In a revealing conversation on the Thanx4askin podcast, Mel Pacino shared the untold story behind the infamous altercation between Grafh and Busta Rhymes, dispelling some of the myths and clarifying his own involvement. While Grafh has recounted the incident as if he was alone, Mel, who was present during the tension-filled encounter, played a key role in preventing the situation from escalating further.
The story begins with Grafh and Mel arriving at a studio with limited parking space. As Grafh went upstairs to meet with people inside, Mel remained in the car, unaware that things were about to take a turn. After around 30-40 minutes, Mel spotted Busta Rhymes approaching the vehicle. “Busta asked me to get out of the car, and that’s when I knew things might get tense,” Mel recalls.
When Mel joined Grafh outside, the atmosphere quickly shifted as Busta made his move toward Grafh. The confrontation ignited when Grafh, reacting to Busta’s aggression, gave him a light push. The move caused Busta to stumble into a nearby car, but it was hardly a violent action. Yet, the tension was undeniable. Mel immediately positioned himself between the two, attempting to deescalate the situation, but Busta wasn’t backing down.
As the standoff continued, Grafh took a step back, and Busta pushed forward, escalating the conflict. In a moment of heightened aggression, Grafh pulled a knife, causing Busta to retreat and even search through the garbage as a brief pause in the action.
The altercation reached its peak when Busta grabbed a bottle, breaking it and swinging it wildly. Fortunately, Grafh managed to back away just in time, tripping and falling in the process, but no serious injuries were sustained.
Mel pointed out that despite the intensity of the confrontation, Busta’s crew, who were standing by, did not intervene in the conflict. Eventually, the situation fizzled out, with no lasting damage done.
Reflecting on the incident, Mel Pacino emphasized his role in defusing what could have been a much more dangerous situation. “I was there to make sure things didn’t go further. I played a key part in keeping it from getting out of control,” Mel asserts. His perspective offers a fresh look at an often misunderstood moment in hip-hop history.
