What's Up?

For those who don't know me, I'm Grandmaster Mele Mel, but you can call me Muscles. I have chosen to become an Okayplayer member because I want to connect with people who have a love, understanding & respect for real hip-hop.

I've been in the game for 30 years. I am the originator of the title "MC". My brother Kid Creole originated phrase "Yes, Yes, Yall". My partner Cowboy, R.I.P., created the name "Hip-Hop". In the Hip-Hop Bible, it was The Furious Five who said "let there be light".

Thirty years, and billions of dollars later, the mainstream media has profited immensely. Countless record labels have put out tons of product and made crazy dough. But, it's my humble opinion that they all have let the people and true hip-hop fall by the wayside.

The word hip-hop has been hi-jacked by low life, drug dealing scum and money grubbing radio stations with the sole purpose of turning inner-city neighborhoods into war zones, and has transformed the average young mind into a cesspool.

We are at war! Hip-hop is under attack. We are in need of true soldiers. Breakdancers, graffiti artists, even DJ's have become a thing of the past. Thugs, drug dealers & pimps have dictated to people who've given their whole lives to the game, what is and isn't relevant. Even true believers have turned a blind eye.

THAT IS NOT HIP-HOP. THAT IS BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT.

Sometimes it almost seems that I don't have a place in the game that I helped create. But that's alright. Cause I don't wanna be around dope dealers, pimps & thugs anyhow. But, I have come to realize people have never forgotten Mele Mel, and I most humbly respect that. That is why we, the hip-hop community, must never give up the fight. Hip-hop IS hip-hop, not drugs, guns, pimps & hos, but hip-hop. The love of music made the game what it is. Hip-hop is music.

-Mele "Martin Luther" Mel (lol)

Oh, and I did cop J-Dilla's CD. I'll talk about that in my next post.

and thanks for the classics.

btw Melli Mell is the goat

and i can't believe either that people are disrespecting a legend on this board. Some people got no sense.

Welcome to the family.

Welcome Mele Mel.

sorry dude but that name is wilde homo

but welcome to the fam

<-- Too intelligent for BET

Welcome to Okayplayer, Mele Mel!

Infinite respect due!

Peace,
Salim

much love and respect!

and i definitely feel you, yo.

Mele Mel is sounding great.

The people need more prolific artists on the scene. Music just has no substance. What are we really listening to?

All of the music on the radio is suppressing, disrespectful, and demeaning to us as a people, of every race.

Good to have some wisdom on okayplayer!

SOOOO True.

vicious isn't the right word. I think you have to face someone in person to be called vicious. Cowardly, ignorant, internet wannabe gangsters who have nothing positive to show for their lives(not speaking about everybody here obviously).

but anyway, welcome to OKP

I've got an original copy of The Message with the lyrics on the sleeve !


HOLLA !!!

... :-)

so what's the word on your work right now?

I know Mele Mel has a new album of original songs finished. The "LP" (I'm old-school on that, lol) is called "Muscles".

It's my understanding the Mel is in the process of finalizing the artwork in order to send it to press. I would expect he should be ready to announce a release date very soon.

Mele Mel can also now be seen in a skit with Dave Chappelle on the just released "Chappelle's Show Lost Episodes" DVD. He has several other projects in the works. Hopefully he will explain more about them in his future posts.

<-- Too intelligent for BET

and thanks to playserious for paving the way.

I know Mele Mel & consider him a friend, so obviously I'm biased, but I felt that his initial post was one of the more interesting & thought provoking posts I've seen at okayplayer.com in a while.

Hopefully, "Muscles" will keep it up and share his thoughts & opinions with everyone on a regular basis.

Welcome!

im looking forward to your posts.

welcome aboard family.

<-- Too intelligent for BET

Anyway, The Message, IMO, is the greatest hip hop song ever.

here y'all go, correcting a mofo.

myspace page says mellemel

>Anyway, The Message, IMO, is the greatest hip hop song ever.

We agree on that one...

Melle Mel: the original G.O.A.T.

