from a longer interview at http://www.realtalkny.net/2007/03/topic/exclusives/real-talk-with-melle-mel-hip-hop-pioneer-speaks-on-what-he-helped-create/
Melle Mel: ...When was the last record, the caliber of, “The Message.” When was it made, it is probably a Tupac song and how long ago was that? You just don’t have the caliber of artist you had back then then that you have now. It is just a different caliber and it’s worse.
RealTalkNY: Bill Cosby recently made comments about Tupac, saying people shouldn’t look up to him because he use to sell drugs. What are your thoughts on his remarks?
Melle Mel: I think Bill Cosby and people, don’t have an understanding of exactly who Tupac was. Every time people discuss Tupac, people talk about how great of a rapper he was. Me, being a master rapper myself, I wouldn’t say he was a great rapper, more than he was a really good actor. Who played parts to such perfection, that the people, instead of listening to some of the things he said, they just looked at what he was doing. then they try to emulate it, and that is what made things more negative then what they could have been, if they actually listened to him. He was a very intelligent human being, and his body of work, to this day, will probably never be surpassed by anybody. He was a brilliant person, but he was was such a great actor, that is what captivated people the most.
As far as Bill Cosby, he’s a standup guy and a great human being in his own right. I think what it is, is he did what everybody else did. He didn’t really listen to what Tupac was saying. Bill Cosby came from a whole lot of eras back, so he don’t really understand Tupac. I’m not trying to come down on Bill, because the over all message he was trying to get out there was definitely one that black people should hear. But they don’t want to hear the truth.
Melle Mel: ...When was the last record, the caliber of, “The Message.” When was it made, it is probably a Tupac song and how long ago was that? You just don’t have the caliber of artist you had back then then that you have now. It is just a different caliber and it’s worse.
RealTalkNY: Bill Cosby recently made comments about Tupac, saying people shouldn’t look up to him because he use to sell drugs. What are your thoughts on his remarks?
Melle Mel: I think Bill Cosby and people, don’t have an understanding of exactly who Tupac was. Every time people discuss Tupac, people talk about how great of a rapper he was. Me, being a master rapper myself, I wouldn’t say he was a great rapper, more than he was a really good actor. Who played parts to such perfection, that the people, instead of listening to some of the things he said, they just looked at what he was doing. then they try to emulate it, and that is what made things more negative then what they could have been, if they actually listened to him. He was a very intelligent human being, and his body of work, to this day, will probably never be surpassed by anybody. He was a brilliant person, but he was was such a great actor, that is what captivated people the most.
As far as Bill Cosby, he’s a standup guy and a great human being in his own right. I think what it is, is he did what everybody else did. He didn’t really listen to what Tupac was saying. Bill Cosby came from a whole lot of eras back, so he don’t really understand Tupac. I’m not trying to come down on Bill, because the over all message he was trying to get out there was definitely one that black people should hear. But they don’t want to hear the truth.
