secured a top five spot on that list, especially when there are artists of equal lyrical prowess ranked lower?” He further elaborated, “There are artists with hit records and substantial contributions. The crux of the matter is this: If I were of a different ethnicity, my stature could potentially surpass even that of Elvis. People might assert, ‘Melle Mel surpasses Elvis.'”
Eminem eventually addressed this situation by participating in the track “Realest” alongside emerging rapper Ez Mil, who is signed under Eminem’s Shady Records. Contrary to Mel’s assertions, Eminem expressed that his being white actually hinders him in discussions within the hip-hop realm.
“Guess I’ve really no right to complain much hip hop has been good to me huh,
But when they say that I’m only top five ’cause I’m white why would I be stunned,
My skin color’s still working against me ’cause second I should be to none,
Being white ain’t why they put me at five it’s why they can’t put me at one…”
In his impassioned verse, Eminem took his response a step further by delivering a direct retort, acknowledging the significance of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five while specifically targeting Melle Mel. Em’s lyrics pointedly alluded to Mel’s muscular physique and the perceived incongruity of his critical remarks.
“Shout to the Furious Five and Grandmaster Flash but boy,
There’s someone who really is furious stay out his path his wrath avoid,
And I’ll be the last to toy with a juice head whose brain is like half destroyed,
Like a meteor hit it well there went Melle Mel we lost his ass to roids…”
Three days later, on Tuesday (August 8th), Melle Mel offered his retort to Eminem’s remarks through a video titled “Melle Mel’s Response to Eminem’s Latest Diss,” uploaded on his YouTube channel. The video featured a brief one-minute verse delivered by the 62-year-old artist. In a playful tone, Mel made a jesting comparison of Eminem to Pee-Wee Herman, coincidentally following the recent passing of Paul Reubens. Additionally, he suggested that Eminem might find more value in addressing the ongoing disses from Los Angeles rapper The Game, who has been directing such comments towards Eminem for an extended period of time.
“The Top 5 is cap,
You the piss that’s on the floor in the elevator of rap,
Why you ducking on The Game when you shit on my name?
Why they put Pee-Wee Herman in the hall of fame?
I would give you a pound, but I’d break your hand,
I got a lawyer so white, he will take your land,
Yo, check your man, come and look at your friend,
‘Cause I think that Eminem is popping pills again!”