_____________________

(applauds and steps to the side and lets him through in respect)

only if its in london, i'm moving there soon

why does it have to be contained to the strict definition of the 4 elements. Because if that is true, it means hip hop is now this fringe, ultra-exclusive subculture that doesnt represent the people at all. I'm not really comfortable with that. Is there no possibility that in 2006, pushing weight could be hip hop? If thats what people in the street are really all about, who are we to say that they dont belong?

And its great to have u here, btw. Even if u dont respond i feel honored just bein up in this post, really.

Its cuz these folks ain't from da Bay! They hate the content because to them they don't see it as possible.They don't understand that in the Bay all ethnicites are hard,everyone hustles and lives to be a Boss! They see it as some fairytale type shit that might go on somewhat but not the way that the rappers portray it.When in reality in the BAY this really is the way of life.

It's irresponsible to get rich, have opportunities to see the world and learn from it, and then go on promoting degredation of the community you come from. period. It ain't about Hip Hop only being the four elements, it's about the SPIRIT of Hip Hop. This shit is a culture with the potential to uplift the ghettos across the GLOBE and anything that ain't doin that, fuck that shit. A thinking adult can't possibly say some shit like (non exact quote), "if pushing dope is what people are about, then that's what's good."
IT'S NOT OKAY THAT WE SELL LETHAL DRUGS TO EACH OTHER!
IT'S NOT OKAY THAT FRATRICIDE SEEMS LIKE A NORMAL THING!

what the fuck yo?

they are a part of the community

i feel what ur saying about the spirit of hip hop, and how it has the potential to uplift people and communities

but i disagree about the implications

i feel like the spirit of hip hop is to manifest ur own spirit despite systematic and institutionalized efforts to keep you from doing so

i dont think the content of a lot of todays music contradicts this

Do you hear the gun shots e'ery cot damn night?

Does someone pass (scratch that, get murdered) regularly where you live?

Do cops camp out in commercially painted vans (John's moving service or whatever) only to run in houses the next day?

How can you say that drug dealers aren't a threat to the community? They bring violence themselves and attract a lot of violence as a by product of their actions. Sure, drug dealers shouldn't take all the blame for the state of low income areas, but they are a part and do contribute to the problem rather than helping an already effed up situation. They are a symptom of a bigger problem, but that does not discount that they cause a lot of EXTRA problems too.

I really don't understand how you could believe drug dealers aren't a part of the problem, unless you don't LIVE there. Honest, hard working people struggling in low income sections most of the time can't stand drug dealers. Anybody who believes the hype and glamour fronted in the media about drug dealers has not lived around it and witnessed it first hand their entire lives. Shit is ugly, real ugly. Jay-Z said "One in a million" because that's exactly what it is. For every one that makes it, a million more are either hooked on the stuff they use hustle, in jail, or shot.

and not the hills neither


but im also a sociologist and student of social justice and community organizing, and i know that drug dealers do not create these realities.

Anyways this is all one big tagent


look at my original post. where it says 'could pushing weight be hip hop' u could fill in the blank with any rap sentiment dujour. This post wasnt posed to be about drugs

and hustling. it ain't every rapper doing the same hyphy shit dog. I swear some bay cats be on this we all hustle in the bay shit. its bigger than hyphy culture.

I WASNT EVEN TRYNNA TALK ABOUT DRUGS IN THIS POST, lol

it was just a stupid example

reading is fundamental people

anyways, dude asked if i lived in a community where drugs are sold, i clarified i did by mentioning that i live in oaklands flatlands

i never even mentioned the bay in relation to the topic of this post

u did

i didnt

get over it

>I WASNT EVEN TRYNNA TALK ABOUT DRUGS IN THIS POST, lol
>
>it was just a stupid example

exactly. now kim.
>
>reading is fundamental people
>
>anyways, dude asked if i lived in a community where drugs are
>sold, i clarified i did by mentioning that i live in oaklands
>flatlands
>
>i never even mentioned the bay in relation to the topic of
>this post

ok dude.
>
>u did
>
>i didnt
>
>get over it

nah but homicidal crook did and you went off that. geez you getting your panties all up in a twist because melle mel was saying lets give some shine back to the breakers and the djs and the real emcees graff writers. that shit threatens you hyphy kids I guess. Just get over it, realize dude is a living legend and real hip hop deserves respect not this corny shit about killing people and selling drugs and destroying our own community. chill, relax and give props.

u act as if im some sort of hyphy crusader, please show me 1 time where i even mentioned hyphy in this post. Please

The point of my post remains unchallenged.

