Race Jones
gangster. grace. alchemy
"In his ongoing series examining the greatness of some MCs (see episodes on Rakim and Kool G Rap), JayQuan takes a long look at G.M. Melle Mel. Looking at some easy to miss firsts (star R&B collaborations, totin’ guns on album covers, premiere Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions for rappers), The Foundation lays down some interesting support of Mel well before getting to the lyrics. Once there, the 50 minute documentary celebrates his innovative wordplay, trail-blazing originality, advanced rhyme schemes, and being a Rap prophet.
JayQuan, informed by many primary sources, sets the stage for 1970s Hip-Hop. The DJ was the focal point, with MCs serving as fly-talking public announcers above all else. Based on his research, JayQuan urges that Melle Mel is the first MC to say an entire rhyming verse, about himself, on beat. All three qualifiers are important, as Melle maintained the rhythm and spoke completely. Moreover, instead of making the focus the DJ or the party (or the crowd), Melvin Glover spit the kind of self-aggrandizing rhyme that lives as recently as Drake’s More Life album released one day ago."
BANDINI