He’s praised as a GOAT in the Rap Game, but not everyone believes Eminem deserves top spots on Best Rappers lists. There are a handful of artists whose names regularly float about during those discussions. Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Biggie, Tupac Shakur, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Nas are just a few whose talents are debated by fans worldwide. Marshall Mathers is also a staple, but Rap icon Melle Mel explained why Em’s race contributes to his legacy.
Billboard and Vibe‘s Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list caused a stir, and Melle Mel is discussing Em’s placement. The Detroit icon crept in at No. 5, and it’s an accolade that Melle Mel believes arrived because he’s white. “Obviously, he’s a capable rapper. If we was talkin’ about sales, he sold more than everybody, if you talkin’ about rhyme style, okay, he got a rhyme style. But he’s white! He’s white!” said Mel. “So now, if Eminem was just another n*gga like all the rest of us, would he be Top 5 on that list? When a n*gga that can rhyme just as good as him is [No.] 35? That had records and all that. He’s 35. He’s white.”
Eminem Wouldn’t Be As Respected As A Black Emcee?
“And the point is this: if I was white, n*gga, I’d be greater than [Elvis Presley]. N*gga be like, ‘Melle Mel is greater than Elvis. Melle Mel is the greatest white man that has ever lived. He came up with a culture, he was a part of a culture that changed the whole world. That is a great ass white man right there.’ But I’m not white. I’m one of the n*ggas.”
“So, you know, anybody can be as mad as they want. They can feel how they wanna feel,” Mel continued. “If you don’t think that race plays a part in the equation in how great he is—I heard one of the dudes that’s down with him, [Royce Da 5’9”], I heard he’s just as good as Eminem. Why ain’t he as big as Eminem? Because he’s Black! None of that sh*t [is] hard to figure out!”
“Eminem gets a top spot because he’s white.” Mel couldn’t tell you if the hypothetical Black Eminem would rank higher or lower, but he clearly emphasized that race is important. Check it out above.