I'll try and reclarify for those who need it

Hip hop is defined in two ways, both by the '4 elements' and by the oppressed nature of the people who created it.

All I'm asking is could it be true that hip hop, in its essence, has more to do with existing under the burden of oppression, and finding a way to flip it back to create something new original fun beautiful etc etc, and less to do with the actual 4 elements. Like, maybe the 4 elements were incedental, and the real spirit of hip hop lies in its nature of being a product of oppressed people manifesting new ways to elevate themselves.

if this is the case, then todays rap music could still be seen as hip hop, even though it relates less to the 4 elements than its predecesory form.

Please, if you need clarification just ask. You dont need to put words in my mouth or misinterperet me further.

>u act as if im some sort of hyphy crusader, please show me 1
>time where i even mentioned hyphy in this post. Please
>
>The point of my post remains unchallenged.
>
>I'll try and reclarify for those who need it
>
>Hip hop is defined in two ways, both by the '4 elements' and
>by the oppressed nature of the people who created it.
>

actually those elements are the blueprint for these opressed peoples expression so they go hand in hand, it ain't separate like you trying to make it. I swear you new jacks be trying to revise history and shit.

>All I'm asking is could it be true that hip hop, in its
>essence, has more to do with existing under the burden of
>oppression, and finding a way to flip it back to create
>something new original fun beautiful etc etc, and less to do
>with the actual 4 elements. Like, maybe the 4 elements were
>incedental, and the real spirit of hip hop lies in its nature
>of being a product of oppressed people manifesting new ways to
>elevate themselves.
>
>if this is the case, then todays rap music could still be seen
>as hip hop, even though it relates less to the 4 elements than
>its predecesory form.

those elements will always be a part of hip hop, the basis for this shit. sorry they ain't disappearing no matter how badly new jacks want them to.
>
>Please, if you need clarification just ask. You dont need to
>put words in my mouth or misinterperet me further.
>
oh god, stfu little boy. you a real sociologist? sure.

im trynna talk, you trynna talk shit

im over it

are you effing serious?

n/m

>n/m

Peace to Mele Mel, the Godfather of Rhyme. Thanks for kicking the knowledge about who coined the term, Hip-Hop, and such. Great post.

As for the "pushing weight" question about Hip-Hop, and more specifically to speak on the question raised about who provides guns and the need for violence, I'd like to respond if you don't mind.

Not that I'd like to get in a heated debate specifically in this thread that Mel has introduced himself to the community, but your question begs the answer.

As the proverb goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," for providing guns and the so-called need for violence is not the excuse for both to occur. Corwardice is the reason. The only truly honest excuse acceptable is the conviction and honesty to admit you allowed yourself to be negatively influenced and controlled by outsiders. It's about responsibility. Own up to it. It's not a blame game or a matter of pointing fingers. Look in the mirror.

>i feel like the spirit of hip hop is to manifest ur own spirit
>despite systematic and institutionalized efforts to keep you
>from doing so
>
>i dont think the content of a lot of todays music contradicts
>this

Lot of today's hip hop music (that which you're defending, and Mele Mel is denouncing) does the following:
degrades women
promotes crack selling
glorifies prison-bound behavior
paints the ghetto as a paradise

That is DIRECTLY in conflict with "manifest ur own spirit". The fuck are you talking about?

these concepts you speak of are direct results of specific oppression againts poor people of color

these rappers are taking this state of oppression and turning it into art and stimultaneously uplifting themselves

i mean im not a fan of glorification, but i also think thats a term that gets overused in describing rap music

im down to agree to disagree too. its all love. i dont think you're stupid or closeminded, im just trynna work with some different ideas

how can talking about killing black people = uplifting black people?

i think your argument needs work. actually, i think it's unworkable.

n/m

.

ur game is weak

do better

dj-ing is an ART

emceeing is an ART

graf is an ART

breaking is an ART.

