Melle Mel Praises Pusha T's "White Lines" Remix

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: Melle Mel attends the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 14: Pusha T wears a navy blue suit jacket with gold buttoms and a white suit shirt, outside before Thom Browne show on February 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)
Melle Mel and Scorpio praised Pusha T for sampling "The Message" on the "Cocaine Bear" theme song.

Melle Mel’s had a whole lot to say about some of hip-hop’s most cherished MCs in recent times. The Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five member's interview with the Art Of Dialogue led to hot takes. Artists like Eminem and Kendrick Lamar felt the wrath of his criticism the most. Despite Em’s high ranking in Billboard and Vibe’s top 50 greatest rappers list, Mel said the Detroit rapper wouldn’t have been as big if he wasn’t white – a comment that earned a response from 50 Cent.

Shortly after, he said that Kendrick Lamar wasn’t an influential rapper – another take that many disagreed with. Chuck D later came to his defense. He explained Mel’s been critical of the rappers that came after him, it seems as though the rap pioneer has a few artists he appreciates in modern rap. Pusha T, who recently remixed Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five’s “The Message,” is apparently one of the few rappers in the game who’ve earned Mel’s respect.

Melle Mel & Scorpio Applaud Pusha T

Pusha T debuted his remix of “The Message,” titled “White Lines,” for the Cocaine Bear soundtrack. Though Push is an embodiment of the antithesis to the iconic 1982 anthem, Melle Mel praised the Clipse member for flipping the song. “I think it’s just a great testament to the legacy of the group and myself to make a record that’s 40 years old that can still be relevant,” he told All Hip Hop. “Mobb Deep used it, too. Even up to right now with it being in Cocaine Bear and Pusha T doing the remake, it’s a testament to how powerful our music was and the imprint that it left and is still leaving within the music business.”

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five member Scorpio echoed a similar sentiment. He explained that it’s “an honor” to see so many artists take influence from them forty years later. “To see this after all of the years is just incredible,” Scorpio added. “We’re talking 40 years. For it to stand the test of time and to see all the artists like Duran Duran, Mobb Deep, and Pusha T who keep recycling it is just an honor.” What are your thoughts on Pusha T’s record? Press play above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.

About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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