According to the recently released Top 50 Best rappers list by Billboard and Vibe on Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, Tupac, who is often considered the greatest rapper ever, was ranked at number four. In response to Big Gipp of Goodie Mob’s assertion that Tupac is a superior artist and should be ranked higher than Jay-Z, Melle Mel, who was ranked 48th on the list, expressed his opinion.
During a discussion with The Art of Dialogue, Melle Mel shared his opinion on the ranking of Tupac, Jay-Z, and Biggie as rappers. He stated that while Jay-Z has a superior rap game compared to Tupac, the latter’s impact on the game was more significant, and his range of expression was broader.
Melle Mel believes that ranking rappers solely based on their spit game is a narrow criterion, and while Jay-Z is a better rapper than Tupac, the latter had a more profound imprint on the rap industry. Similarly, he feels that Biggie was a better rapper than Tupac.
“2Pac is a greater rapper than Biggie and I would say the same thing for JAY-Z,” he said during the conversation with The Art of Dialogue. “JAY-Z has a better rap game than 2Pac. 2Pac’s rap game, I’m not gonna say is basic but it’s predictable… but he had more of a range of what he could say.”
“I think JAY-Z has a better spit game, but to say that makes the better rapper that is being judged on one criteria. I feel 2Pac’s imprint on the game is greater than JAY-Z. JAY-Z is a better rapper than 2Pac. It’s the same thing I feel about Biggie, Biggie is a better rapper than 2Pac.”
According to Melle Mel, 2Pac’s impact on the rap game was significant and he deserves credit for changing the landscape of the genre. Mel believes that 2Pac’s influence was so great that even today, many rappers still try to emulate him.
On the other hand, he acknowledges JAY-Z’s talent as a better rapper than 2Pac, but believes that JAY-Z’s position as a billionaire makes it harder for him to change the game in the same way that 2Pac did. For Mel, the mark of greatness is the ability to change the landscape of the game, and 2Pac’s imprint on the industry makes him a truly great artist.
Melle Mel further praised 2Pac for changing the rap game. “His imprint in the game [was huge] because things changed. All that Thug Life sh*t, it came from him. If you change the landscape, that’s greatness,” he continued. “In JAY-Z’s position, it’s harder to change the landscape because he’s a billion-dollar dude. You’re not gonna have a thousand billion-dollar dudes coming behind JAY-Z, but you did have a 100 guys that wanted to be like 2Pac. The greatness is in how he changed the game.”
Check out his interview below.
Also Read: Greatest Rappers of All Time Revealed: Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj Ranked Best Male And Female Rappers
Who is Melle Mel?
Melle Mel (real name Melvin Glover) is an American rapper and songwriter, who is best known for being the lead vocalist and songwriter for the pioneering hip-hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He was born on May 15, 1961, in The Bronx, New York City, USA.
Melle Mel is considered to be one of the most influential rappers in the history of hip-hop. He is known for his socially conscious and politically charged lyrics, and for his dynamic and powerful delivery style. Some of his most well-known songs with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five include “The Message,” “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It),” and “New York, New York.”
Melle Mel has also had a successful solo career, releasing several albums, and collaborating with other artists in the hip-hop and music industry. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his contributions to hip-hop culture have been widely recognized and celebrated.
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