selling drugs has NOTHING to do with art. at all.

the fact that you can even ask this question shows how far removed the modern hip-hop music listener is from what hip-hop means. people don't even know why the elements are elements any more...

if u disagree u r imposing a moral standard that i fundamentally disagree wit

go out and experience shit if you think selling drugs is this cool art form. that shit aint got nothing to do with art. I know lots of people from fucked up places that didnt resort to selling drugs. some people make smart choices with their limited opportunities, others make bad ones. you need to learn the difference.

u know that i post on okp

u know my login is dba_BAD

u know im from oakland

thats it

u actin real familiar wit a stranger

makin assumptions about this and that

i tried talkin about the subject at hand you had to resort to calling me (and ill quote) a "newjack" and "little boy" and claiming that i was trynna "act smart"

u can come wit some substance

or go home

you reacted to mel's quotes about saying hip hop is about the 4 elements of hip hop and they're missing in todays music. you got all mad about that for some reason, maybe cause you don't respect breaking, graff writing or dont know no graff writers bboys or maybe you so into the drug dealing anti-intellectual thug image contrarian movement so prevalent in hip hop today. whether you like it or not hip hop was founded on these elements, they are essential to hip hop and will never go away as long as people know their history and keep the essence alive. drug dealing is a by product of peoples fucked up situations. you talking bunk on some serious issues. you stepped into your pile of bs. because some people deal drugs dont make it cool, or art. because people are in fucked up situations and do fucked up shit don't make it right, cool or art. cause not all people in those situations do that shit. just use your head next time doggie.

i do respect the elements

my close homies are on some real hip hop shit

ie in the traditional definition like how u see it

i was really just trynna spark some theoretical discussion

because it just seems real dismissive to say that what 99% of what people like is wack

I mean honestly that sounds like some real snoody shit

but i never dismissed anyone like you dismissed me

again im just trynna talk here

ur the 1 who caught feelings

and associated my posts with shit i wasnt even saying

foreal tho i aint mad at nobody

im just trynna work through what i see as a flaw with this insiders only definition of hip hop

i thought people would be down to discuss

people caught feelings, and i was largely misunderstood

>i do respect the elements
>
>my close homies are on some real hip hop shit
>
>ie in the traditional definition like how u see it
>
>i was really just trynna spark some theoretical discussion
>
>because it just seems real dismissive to say that what 99% of
>what people like is wack
>
>I mean honestly that sounds like some real snoody shit
>
>but i never dismissed anyone like you dismissed me
>
>again im just trynna talk here
>
>ur the 1 who caught feelings
>
>and associated my posts with shit i wasnt even saying
>
>foreal tho i aint mad at nobody
>
>im just trynna work through what i see as a flaw with this
>insiders only definition of hip hop
>
>i thought people would be down to discuss
>
>people caught feelings, and i was largely misunderstood

this shit has been discussed to death homie. 99% of shit on the radio and what kids are listening to is dumb ignorant stupid non-musical shit. but dudes like you wanna say see, these numbers prove selling drugs and bitches in bikinis are all people wanna hear in hip hop. you don't realize the reasons why certain shit gets stuffed down our throats and why other shit doesn't get heard. Go talk to Paris about how KMEL basically banned him from getting played on the air. Shit is real interesting once you start breaking it down. But thats discussion right? Facts, learning about whats really going on, not this surface level approach to what is hip cool and in. If you wanna get deep we can get deep but it don't look like you prepared to go there.

do u dislike all music with this type of content?

or just the pop and/or street stuff that tends to get clowned (and 'forced' upon us in the way you referred to)

because there is a distincion

cats like ghost, dilla etc

cats who are almost universally praised in the widest ranges of hip hop (end especially purist) circles

have this content you're describing

Cats like j-zone have it exclusive of any other

It's not just your d4ls and rick rosses

n/m

"The Message" changed my life, dun.
That's what was up when I fell in love with Hip Hop.

Welcome.


Can we get a royalty check for this dude....???!!!!!!!
I'm sayin,.........


peace

Don't tell me Sylvia owns the name too...

