Tank met with Stephen A. Smith for a friendly debate during an episode of The Stephen A. Smith ShowIn a clip uploaded on Thursday (August 15), the two men clash after the R&B singer voiced his opinions on Chris Brown and Michael Jackson.
“Chris Brown is actually better than Michael Jackson,” Tank claims to Smith’s disbelief.
“Tank! Do you understand what you’re saying, my man?” asks the sports commentator. “I mean, you are admired, you are revered, you are connected to music, my brother. Everyone loves and respects you.”
Tank performs in the evening concert series during the 2021 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images
Tank responded, “If there was Magic Johnson, there’s LeBron James now. That’s the ultimate evolution of a guy who can play all five positions. We’re talking about Chris Brown, we’re talking about the evolution of Michael Jackson. The evolution of Usher. The evolution of me. The evolution of Ginuwine. That’s that kid.”
“Oh come on, Tank. Come on… When I saw Chris Brown perform, he was now the best in the world. The best in the world. One of a kind. I’m just challenging the next level. I didn’t know there was a next level after Michael Jackson,” Smith continued in the short film.
This is not the first time the “I Deserve” singer has made this comparison, putting the Virginia native at the top of the King of Pop. In June 2022, the debate was sparked by former NFL star Ryan Clark on social media.
“I was the only one to say this and I’ve felt alone for so long. Welcome to our midst! Singer, dancer, writer, producer, actor, painter, fashion designer, gymnast, ninja, etc!!! (shrugging emoji) MJ is the greatest but CB has more talents that’s all we’re saying… (praying hands emoji),” Tank wrote on Instagram at the time.
He continued, “People don’t read to understand, they just read to react. MJ is the greatest of all time!! His musical catalog and skills will never be matched, but as far as overall talent, CB has more. There are many artists that never made it that have more talent than all of us…lol. We don’t argue about greatness; we just count the talents.”
The Stephen A. Smith Show is described as a platform where Smith shares his “familiar point of view, breaking barriers beyond the world of sports and covering relevant topics in entertainment, pop culture, society, business and politics.”
The sports podcast streams new episodes live three times a week and features commentary on the day’s biggest headlines as well as interviews with various celebrities, game changers and influencers. Watch the clip with Tank above.
