Melle Mel responds backlash over his comments about Eminem

In the recently released 8 minutes clip, Melle Mel addresses backlash over his comments about Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne. The legendary rapper from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five called out Billboard and Vibe magazine for including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne in the list. His statements sparked discussion in social media and few other rappers weighted in, including 50 Cent, Kevin Gates and Fat Joe.

To respond the controversy, Melle Mel recorded a video from the gym where he says: “I said, Eminem is only number five on the list because he was white. I guess that started the uproar. Everybody is just so angry that I would say that. I’ve been branded a racist but that’s impossible, I’ve been playing with all the different kind of people in my life.”

Then he continues: “Eminem made record, I guess it is called “White America,” where he said that he would be less popular if he was not white. So now we basically said the same thing. This is what Eminem says (plays White America where Eminem raps “Let’s do the math, if I was black, I woulda sold half I ain’t have to graduate from Lincoln High School to know that”) He also has another record “Till I Collapse” where he named five or six individuals that he put himself behind these five or six individuals. And I have said that he would not be in the top 5 other than the fact that he was white. He said that.”

“If Eminem basically said what I said and we said very similar things, how could what he say not be racist but the thing what I said was racist? In another words, if he’s right what he said then the only reason that I could be wrong is that I’m black that I said it. Now that the only reason why I said it, and I will take full responsibility for whatever conflict it may cause. I will take full responsibility because I said it and I stand behind what I said. So, for those who don’t believe it, this is what he says (plays Till I Collapse where Eminem raps: “I got a list, here’s the order of my list that it’s in, It goes Reggie, Jay-Z, 2Pac and Biggie, Andre from OutKast, Jada, Kurupt, Nas and then me.”) – Melle Mel added.

You can watch the whole thing below:

Melle Mel addresses backlash over his comments about Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne. pic.twitter.com/OQjnJ0sjOY
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) March 8, 2023