Seriously, much respect. Thanks for the classics and a thought-provoking post.

yeeaaaa! glad ya made it through

peace and respeck

WooOOF!!

(I'm calling BS until this is verified...)

DASSLER REBELLION
http://www.myspace.com/dasslerrebellion

His Myspace link might be under "Melle Mel," however throughout the profile, he's referred to as "Mele Mel"

And I was like...

"Who would you least like to have to go toe to toe with....Melle Mel or Freddie Foxxx."

My man's was like "Dude...I'd probaly just start beating my OWN ass to save them the trouble!"

Anyway...welcome to the site...you in my list of top ten MC's of all time.

Peace,

D

..'the message' was the first hip-hop song i fell in love with

thank you, sir!

I can't believe no one is skeptical of this...

he's the real deal, which would be sick, this isn't even right if nobody calls bullshit lol

i thought the grandmaster flash post was funny as hell. now i see paul wall is in the house too. (lol)

but, i know for a fact that muscles really is mele mel. he is on the road and will likely not respond to these posts untill he gets back next week.

but honest, it really is mele mel

oh, i just wanted to introduce myself. i am tupac shakur. yes i am still alive & i am hanging with elvis & jim morrison as we speak.

ok, so i'm not really tupac, but muscles really is mele mel.

honest.



"Treat every battle as if it were play. But, play serious!" - Bruce Lee

welcome. its our pleasure to have you here.

Check it out!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5_N7fGjtPQ



"Treat every battle as if it were play. But, play serious!" - Bruce Lee

That's what I'm talkin' bout!


"Treat every battle as if it were play. But, play serious!" - Bruce Lee

Whats up man. Welcome to OK.

A true legend u r - Much respect Mel. And I look fwd to more of your messages(pun intended).

(u might want to ignore some of the "closet snap dancers" who post their daily bs)

Sadly, some of the young kids here are gonna hate on you becuase they don't know any better, and they'll take shots at you. Please don't let that keep you from posting here cuz having a legend like yourself around here will be great for those who can appreciate what you mean to this artform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DROkayplayer: I'm a Professional Weed Smoker. Not because of how MUCH weed I smoke, but because of how WELL I smoke it.

co-sign.

YAO MING??!?!?!?!

Welcome to the jungle, sir......it's a pleasure and an honor....

Mele Mel, I heard that you're shooting a music video for a new single called "The New Message". I've heard pieces of this song but not in it's entirety. How can we hear your music?


~no one stands in the way of success, but yourself~

its an honor....truly

welcome bruh!

---------------------------------------
"Much to success to ya, even if you wish me the opposite/Sooner or later we'll all see who the prophet is." `Nas

Welcome.
That's dope.

Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF7b1hdFiDM

lol

what's up man? good luck on getting your pro card.
u going for it, right?

kama, d'lo: know ya' role! farooq: kum'o!

Good to have you.

thanks for everything you've done for hip-hop and for music overall.

don't expect okayplayer to be all wine and roses but if you can hang with the criticism you might enjoy the experience. it's a good way to interact with fans. most other artists can't hang though. it is tough, admittedly.

make sure you get some heat from some good producers for your next album! i dunno about "for free" but they should feel honored and priveledged to work with you. doesn't matter if they're big names or nobodies, just get some heat.

c-cipher crammed like 8 ni&&as into the back of that cruiser at the end of "the message" video....lol

on the reals..that very song (and video) ushered in the "keep it real" element (thats now clished) into hip-hop..i remember how momdukes and them reacted when it first came out..i ain't quite 30, but i remember new york..when it was REALLY new york..

melle mel is one of my heroes...along with slick rick and ghostface..i just aint f'ing with some of mel's comments cause he should know better than to dis drug dealers like he ain't toot a line or two in his day...furthermore, I KNOW FOR A FACT mel is a product or student of a higher level of consiousness..so for him to call out ni&&as who hustle wasn't really that cool....mel knows that both the dealer and user are victims to the same babylonian oppression or 1st and 2nd circuit mentality, if you will....mel knows that reaganomics (oliver north traded drugs for guns and money in a trianlge with russia and the islamic jihad--the EXACT same guns they've given to my people in africa to kill my people)....my bad...when people bring up drugs...i lose it! cause all the shit in todays music and all that shit they so-called "fuckin up hip-hop" ..all that shit is merely a symptom of march larger issues..issues that we aint gonna fix on okayplayer or myspace, by the way....ok enough

