Big Daddy Kane’s debut, “Long Live the Kane,” was released on June 28, 1998 on Cold Chillin' Records. The name "Kane" is actually a take off of David Carradine's character "Caine" from the 1970s TV show "Kung Fu." Production on the album was handled mainly by legendary producer Marley Marl, who was really beginning to establish himself as one of the greats in 1988. On the album, Marley Marl's fast-paced drums and Kane's rapid fire delivery are a perfect marriage. If you're even moderately into Hip Hop music it's hard not to hear the influence Kane, Marley Marl and this album had on other rappers and producers. According to WhoSampled, elements of this album were sampled 457 times. I have to believe it's more but even at 457, it makes it one of the most influential Hip Hop albums of all time
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Chris: Hey Mike! It’s been awhile since we’ve been able to do one of these. I think that it is only right that we comeback with a classic, “Long Live the Kane”! Obviously, I know that Big Daddy Kane is your favorite rapper of all-time but what made you want to review “Long Live the Kane”?
Mike: Chris, feels good to be back on the Rewind, it’s always a fun time. I wanted to review “Long Live the Kane”, because this album, along with Eric B. and Rakim's "Paid in Full" really laid down the landscape for what Rap would later become. This one just happens to be better. Come at me Rakim fans!
Chris: Haha well, I’m looking forward to having that debate with you!
Chris: I hear a lot of people refer to the Golden Era of Hip Hop as being from 1992 to 1997. Whereas I have always maintained that the Hip Hop’s Golden Era was like 1986ish to 1992. “Long Live the Kane” would have fallen right into the middle of that. What do you consider as the Golden Era of Hip Hop?
Mike: That’s a great question, which comes down to both age and personal preference. I was born in 1986, so clearly I wasn’t checking the latest jams from 86 to 92, yet I regard that Era as the Golden Age, without a doubt. 1988 being its pinnacle year, with this album being a big reason why that year takes the cake, in my opinion.
Chris: When I think of Big Daddy Kane’s style, I think of his versatility. He can come in fast like on “Set It Off” or on a laidback vibe like on “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’”. What do you enjoy most about Big Daddy Kane’s style and what song on “Long Live the Kane” do you think best exemplifies his style?
Mike: I really think he birthed the well-pronunciated rapid fire flow, so that a bragging right for Kane as is, but it’s the charisma of his laid back flows that i prefer. At Rap music’s young age at the time, most were working on these raps solely. Kane was working on raps AND adding his personality to the mix. I have to cite his style on "Aint No Half- Steppin’" as being the most exemplary of his repertoire, as it was an early hit that shaped his career style, or "brand". In his later albums, he took the laid back vibe a little bit too far, but by then that was Kane’s signature sound.
Big Daddy Kane – “Ain’t No Half Steppin’”
Chris: One thing that stood out to me on this album was how many elements, whether it was Kane’s vocals, or just his vocal pattern, or a chorus or the beats, have been sampled in other Hip-Hop songs. I was making a list as I was listening and I recognized elements that Big L, Gangstarr, Doom, Heiro, Biggie, Edo G., Nice & Smooth and Pete Rock and CL Smooth used and I am sure there are much more. In my opinion, that shows just how influential this album was. Did these stand out to you as well?
Mike: Well you beat me to the punch on this one. I definitely geek when I catch a line that I am familiar with from a later rapper, that Kane had birthed. But also, as you started, his rhyme pattern. From Kane originally rapping, "if rap was a game, I’d be MVP, the most valuable poet on the M-I-C" to his flow, the influence he had on Big L, who cited Kane as a big influence, sticks out to me most.
Big L – “MVP”
Big Daddy Kane feat. Biz Markie – “Just Rhymin’ with Biz”
Chris: The second track on “Long Live the Kane” is a called “Raw” (Remix). I don’t know if you’ve heard the original version but it features Kool G Rap. I prefer the original. What say you? Original or the remix?
