Big Daddy Kane

Rap Legend Big Daddy Kane Called J. Cole His ‘Hero’ And Explained What He Loved About Migos

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Rap fans might be used to older artists finding fault with contemporary stars, but at least one of hip-hop’s early pioneers had some high praise for rap’s reigning hitmakers. Big Daddy Kane, who is often credited alongside Rakim for sparking one of hip-hop’s earliest stylistic shifts, introducing complex, multisyllabic rhyme schemes and punchlines into slower tempo grooves, called out two names in particular when he was asked about the modern class of artists by Houston radio station 97.9 The Box: J. Cole and Migos.

Calling J. Cole his “hero,” he also gave credit to Kendrick Lamar and Rapsody, as well as battle rapper Lady Luck. He then laments the loss of Takeoff, saying, “I was so hoping to see another Migos album.” He explained his enjoyment for Migos, comparing them to some of his own peers. “Their style reminded me of The Funky Four Plus 1 More with their in-and-out thing. I’m a fan of their music and their fashion.”

Kanye previously praised Cole in 2021, calling him his favorite MC. “This is the brother right here that makes me feel like hip-hop is still alive and it’s here to stay when I listen to this here brother spit and listen to his music,” he said.

Big Daddy Kane Calls J. Cole His “Hero,” Praises Migos, Rapsody, & More

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Hailed as a Rap pioneer with unmatched influence in Hip Hop, people listen when Big Daddy Kane speaks. In 2021, Verzuz paid homage to Rap’s veterans by hosting a show featuring Kane and KRS-One. Several other classic Hip Hop artists joined them for the celebration, proving that from one generation to the next, Hip Hop has an elite class of hitmakers.

Recently, the “I Get the Job Done” artist sat down with 97.9 The Box and was asked which current rappers he admires. “J. Cole is my hero,” said Kane.

Read More: Big Daddy Kane & KRS-One Trade Hits On Star-Studded “Verzuz”

He called Cole “my dude,” while also praising Kendrick Lamar before continuing his list.

“Rapsody. Lady London is a must. She is incredible,” he also shared. “And…man. I was so hoping and praying to see another Migos album because their style reminded me of the Funky 4 + 1 with their in-and-out thing. I’m a fan of their music.”

Funky 4 + 1 was a Bronx-based Hip Hop group that existed from the late 1970s to the early ’80s. The crew consisted of Jazzy Jeff, Sharon Green, D.J. Breakout, Guy Williams, Keith Keith, The Voice of K.K., and Rodney Stone.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: KRS 1, Big Daddy Kane and Fat Joe attend TrillerVerz Featuring KRS 1 vs Big Daddy Kane at Barclays Center on October 17, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
Read More: Takeoff Murder: New Details Emerge About Dice Game Shooting

Kane also applauded Migos’s fashion sense because “you got to be fly.” He added, “Those dudes be fly.”

Migos were hit with devastating news following the November 1 death of member Takeoff. The rapper was a guest at a private party in Houston when a verbal altercation turned deadly. Someone opened fire, striking the beloved rapper. Police noted that Takeoff was an innocent bystander who wasn’t involved in the disagreement.

Patrick Clark has been arrested on charges of murder. He and his lawyer contend Clark isn’t responsible for Takeoff’s death. Clark was released on $1 million bond reportedly paid for by a “concerned citizen” who believes in his innocence.

Kool G Rap Drops “Last Of A Dying Breed” Album Featuring Big Daddy Kane & More

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Kool G Rap has returned to deliver the seventh solo studio album of his career, Last Of A Dying Breed.

The 54-year-old legendary rapper promptly delivered his newest 11-track effort on December 9. The Godfather of mafiaso raps is here to emphasize his long-lasting influence on hip-hop.

The album chiefly boasts features from a large list of guests including fellow former Juice Crew member Big Daddy Kane, Grandmaster Caz, 38 Spesh and more.

Kool G Rap was previously a key figure in the golden age of hip-hop throughout the ’80s and ’90s. Through his monumental work with DJ Polo, the duo released three classic albums together. The first of which was 1989’s Road To The Riches.

Following that, the next phase of his career came in the form of his work as a member of the Juice Crew. His unique flows and style of rapping remained at the forefront.

Beginning in 1995, Kool G Rap began to embark on a solo career and has refused to slow down ever since.

Previously released tracks include “Fly Till I Die,” “Critical,” “Scared Money” and “Born Hustler.”

On the latter, the New York native boasts, “When I asked for help, they ain’t help with shit / Got on my own two feet, been selfish since.” Through his lyrics, Kool makes it undeniably clear that he’s a force to be reckoned with.

Finally, make sure to stream Kool G Rap’s Last Of A Dying Breed on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterwards, comment below your top three songs.