>c-cipher crammed like 8 ni&&as into the back of that cruiser
>at the end of "the message" video....lol
>
>on the reals..that very song (and video) ushered in the "keep
>it real" element (thats now clished) into hip-hop..i remember
>how momdukes and them reacted when it first came out..i ain't
>quite 30, but i remember new york..when it was REALLY new
>york..
>
>melle mel is one of my heroes...along with slick rick and
>ghostface..i just aint f'ing with some of mel's comments cause
>he should know better than to dis drug dealers like he ain't
>toot a line or two in his day...furthermore, I KNOW FOR A FACT
>mel is a product or student of a higher level of
>consiousness..so for him to call out ni&&as who hustle wasn't
>really that cool....mel knows that both the dealer and user
>are victims to the same babylonian oppression or 1st and 2nd
>circuit mentality, if you will....mel knows that reaganomics
>(oliver north traded drugs for guns and money in a trianlge
>with russia and the islamic jihad--the EXACT same guns they've
>given to my people in africa to kill my people)....my
>bad...when people bring up drugs...i lose it! cause all the
>shit in todays music and all that shit they so-called "fuckin
>up hip-hop" ..all that shit is merely a symptom of march
>larger issues..issues that we aint gonna fix on okayplayer or
>myspace, by the way....ok enough


Realest shit in a minute. Not to abandon the issue, but True school didn't fall off because of shoddy business practices. Ya'lll were playing to that Frankie Crocker/ downtown crowd and sniffing more cocaina than Rick James and Ike Turner combined.When things got crictical, some even turned into everything you proselytized on in your mission statement.Thank you for this genetic code , but even man evolved from the Cro-Magnun into what we are now.

next time a fee be like "ugh u post on a messageboard" i'ma say, "so does melle muscle mel mofo!"

Welcome. It's always good to have pioneers around. This industry tends to discard or ignore our history. I look forward to hearing new music from you.

I got lots of respect for all pioneers of the Hip Hop culture and I'm glad Melle Mel decided to come aboard the okayplayer community.

But you'll do more good lingering around in "The Lesson" on this site, bruh.

Drop some knowledge here and there...

*logs off/runs downstairs/cues my Freedom 12"

Where and the FUCK is my cazoo????

my 2 yr old copped his first BBoy stance while I was rocking Freedom the morning after I posted this message.

AND he said "HUUHHHHH!!!"

I'm so proud!

When you gonna be the "new member" of The Roots?

Check out my profile on www.myspace.com/thislovejawns

A salute to you, sir, and many thanks for your contributions to the culture that's helped me turn into the young man I'm glad I have become.

I look forward to you schoolin heads on the regular

Welcome to OKP fam

welcome to okp!

Respect do to one of hip hops original pioneers.

Welcome to the family Bruh...it's an honor as an original hip-hop fan

Welcome to OkayPlayer! I hope you have a great time discussing things with other OKPs on these boards.

"I have chosen to become an Okayplayer member because I want to connect with people who have a love, understanding & respect for real hip-hop."

not to burst your bubble but OKP has been overrun by haters lately. especially on the Lesson boards. you have been warned.

other than that, welcome! damn, mele mel, that's crazy!

I love to see shit like this. A legend amongst the faithful!!!



You don't impress me!!
http://www.myspace.com/bluejay1972

Damn! Mele Mel on OKP!

Much respect to a true pioneer and legend.

i goto fluid just to see you at the door

Welcome.

glad you here to build with us.

*broken glass everywhere...*

the dusty vinyl villain.

yo! Grandmaster! you are the reason i became an emcee, one love and much respect and thanks. keep on keeping on. -coming all the way from Cape Town City South Afrika!

Welcome!
__________________
www.myspace.com/philrigatusojr | www.consumerslabel.net

Whatup Melle Mel! I wanna make a hip hop diff'rence fam. Give it a little time, this shit is gonna flip like flapjacks!

