Melle Mel Explains Why Busta Rhymes Is A Greater MC Than JAY-Z
Just over one month ago, <em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Billboard </span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">and </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">VIBE</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> collaborated on one of the most talked-about lists of the last year. The publications and a team of respected journalists ranked "The 50 Greatest Rappers Of All-Time." As predicted, the feature prompted discourse among fans </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">and artists</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. The </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-rappers-all-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">criteria for these ranks were written to be</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">: "body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist's work fostered the genre's evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess)." These feats were reportedly considered in no particular order.</span> Grandmaster Melle Mel was included on the list at #48. The MC who gained widespread recognition for his work with Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five <a href="https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/grandmaster-flash-and-furious-five" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is a Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee</a>, <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2016/02/kool-moe-dee-melle-mel-brought-the-block-party-to-the-world-in-1990-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">a Grammy Award winner</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, and a platinum-certified artist thanks to his 2010s </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2015/08/macklemore-collaborates-with-melle-mel-grandmaster-caz-kool-moe-dee-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">collaborative work with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. However, the writers behind one of Rap music's most extraordinary and timeless anthems, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2018/01/melle-mel-explains-why-he-didnt-think-the-message-would-be-successful-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">"The Message,"</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> argued that the list is not a fair assessment of the culture.</span> <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2018/01/melle-mel-explains-why-he-didnt-think-the-message-would-be-successful-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Melle Mel Explains Why He Didn't Think "The Message" Would Be Successful (Video)</span></a> In speaking with <em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Art Of Dialogue</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, Melle Mel spoke about the list's #1 spot, JAY-Z, and why he feels <a href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2015/10/jay-z-reacts-to-big-daddy-kane-footage-recalls-busta-rhymes-high-school-battle-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a George Westinghouse High School classmate of Jay's</a> is more deserving. "What would you consider 'greatness'? Obviously, [JAY-Z] has his studio game down. Obviously, he's sold the records. But now my point is, could he go up against Busta Rhymes? 'Could Busta take JAY-Z, yes or no?' I don't have no fear of getting on stage with anybody and crossing mics with anybody. Busta's a hard draw. That would probably be the hardest draw in the game. He got all the intangibles. It's a certain thing that Busta got that a lot of MCs don't got. When he comin' on that stage, if you out in the crowd, you know something is about to happen. It ain't just the regular run of the mill 'I can't wait for him to do so-and-so song.' It's that magnetism. It's like a different level that all MCs don't have that </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">he got</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. I'll ride with Busta," Melle said. Busta was at #33 in the </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Billboard/VIBE</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> rankings.</span> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0IJvPvxwcEQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Melle further expounded on why he believes that Busta Rhymes is a better MC than JAY-Z. "On an overall 360 of an MC: the pen game, the studio game, the rap game, but the stage presence, that's got to be in the equation. And absolutely, Busta's stage presence is better than JAY-Z. Absolutely. I mean, it's no denying that. Did you see where Busta is on that list? #33. Now, [there] ain't [32] guys that can take the guy. That's my point. Now if he's #33, it's not [32] guys that's gonna say, 'I want Busta, I wanna do the Verzuz.' Don't nobody want him. It ain't gon' happen. He could call dudes out. It's not gonna happen." Melle likened Trevor Smith to the MCs of the 1970s and early 1980s—his class. "The type of MC that Busta is is more along the lines of what we was trying to do back in the day. You take your lunch pail to work, you go to work, and you work hard." <a href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2017/03/why-every-rapper-owes-a-debt-to-grandmaster-melle-mel-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Why Every Rapper Owes A Debt To Grandmaster Melle Mel (Video)</a> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Notably, in 2002, <a href="http://www.thafoundation.com/melemelintf5.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during an interview with JayQuan's </a></span><a href="http://www.thafoundation.com/melemelintf5.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Foundation</span></em></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, Melle Mel gave JAY-Z a 9 out of 10 in a rating of MCs. The men were photographed together at <a href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2023/02/hip-hop-50-grammy-concert-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last month's Grammy Awards, where they each performed separately</a>.