Mike: This one took some research, because theres’ a version on "Best of Big Daddy Kane", simply titled "Raw" that I assumed was the original, yet it’s another completely different version lyrics-wise. Like the remix featured on “Long Live the Kane”. It also omits Kool G Rap from the track. Although, the YouYube offerings of the original with Kool G Rap are very Lo-Fi recordings. I can look past that for the greatness that is Kool G. So I’d say my favorite is the original, second is the version simply called "Raw" and 3rd would be the remix featured on the studio album. At the end of the day, they all sound nice! Word up to Mister Cee on those cuts!
Big Daddy Kane feat. Kool G. Rap – “Raw”
Big Daddy Kane – “Raw” (Remix)
Chris: What did you think of the production on “Long Live the Kane”. I did not know this until researching this album but there is actually some controversy as to how much of this album Marley Marl actually produced. Supposedly the majority of the album was produced by Kane and other producers. Does that change anything for you?
Mike: While that is indeed news to me. It doesn’t change the way I feel about the production, which overall I dig a lot. Whether Marley Marl or Kane produced the track, it has a cohesive sound that I’m sure can be attributed to Kane and Marley working together extensively prior.
Chris: What is your favorite track on the album?
Mike: “Set it Off”. If aliens came to Earth and wanted to hear what Hip Hop is all about, this is the track I’m playing for them! Kane absolutely demolishes the track with his signature rapid fire flow. Can’t ask for anything more.
Chris: “Set it Off” is my favorite as well and probably my favorite Big Daddy Kane song. I love the drums and Kane just rips the entire song. You ever try to rap along with it? You won’t make it the second verse without losing your breath. One interesting thing that I learned was the “Set It Off” beat was made by the 45 King and was originally intended for Biz Markie. I’m not sure how it became Kane’s but clearly the right choice was made.
Big Daddy Kane – “Set It Off”
Chris: Probably one of the most stacked line-ups in terms of crews is the Juice Crew (Marley Marl, Roxane Shante, MC Shan, Biz Mar, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G, Craig G. and Grand Daddy I.U.). Can you think of a better crew Hip-Hip?
Mike: This is definitely a hard one to answer. As I’ve collectively listened to far more Wu-Tang than I have Juice Crew. Yet the fact that there likely wouldn’t have been a Wu-Tang Clan without the Juice Crew previously paving the way, I’m going with Juice Crew. For that matter, I’ve listened to more Jay-Z in my lifetime, pun included, who is considered a protégé of Kane, than the O.G. himself, yet when citing favorite MCs, it’s a no-brainer that Kane is the champ between the two.
Chris: That’s a tough point to argue and I’d be inclined to agree with you. Some other crews that I was considering were the Native Tongues or D.I.T.C. but it’s hard to argue with the credential of the Juice Crew and as you alluded to, Kane was their anchor. That just speaks to his greatest.
Juice Crew – “The Symphony Pt. 1”
Chris: Mike, that was a lot of fun! We will do it again soon and now to close, how do you feel about “Long Live the Kane” now versus when you initially heard it?
Mike: I like it tenfold better nowadays. As with my answer to many questions when regarding pre 90s Hip Hop, so much depends on what Era first drew you into the genre. Getting into hip hop in the late 90s, the production levels had a more grandiose, rich sound than the beats on “Long Live the Kane”. As a young student of the game, I deemed Kane too primitive, as i was turned off by the minimalist beat selection. As I got older, i realized Kane is so gifted, he is the main instrument, something very few MCs have been able to pull off. Not only that aspect, but the beats have grown on me, those heavy drums get me going! “Long Live the Kane” sounds fresher than ever!
Chris: I would say that I definitely have a greater appreciation for it. There were so many moments on this album where I was like, “Oh! That’s where they got that from!” In another conversation we had about Big Daddy Kane, I said that Big Daddy Kane is the LeBron James of Hip Hop and a lot of people consider LeBron James to be the greatest of all time.
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