"Oil? Who said anything about oil? You cooking, bitch?" - Dave Chapelle as "Black Bush"

"I ain't scared of no Al- Qaeda. I'm scared of Al- Kracker!" - Chris Rock

"That is one of the most useless jobs in the world right now." - Branford Marsalis on A&Rs

Welcome to okp!

after seeing thought rock the vh1 honors last year what is your opinion of him as an emcee?
________________________________________
return to your home citizens

madagascar titties- (c) phontiggalo the rap jiggalo

I would never, ever hit a woman....but i'll beat a bitch (c) wifey

http://www.myspace.com/iltigo

congrats and welcome to the family, some people joke here (like me) but others are just straight up assholes on this site.


glad to have you here

its the Grandmaster.

welcome to our community






"WHO SHOT THE DUCK OUT THE WINDOW??!!!??"

ahhh, why the hell not:
www.myspace.com/18thletter


check us out, mayne:

www.coolanddeadlyreggae.com


Tully "The Dragon" Blanchard
world kickboxing champion

to even be in this post...

.

The Sig Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s
You Know What Love Is.

www.myspace.com/ryendavidmusic
or
http://i8.tinypic.com/24qmosp.jpg
or
http://tinyurl.com/9u9nm

Welcome

The Sig Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s
You Know What Love Is.

www.myspace.com/ryendavidmusic
or
http://i8.tinypic.com/24qmosp.jpg
or
http://tinyurl.com/9u9nm

chocolate all over like an ALMond JOY!"

cowboy - rip - had the best emcee voice, ever. but mel is up there, doe.

in addition to marv albert, i think keith (cowboy) was an influence on chuck d, too. it's harder to pull off that booming quality w/ more complex rhyme schemes, but dude's voice was perfectly matched to his style.

i think it had a lot to do w/ the style of radio deejays back in the day, the way they'd let the syllables hang out there like that.




peace & blessings,

x.

sigless for the summer, y'all.

Welcome to the board Mel!
And like someone said here, thanks for the classics!

Welcome. A perfect addition to the OKP family.

Respect!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Labor Day Old School Mix on Commercial Radio starts off like this...


"U Know What Time It Is" -Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
"Style (Peter Gunn Theme)" -Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
"Step Off" -Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5

and they've been misspelling your name this whole time?

melle vs mele?

Welcome, Melle! I'm surprised this didn't get anchored..."Take It Back"

What's up Mel my brotha. I know you on the road and won't get to this for a min. But when you get back I hope you get around to schoolin' these and those on other things you pioneered.

Making Rap legit not only for the states but taking it overseas and doing in a way it had not been done. The knucks taken for having style and stage presence and not just showing up in a t-shirt and jeans. Professional performances, choreography... starting that pass a dude over the crowd's head thing with Tommy Gun, rocking all those countries where hip hop hadn't been rooted as it is today, making it possible for all these neggraz to go overseas and get that loot and do shows. Not to mention having a live show.. with a band YES, and doing more than just rapping but also entertaining and musicianship.

Mel they just don't know man and what it really means to have pioneered this whole thing. Right or wrong, good or bad, they all living off what you and a few others did for fun and escape.

It wasn't about the money then and knowing you the way I do... it's not about it now.

I was a stubborn mofo who didn't believe in rap and you turned all that around.

You gave me, my guitar and my music a chance to share the stage with you and to be a part of what was that became what it is and what will be.

You took us out of the hoods and the country and made the world sit up and notice and they had to respect that Blacks had more going on than they ever realized and we've effectively influenced the style of the world...
showed them what real global influence is.

Brother I appreciate you to the end.

Clayton

Welcome...

...to the MC

I took in LA at the Gabah....

http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs4/i/2004/228/9/5/Melle_Mel.jpg

the link you posted doesn't work.

i think this is it...


http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/9818237/?qo=4&q=Melle



"Oh man, is this me or what?" - Jimi Hendrix

www.apefilms.com
www.myspace.com/apefilms

Dear all, I have been working closely with Mele and I just want to convey his thanks to everybody who has posted on this board in response. He is on tour in Europe this week and will not be back until next Monday, but he asked me in the meantime to express his sincere and most humble thanks for all the comments and support. He is very keen to interact with the people here and will answer any questions people have for him. Including the infamous 'Belt' incident at the NMS..lol! In the meantime, I will mention that his name was in fact always 'Mele Mel' not 'Melle Mel'. The latter was a typo early in his career which somehow just stuck because he had some huge hits under that mis-spelled moniker.