Last Of A Dying Breed Tracklist:

  1. Dying Breed (feat. Jigsaw)
  2. Scared Money (feat. General Vee)
  3. Never Be (feat. Vado, Royal Flush & Folkland Los)
  4. Fly Till I Die (feat. Big Daddy Kane)
  5. Critical (feat. Nems)
  6. Born Hustler (feat. 38 Spesh, AZ & General Vee)
  7. Official
  8. Donald Goines
  9. Million Reasons (feat. Al Skratch)
  10. Winning Hand (feat. Lil’ Dee & Blue Eyes)
  11. Born N Raised (feat. Grandmaster Caz, Doo Wop & Marley Marl)

Kool G Rap Enlists AZ, Big Daddy Kane, & Sean Price In New Album, ‘Last Of A Dying Breed’

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Kool G Rap Enlists AZ, Big Daddy Kane, & Sean Price In New Album, 'Last Of A Dying Breed'

Hip Hop’s golden era constituent, Queens’ native, the godfather of Mafioso rap, legendary and influential emcee Kool G Rap, broke out in the late 80s and early 90s as one-half of the duo with DJ Polo. Together, Kool G Rap and DJ Polo released three undisputed classic albums, beginning with their debut album, Road To The Riches (1989), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992).

MORE: Today In Hip Hop History: Kool G Rap And DJ Polo Dropped Their Third And Final Album ‘Live And Let Die’ 29 Years Ago

Simultaneously, G Rap and DJ Polo gained notoriety as members of the Juice Crew, whose noteworthy membership includes DJ Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, and Roxanne Shante At the height of hip-hop’s golden age, The Juice Crew was the definition of innovative and not only influenced the culture as a whole (style, lyricism, creativity), but also impressed the importance of style, substance, and technique upon the next wave of street ambassadors.  

After a successful run with DJ Polo and the Juice Crew, G Rap embarked on a solo career, with his solo debut, 4, 5, 6, (1995), which was preceded by Roots of Evil (1998) and The Giancana Story (2002).  Since then, we’ve only been intermittingly blessed by bodies of work from the Kool Genius Of Rap; Half a Klip (2008), Riches, Royalty, Respect (2011), Return Of The Don (2017) and Son Of G Rap with 38 Spesh (2018).

MORE: Frank Cook Recruits Kool G Rap, Cory Gunz & Norm Bates for “On The Sidewalk” remix, a New York assisted video single

Now, the recent National Hip-Hop Museum inductee returns with his first solo album in five years with Last Of A Dying Breed, which features collaborations with AZ, Sean Price, NEMS, Vado, 38 Spesh, Royal Flush, and Big Daddy Kane, with production supplied by Domingo.

Stream Kool G Rap’s new album below.

The post Kool G Rap Enlists AZ, Big Daddy Kane, & Sean Price In New Album, ‘Last Of A Dying Breed’ appeared first on The Source.

Prodigy’s First Posthumous Album “The Hegelian Dialectic Volume 2: The Book Of Heroine”

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The long-awaited posthumous album from Prodigy arrived in its entirety on Friday morning. The Hegelian Dialectic Volume 2: The Book Of Heroine is 12-songs in total with some epic features. DJ Premier, Big Daddy Kane, Faith Evans, Remy Ma, Big Noyd, and more appear on the tracklist.

The Hegelian Dialectic is a trilogy that Prodigy began prior to his death. The rapper released Hegelian Dialectic (The Book Of Revelation) in January 2017, months before his passing. His estate is currently plotting on the release and the final installment of the project.

The Hegelian Dialectic Volume 2: The Book Of Heroine is a reminder of the power of Prodigy’s pen to narrate vivid street tales with vulnerability and honesty.

Rest In Peace, Prodigy.

Happy 60th Birthday To Hip Hop Pioneer DJ Marley Marl!

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Born Marlon Williamson this date in 1962 in NYC, the DJ, producer, and record label owner known as Marley Marl is a trailblazer of Hip Hop’s ever-evolving sound, being one of the first to use sampling as a means to gather elements for a song.

Starting with his days as the DJ for WBLS’ Mr. Magic in the early 80s, Marley used that leverage to break new artists and eventually form his own group known as the legendary Juice Crew. Based in his Queensbridge Housing apartment, “Marley’s House” became an epicenter for many Hip Hop legends in the early stages of their career including Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Shan, Kool G Rap, and the Queensbridge Queen herself, Roxanne Shante. Marley’s production credits go on for eons, however, some of his most memorable work includes  Craig G’s The Kingpin, Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live The Kane, Biz Markie’s Goin’ Off, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s Road to the Riches, MC Shan’s Down By Law and Born to Be Wild and Roxanne Shante’s only album Bad Sister.

Salute to Marley on his 59th born day and wish him many more to come!

