Carmelo Anthony Rejects Ben Affleck’s Goat Declare on Deceased Legend Despite Fear of Backlash

Now here’s a story straight out of left field—Ben Affleck recently threw his hat into the never-ending “rap GOAT” debate. While chopping it up with Jon Bernthal during a Complex interview, the Account 2 co-stars casually compared their favorite rappers. Affleck, clearly feeling nostalgic, rattled off names like Lil Wayne, Slick Rick, Eazy-E, Kendrick Lamar, and, of course, the legendary duo Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. But the plot thickened when Bernthal mentioned Biggie and 2Pac. That’s when Affleck’s eyes lit up like fireworks. He couldn’t help but nod towards 2Pac.

He straight up said, “I mean, 2Pac may be the all-time GOAT.” And to add some spice to the convo, he shared a moment with his 13-year-old son, Samuel. “My son played me the song the other day, and he was like, ‘Yo, you heard this?’ And he played me ‘Hit ’Em Up,’” Affleck said. “I was like, ‘Have I heard this? I had a whole life I f—ing lived before you [were born.]’” The debate heated up when Carmelo Anthony and Kid Mero weighed in on 7PM in Brooklyn.

Kid Mero came in hot with his take, “Ben Affleck said that his son attempted to put him on the pot, asking him if he’s ever heard ‘Hit ‘Em Up’ after going on to say Tupac might actually be the all-time goat. So f— with it or f— out of here, Tupac is the greatest rapper of all time,” Mero shouted. And guess who jumped into the mix? None other than Carmelo Anthony.

However, Melo, never the one to beat around the bush, offered a more balanced take. “Pac is the greatest. 2Pac. Of all time. He got his own lane,” he said, adding, “Pac got his own lane, Biggie got his own lane… Jay got his own lane, Esco got his own lane.” In short, Melo’s saying let everyone shine in their own world.

But the real fireworks came when Melo respectfully drew the line. “If Pac is the GOAT. Only because we have to say f– out of here,” he said. Then he added, “So I wanted to sound so harsh, I respectfully disagree with it. I’m not mad at that take, though, at Pac being the GOAT. I’m not mad at that. I’m not mad at that take but but respectfully Because y’all asked me the f—–g question. Bring my generation so f—. I feel the same way, you know.”

May 2, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks former player Carmelo Anthony stands court side during the fourth quarter of game two of the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoffs against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden.

Carmelo Anthony’s more measured stance reflects a growing consensus among artists and athletes to honor multiple “GOATs” rather than crown a single monarch. Safe to say, while Affleck’s busy sharing 2Pac classics with his son, Melo’s holding it down for the full spectrum of hip-hop legends—each in their own lane, each doing their own thing.

Carmelo Anthony revealed which rap legend really represents him

When you think about Carmelo Anthony’s run in the league, it’s hard not to draw some parallels with the greats. Not just on the court, but behind the mic too. From winning it all with Syracuse to entering the NBA alongside LeBron and D-Wade in one of the most stacked drafts ever, Carmelo Anthony carved out a legacy that deserves more than just basketball praise. Naturally, when Melo sat down with Common and Kid Mero at 7PM in Brooklyn, the conversation steered right into the crossover. Which rapper best mirrors Melo’s style? Was it 2Pac? Kendrick? Jadakiss? Or maybe Nas?

Turns out, Melo already had his answer lined up. He didn’t hesitate when asked to describe the lyrical versions of his hoop career. “I would say, Nas and a little bit of Kiss (Jadakiss),” he said. That blend of cerebral flow and cold precision really does line up with the way he operated, whether it was a step-back from midrange or pulling up in transition.

Meanwhile, Common and Kid Mero doubled down on the Jadakiss comparison. They said Melo played so smoothly, yet powerfully. It was like a killer mixtape on repeat. Mero even highlighted his signature move, the jab step, which defenders could never quite read. And Melo didn’t disagree. “I mean I’ve never thought about that, but just going off what I know, and vibes, and careers, and music, and sound, and what they talk about, the art of it,” he reflected, fully embracing the analogy.

Considering he dropped 22.5 points per game for nearly two decades, shot 44.7% from the field, and made 10 All-Star squads, it’s only fair. Melo was as pure as they come—like a classic album that aged perfectly. So the real question is, who’s Melo to you—Nas, Kiss, or someone else entirely?

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