In a recent interview with The Art Of Dialogue, legendary rapper Melle Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five questioned Eminem’s place in top 5 greatest rappers of all time list. “Obviously, he is a capable rapper. He got a rhyme style. But he is white! He is white! If Eminem was just another ni–a like the rest of us, would he be top 5 on that list when there are at least 35 ni–as that can rhymes just as good as him?! If he was a black rapper he would not even make a list.”
50 Cent was quick to come out in defense of Eminem. In his latest Instagram post, Fiddy shared Melle Mel’s picture and in the caption, he wrote: “There was more money selling dope than being in Hip Hop when Melly Mel was popping, the culture has grown so much. I am not sure if it would be what it is today with out artist like Eminem. S–t I am not sure I would be who I am with out him but you know it is competitive so ni–as gonna hate. LOL f–k outta here ! We sucker free.”
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Kxng Crooked also defended Eminem in the 5 minutes video clip the California rapper recorded specially for the topic: “That was the funniest clip I’ve seen all day. I could not stop laughing for 5 minutes straight because his posture is demeanor like he was serious. I was not offended by what he said because it’s his opinion but then I saw in my mind him and Marshall doing a battle and I could not stop laughing.”
Crooked continues: “I was not shocked what Melle Mel said. I was not surprised but let’s jump to educational part real quick. There is a privilege that comes with being white in the American Music Industry. That’s obvious. It’s just a fact. Now, let’s change Eminem into a black rapper real quick. He’s a black rapper. He has Jimmy Iovine, Paul Rosenberg, Dr. Dre behind him, how far do you think he’ll get with that kind of weaponry behind his music? I think we all can agree that he’ll get pretty far right? Now lets take color all the way out of the equation. If somebody decided to create a round table and only the most brilliant lyricists in the history of hip-hop could sit I’d be sitting at that table like ‘what’s happening Marshall?’ Eminem will be sitting at that table! So, as one of the most brilliant hip-hop writers in the history of the culture what do you think Eminem deserves? Every f–king thing he has cause he is brilliant.
“I’m not saying Rakim, KRS, Kool G, Kane, DOC, Pharoahe Monch, Kurupt etc don’t deserve it. They deserved the world too. All genius level lyricists deserve whatever accolades they receive for the hard work and dedication to the craft and to the culture that they put in and that does not exclude Eminem.” – Crooked I added.
Detroit rapper and actor Page Kennedy also came out in defense of Eminem on Twitter: “Melle Mel sound like a hater saying Eminem only top 5 cause he white. Ni–a you know how many white rappers there have been. Have any of them ever been in top anything? No stfu. If Melle was white do he think he would be in the top? Top-less is about it.”
Melle Mel sound like a hater saying @eminem only top 5 cause he white. Ni–a you know how many white rappers there have been. Have any of them ever been in top anything? No stfu. If Melle was white do he think he would be in the top? Top-less is about it.
— Page Kennedy (@PageKennedy) March 4, 2023