Back in August, 2023, Melle Mel set the internet ablaze when he released a diss track aimed at Eminem. Later, the 62-year-old legend took to social media to admit that he regrets how we went about the record and now it appears DMC is ready to teach him a lesson.
“In light of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, my original intention was to contribute an engaging and enjoyable endeavor to enrich the cultural landscape. Regrettably, my response fell short in its execution, and I accept full responsibility for the misjudgment. I acknowledge that my perspective was ill-conceived and I am prepared to take ownership of this oversight.” said the Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five member.
Mel’s statement acknowledged how dedicated Marshall Mathers’ fanbase was and his talent as a rapper before addressing how his comments on The Art Of Dialogue, where he credited the Detroit artist’s success to being white, stemmed from him trying to spark a rap battle. “My unfortunate choice of words, suggesting that his success is solely attributed to the color of his skin was in no way reflective of my genuine beliefs. It was an attempt, albeit misguided, to engage competitively within the emcee sphere.”
He then continued: “It is important to acknowledge that the dynamics of Hip-Hop have evolved over distinct eras, and it is inevitable that not everyone will resonate with my perspective, just as I may not fully comprehend others. Throughout my involvement in shaping the Hip-Hop landscape, the cornerstone has been built upon a foundation of mutual respect, even when personal preferences may differ.”
He closed his thoughts by saying he will move more respectfully in the imminent future, thanked Eminem for acknowledging him in his Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction speech in November 2022, and reiterated his awareness of Hip-Hop’s diversity and influence.
Eminem and Mel’s beef began back in March 2023 when Mel said, “If you was talking about sales, Eminem sold more than everybody. If you were talking about rhyme style, okay he got a rhyme style. But he’s white. He’s white!” on an episode of The Art Of Dialogue. He surmised that if Detroit legend was Black, he would not have the same success, and used the 15-time GRAMMY winner’s longtime collaborator Royce Da 5’9″ as an example.
Eminem fired back on Ez Mil’s track “Realest,” rapping “Hip Hop has been good to me, huh/ But when they say that I’m only Top 5 ’cause I’m white, why would I be stunned?/ My skin color’s still working against me/ ‘Cause second, I should be, to none/ Bein’ white being why they put me at five/ That’s why they can’t put me at one… Shout to the Furious Five and Grandmaster Flash but boy (what up though?) / 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 a– to ‘roids (damn).’ It was followed by Melle Mel’s disstrack which failed the expectations.
During a recent appearance on Drink Champs, hip-hop pioneer Darryl McDaniels (DMC) a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC, expressed his thoughts on how Melle Mel should have handled the Eminem beef. Watch it below:
