Melle Mel says Eminem is considered a top 5 rapper because he’s white

Melle Mel says Eminem is considered a top 5 rapper because he’s white.

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.”

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!”

Obviously, he’s a capable rapper. If you was talking about sales, he’s sold more than everybody. If you were talking about rhyme style, okay, he got a rhyme style. But he’s white. He’s white!” Melle Mel said of the 8 Mile rapper.

“So now, if Eminem was another nigga like all the rest of us, would he be Top 5 on that list when a nigga that could rhyme just as good as him is 35? That had records and all that? He’s 35. He’s white.” He said, “And anybody could be as mad … They could feel how they wanna feel. If you don’t think that race plays a part in the equation of how great he is — I heard one of the dudes that’s down with him, Royce Da 6’9″ [mislabelling Royce Da 5’9″] or one of those – I heard he’s just as good as Eminem. Why he ain’t as big as Eminem? Because he’s Black! Ain’t none of that shit hard to figure out. Eminem gets a top spot because he’s white.”