Melle Mel Responds to Backlash About Comments Towards Eminem, Kendrick Lamar & Lil Wayne

In response to his controversial interview on The Art of Dialogue, Melle Mel asserted his pioneer status in hip-hop on Hip Hop Corner.

Melle Mel isn't backing down from his recent comments on the Billboard Top 50 Rappers of All Time list. After insisting that Eminem was placed on the list because he's white, denying that Kendrick Lamar influences contemporary rappers and Lil Wayne isn't hip-hop because he uses auto-tune, Mel spoke about his comments on podcast Hip Hop Corner.

“Melle Mel has nothing against nobody in hip-hop,” he began while lifting weights in the gym. “I’ve been in hip-hop for 40 years. Very competitive, really have nothing against nobody. I’m not jealous of nobody, I’m not intimidated by anybody or anything, and I’m not bitter. I just come across as I come across ’cause I’m a man and I say what I say, and when I say what I say, basically, I mean what I say.”

He continued, “Everything that I said, that I commented on, it was to comment on what he wrote and who he put on this said list. And I think Billboard is not known for hip-hop, of course, they’re known for records. So obviously, Billboard is more leaning toward guys that made records, compared to guys like myself that put in all the time in hip-hop.

“We’re responsible for the genre. We’re the biggest influences in the genre, and if you ask anybody that knows anything about true  hip-hop, they will tell you that. If you ask anybody that calls themselves an MC, they will be the first to tell you that there is no modern day rap or Hip Hop of that nature if it wasn’t for Grandmaster Flash, if it wasn’t for the Furious Five, if it wasn’t for Melle Mel, if it wasn’t for [Keef] Cowboy.”

He added, “Like I said, the word ‘hip-hop’ came from my crew.”

Rappers who've since responded to Mel's comments on The Art of Dialogue are 50 Cent, Fat Joe and Chuck D.

Watch the full clip below.