The post Happy 60th Birthday To Hip Hop Pioneer DJ Marley Marl! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Marley Marl Dropped The Juice Crew Debut Album ‘In Control Vol. 1’ 34 Years Ago

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The title of “super producer” is not one to be taken lightly. For every era of Hip-Hop, there is a man behind the keys set the tone. Dr. Dre, Pete Rock, RZA, Swizz Beatz, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, The Neptunes, Mike Will Made-It, and Metro Boomin are among the few who have dictated what Hip Hop has sounded like over the years. Super producers have even spanned genres to influenced music as a whole, bringing the Hip Hop style to the masses.

On this day in Hip Hop history the culture’s first super producer, Marley Marl, released his debut compilation, In Control, Vol. 1, and forever changed the sound of Hip Hop. Before this album, Marley Marl’s true importance to Hip Hop had yet to be openly stated. It was known that he had a hand in some of the biggest records to have out at the time but this album put them all in the same place, proving what Marley Marl was doing to help Hip Hop evolve.

Before Marley Marl, Hip Hop production was quite primitive: the drums were sounded synthetic, the loops were monotonous, and as a whole production was more of a skeleton waiting to be filled by an MC. Marley Marl gave the instrumental life. His signature drum loops and soulful samples brought a new tone to Hip Hop. A Marley Mal beat served less as a compliment to the artist’s ability and more as fuel to jumpstart the intensity of the rapper, bringing out the best in him or her.

Commercially, this album was the success it was bound to be. Featuring Juice Crew members Biz Markie, Craig G., Roxanne Shante, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Heavy D, and more from Marley Marl’s private army. Pushed by the infamous Cold Chillin’ Records, the album peaked at #163 on the Billboard 200 and brought great publicity to Cold Chillin’ as a top label in Hip Hop. Following this album, the label rose to become a household name in Hip-Hop and Marl Marley grew to become an immortal icon of Hip Hop culture.

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Today In Hip Hop History: Big Daddy Kane Dropped ‘It’s A Big Daddy Thing’ LP 33 Years Ago

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On this day in 1989, Big Daddy Kane released his sophomore album It’s a Big Daddy Thing on the Warner Bros./Cold Chillin label. Along with being a successful follow up to Kane’s classic debut, this album was the first to suggest Big Daddy Kane be Hip Hop’s sex symbol.

With a wider appeal than Long Live the Kane and a new and improved sound coming from an all-star production team (featuring Marley Marl, Prince Paul, Easy Mo Bee, Teddy Riley,

To date, It’s a Big Daddy Thing is Kane’s most successful project with over 500,000 copies in the United States. The album has been regarded by many major publications as a Golden Era classic. Album single “Warm It Up, Kane” even appeared on Playback FM in the 2004 cult classic video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

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The Source Celebrates The Life Of “The Human Orchestra” Biz Markie On His Birthday

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On this day in Hip Hop history, Biz Markie (real name Marcel Theo Hall), one of the most respected and successful artist/DJs in Hip Hop, was born. Born in Harlem, and growing up in Long Island, The Biz has been moving the crowd with his unique style of rhyming since he was 14. From his earliest gig as Roxanne Shante‘s beat boxer to a headliner at Grammy Awards after parties, he’s done it all. Whether it be on screen, on the mic, or on the 1s and 2s, The Biz has remained a consistent brand in entertainment booking, averaging 175 shows a year across the globe.

Over the past four decades, Biz Markie established himself as one of the most prolific rappers/DJs in music. Since his 1988 debut Goin’ Off (which peaked at #90 on the Billboard 200), he has grabbed hold of the hearts and ears of Hip Hop lovers everywhere. His second album, 1989’s The Biz Never Sleeps, contains his timeless hit “Just a Friend,” which has made a permanent impact on pop culture.

During the ’90s, The Biz reached his apex as an icon. His third LP, I Need A Haircut, unintentionally changed the scope of Hip Hop forever. The closing track from the album, “Alone Again,” contains a sample of the song “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan, which had not been cleared by Warner Bros. Records. In turn, Warner Bros. sued The Biz for his unlawful use of the sample, causing the courts to rule all samples must be cleared by the owning party before reuse from then on. The lawsuit prompted the title of Markie’s fourth LP All Samples Cleared!.After this incident, sample clearing was one of the main hurdles to jump as a recording artist in this genre.

As the new millennium approached, Markie never saw much of a decline in popularity. In 2002, he made his first major motion picture appearance in Men in Black 2. From then, he continued to make a plethora of television and big screen appearances. From Nick Cannon’s Wild N Out to Grand Theft Auto, The Biz is seen and heard throughout visual media.

During this decade, he also started his endeavors as a child educator through the children’s program Yo Gabba Gabba. Through entertainment, Markie has helped educate young children on music and artistic expression on the Nick Jr. hit show.

On July 16, 2021, Biz Markie passed away reportedly from complications of diabetes. H was 57 years old. No one has had a career in the Hip Hop game quite like “the human orchestra” Biz Markie and his impact on the game will never be forgotten. Especially on his birthday!

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Hip-Hop Slang Dictionary for All the References You Need

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A guide for the uninformed. Continue reading…