Hence the official website is www.melemel.net

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!



http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i42/faisalahmed_2006/Mel6sm.jpg

i think its cool how a legend wants to connect with the fans still

...looking forward to hearing more from you

all the way through the split w/ GMF/Sugarhill, etc (and the collabs w/ duke bootee which was ahead of its time).

you one of a very very few who made me pick up a pen and want to write rhymes, because you were writing more than rhymes.

i've posted, on this site, about the impact that your music and words had on not only me, but my generation.

do you by chance remember the compilation album where you were freestyling w/ sha rock over flash cutting up 'the breaks'? it had a silver cover, and i think it said Rap Convention (circa '80 or '81). i remember you said

"and before i go, hah, before i quit/
you gonna know i don't talk no sugarhill shit/
i'm melle mel, you know i rock well/
from the top of the world to the depths of hell/
rockin the best with the most finesse/
takin the top and leavin what's left/
a face of gold, a heart of stone/
i need my crew but i'm stone to the bone/
cuz i, play the game just to pay the price/
to be cool as ice, like paradise..."

i been searching for years for that. i bet my uncle still got it somewhere in his crib.

btw, i wrote an essay on the history of hip hop music for a book entitled the hip hop tree, which i posted here.

i actually 'wrote' the piece on here, using the boards as my word processor, more or less, and react/responding to questions that cats had as i posted the bits of it along the way.

here's a tracklisting of old school joints where i had realized that you took part of your verse off of superrappin and made that the crescendo to 'The Message'. incredible, yo.

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=18&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22507&listing_type=search#22623

my entire, finished article, as published, is here:

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=18&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22507&listing_type=search#22615

anyway. thanks, again, for your incredible contributions to this culture.

peace & blessings,

x.

sigless for the summer, y'all.

Mele-Mel in The House I heard some of the album mainly snippets that were not on myspace and I have to say I was suprised the track's were banging and the lyrics in the pocket as always. I was expecting you to sound old school bit the sh@t was up to date. Keep it up GrandMaster hell with the hate got my money ready. I will be watching Melemel.net for the release. P.S. Are you on steriods damn you look BIG on that websight

A friend of mine saw Mele in Ireland and said he rocked it, a big stage performance,I need to see him in the U.S. the only down side he said to the show was what the hell "Scorpio and some other dude was doing there?" Because Mele commanded the stage and there was no use for anybody else taking up space I hope as with the new album he will tour by himself or with some one who add's something to the show.

Cool. I'll be looking forward to your insight.

:)

I got to work with Grandmaster Mele Mel this weekend on his new music video. It was for a track on his upcoming album, "Muscles". The working title of the song is "M3" (a.k.a. The New Message).

Also, we had a Kid Crumbs ("Pass The Popcorn") sighting near the end of the shoot on Sunday. Crumbs made mention of it in a reply to Mele Mel's post "Mele Mel (a.k.a. Muscles) is back on the boards!!!"

The music video shoot itself went great. We have a few final shots scheduled for this Thursday, then it should be finished a couple weeks later after that.

Hopefully, Mel will post a link this week here at Okayplayer.com so everyone can view some of the highlights.

We got a lot of work done and had a great time in the process. We have been shooting in NYC, starting in the Bronx (in the projects & at the PAL rec center Mel frequented when he was first starting out). We've been following Mel as he travels through all 5 boroughs. He's been everywhere, including The Unisphere, Coney Island, The Brooklyn Bridge (we walked the length of it), Times Square, Harlem & even at Yankee Stadium. Mel is a big Yankees fan.

It should be great viewing when it's all finished. It's been a lot of fun (with a few problems here & there) making it!

Peace.

------------------

www.apefilms.com
www.myspace.com/apefilms

^