</span> On episode #102 of the <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whats-the-headline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">What's The Headline</span></em></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> podcast, the </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Ambrosia For Heads </span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">team examined Melle's point as it applies to the </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Billboard</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">/</span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">VIBE</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> list. The commentary, beginning at 6:30 in the video and audio below, emphasizes that while JAY-Z at #1 is a decision that <em>AFH</em> could agree with, Melle Mel's list positioning marks a disconnect—especially as Hip-Hop celebrates 50 years. The episode gives Melvin Glover his flowers and <a href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2017/03/why-every-rapper-owes-a-debt-to-grandmaster-melle-mel-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">context as one of Rap's architects and first great MCs</a>. The discussion—which also addresses Melle's headline-making <em>Art Of Dialogue </em>comments about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6bT2FNmjc0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eminem</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwLUTbxRU9A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tupac, Biggie, Kendrick Lamar</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luuItdSeqvA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lil Wayne</a>—analyzes whether he understood the list's criteria based on his quotes.</span> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dZWWFnQu7JE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whats-the-headline/embed/episodes/Melle-Mel-Explains-Why-Busta-Rhymes-Is-Greater-Than-JAY-Z-e207obv" width="560px" height="102px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"><span style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" data-mce-type="bookmark" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span></iframe> <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2013/09/willie-d-vs-grandmaster-melle-mel-boxing-match-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Willie D Vs. Grandmaster Melle Mel Boxing Match (Video)</span></a> Beyond the 40-plus minutes of analysis of Melle Mel's comments, there is discussion surrounding Snoop Dogg returning the Death Row Records catalog to digital streaming platforms—as well as his new partnership with former Apple executive Larry Jackson. <a href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2023/03/j-cole-verse-dr-dre-watcher-new-album/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New music by the Dreamville Records roster</a> as well as <a href="https://luminarypodcasts.com/listen/talib-kweli-and-madlib/liberation-2/d41259f7-0abe-4f4f-934e-ae251694a781?country=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Talib Kweli & Madlib</a> is also highlighted. <em>AFH</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> readers can catch regular discussions about the culture on our </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://anchor.fm/whats-the-headline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">What's The Headline</span></em></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. The podcast also features interviews with </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2022/09/rapper-big-pooh-to-dream-in-color-video-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Rapper Big Pooh</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2022/09/cormega-realness-2-album-interview-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Cormega</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2022/09/meyhem-lauren-daringer-album-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Meyhem Lauren & Daringer</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2022/08/diamond-d-the-rear-view-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Diamond D</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2021/11/joell-ortiz-top-5-brooklyn-rappers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Joell Ortiz</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2021/10/az-influential-rappers-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">AZ</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2021/08/mickey-factz-royce-5-9-wraith-breakdown-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Blu & Mickey Factz</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vb7HCqG2xE&t=1723s" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Kurupt</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2021/06/evidence-solo-music-dilated-peoples-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Evidence</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2021/06/skyzoo-phonte-retirement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Skyzoo</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2021/02/pharoahe-monch-th1rt3en-meaning-magnificent-album/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Pharoahe Monch</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p27kIQmJynI&t=11s" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Prince Paul & Don Newkirk</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2020/12/statik-selektah-protect-hip-hop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Statik Selektah</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCEBmRNyQIw" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lyric Jones</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp9fiR674nk&t=39s" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The LOX</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h_V_CxX2HA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">MC Eiht</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJbuNGf6zZA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Havoc</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkHP-mjwoKk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Duckwrth</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2021/03/t-dot-eric-source-awards-photograph-tupac-biggie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">photographer T. Eric Monroe</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, and </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBfYMEGQ62I" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lord Finesse</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">.</span> #DmtDaily
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Bandini, Khareem Sudlow
Music
via https://www.DMT.NEWS
Bandini, Khareem Sudlow
