There was a time at RR where I did a regular column reviewing singles, but
owing to the sheer number of albums shopped to us for coverage (then and now)
this eventually fell by the wayside. Thus when I opened up the zip file for
"Some Kind of Sorry" by hip-hop legends Melle Mel and Scorpio (of
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five fame) I was actually thinking
I'd be reviewing a short EP. As it turns out the zip was actually filled
with publicity photos and one song - "Some Kind of Sorry." There's no
instrumental, radio edit, or anything else in the folder other than one song.
Rather than abandon the review though I decided to delve into this song because
of a dispute between Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash, which is one of the reasons this
song has the curious artist name of "Grandmaster's Furious 5 featuring Melle
Mel and Scorpio." To paraphase what Melvin 'Melle Mel' Glover has had to say
about it, Flash has monopolized the use of their name to his own profit when
(in his view) he never even did any of the heavy lifting back in the 1980's
to make it a success. In that context the song can actually be read as a diss
on Flash, with repeated demands for the story's antagonist to "apologize."
"You rode it like you was a horse with no remorse."
If you just got a good look at Mel's biceps (and the press kit had plenty)
you'd probably want to just hand over the name "Grandmaster" to Melle Mel and
not even have a feud over it. He looks more swoll than most pro wrestlers!
Apparently it hasn't worked out though, and since this song is a coded "message"
to Flash, it doesn't seem like this beef has been settled since Mel and Scorpio
were interviewed about it over a year ago. That beef has at least tied this
song up in limbo though since it's finally schedule for digital release three
days after this review. I wish I could say it's got me excited in a nostalgia
kind of way for the early 1980's sound of Melle Mel and Mr. Ness/Scorpio that
I grew up on, but (with apologies) it actually sounds like cheesy pop music.
There's none of that "don't push me, cause, I'm, close to the... edge" intensity
here. There's a whole sung chorus about rainbows, poison arrows, and sparrows.
I'm not exaggerating. The song I actually wish was in this zip file is their
2015 remake of that classic. You can watch it below.
Out of respect for these pioneers and the fact that this is only a one song
press kit, I'm going to refrain from a "score" as such. I can only say that
when they go on tour this year I hope they aren't banking on their new material
as the draw.
![[Some Kind of Sorry]](../coverart/grandmasters-SomeKind.jpg)
There was a time at RR where I did a regular column reviewing singles, but
owing to the sheer number of albums shopped to us for coverage (then and now)
this eventually fell by the wayside. Thus when I opened up the zip file for
"Some Kind of Sorry" by hip-hop legends Melle Mel and Scorpio (of
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five fame) I was actually thinking
I'd be reviewing a short EP. As it turns out the zip was actually filled
with publicity photos and one song - "Some Kind of Sorry." There's no
instrumental, radio edit, or anything else in the folder other than one song.