As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, health experts are clearly concerned about the Delta variant, which is infecting the population at a rapid rate. Still, the war between those who support the vaccine and those who are opposed wages on.
During a recent broadcast on MSNBC, Hip Hop’s favorite news anchor Ari Melber referenced Biggie’s Life After Death track “What’s Beef” when discussing the seriousness of COVID-19.
“COVID is dangerous,” he says. “It’s lethal. It’s much like the beef The Notorious B.I.G. used to rap about when he said, ‘Beef is when your moms ain’t safe up in the streets/Beef is when I see you/Guaranteed to be in I-C-U.’
“Well, when COVID sees you, you can end up in an ICU. Maybe not at the same rate as Biggie’s beef, but that’s the point about risk — you don’t want to test the streets and risk ending up in the ICU.”
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Melber has made a magnificent habit out of quoting famous Hip Hop lyrics — from Mobb Deep and 50 Cent to 21 Savage and Pusha T while on air. Speaking to HipHopDX, Melber explains how he manages to so flawlessly weave the lines into his news reports — while quoting yet another notable rap artist.
“Usually it’s a song I know that pops into my head,” he tells DX. “So some topic or concept in the news just fits with a lyric, or wisdom from a song. It’s possible more journalists will start citing bars, the way they use sports analogies, which is cool with me.
How MSNBC's Ari Melber Uses Hip Hop To Make Sense Of News
“As Drake said, so many ‘came up on a style that I made up, but if all I hear is me, then who should I be afraid of?’ [Laughs].”
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Before he signed off, he did have one very important question, ‘Can HipHopDX tell me when Certified Lover Boyis actually going to drop?!”
Only Drake’s hairdresser knows for sure.
