I write this blog for those in the know and for those who want to be in the know with respect to certain things: money, clothes, hoes AND a code of ethics that is in short supply in today's streets.
With that said, I know that I have a habit of making references to classic Hip Hop lyrics, obscure television shows and cult films without giving much of an explanation to Y.O.U. the reader. Some shit Y.O.U. should just know though, like the "What you on hops? Dope or dog food?" quote in my headline. I mean, it's only from 1 of the greatest MC's ever; a fellow Brooklynite who is the direct artistic antecedent to the late, great Biggie Smalls and Jay-Z. Of course, I am talking about the "B-I-G-D-A-Double-D-Y-K-A-N-E, dramatic, Asiatic, not like many" ... lol.
The lyrical K.ing A.siatic N.obody E.qual intermingled 5 Percenter Mathematics and philosophy with a true Brooklyn hustler's savvy sense of style contrasted by our ganxta approach waaaaaaaaaaay before anybody in Hip Hop thought to co-opt the term "swagger". Big Daddy Kane had "it" before "it" became an integrally contrived component of the mainstream marketing plan. Son had the dookie links, the Dapper Dan (the famous Harlem clothier of choice for all heavyweight hustlers and rappers trying their best to look like them during the 80's and early 90's), Fila velour and sharkskin suits, Scoob and Scrap Lova dancing, Mister Cee on the 1's x 2's and was universally known for "transforming on stage like a Decepticon" ... lol.
Hip Hop has always been an acutely unforgiving art form though. After his masterful debut "Long Live The Kane" and his sophmore follow up "It's A Big Daddy Thing", once son started doing songs with Patti Labelle and the late, great Barry White and thought it necessary to pose for Playgirl Magazine AND Madonna's "Erotica" book, nobody and I mean NOBODY was fucking with the homie. He fell off super hard! There was no Kane drought ... the work wasn't "R.A.W." enough anymore and was simply garbage @ that point.
Be that as it may, Big Daddy Kane held his own with contemporaries like Kool G. Rap and Rakim Allah - he managed to be great amongst greats. Big Daddy Kane, along with his aforementioned comrades, created the soundtrack that shaped my young world as ragtop Nissan Maximas, cheery red Sterlings, Jeep Cherokees and Benz 190 E's floated by me along Flatbush Avenue. Their quotables permeate my casual conversations 'til this day and laid the bedrock for the MC that I have become.
I vividly and fondly remember my cousin Kelii turning out his 9th birthday party with the song "Warm It Up Kane". Back then, Big Daddy Kane asked the world, "Whose flat top rules in 89?" and, almost 20 years later, the answer still remains the same. Long live the Kane aint a damn thing changed.
BONUS:
With that said, I know that I have a habit of making references to classic Hip Hop lyrics, obscure television shows and cult films without giving much of an explanation to Y.O.U. the reader. Some shit Y.O.U. should just know though, like the "What you on hops? Dope or dog food?" quote in my headline. I mean, it's only from 1 of the greatest MC's ever; a fellow Brooklynite who is the direct artistic antecedent to the late, great Biggie Smalls and Jay-Z. Of course, I am talking about the "B-I-G-D-A-Double-D-Y-K-A-N-E, dramatic, Asiatic, not like many" ... lol.
The lyrical K.ing A.siatic N.obody E.qual intermingled 5 Percenter Mathematics and philosophy with a true Brooklyn hustler's savvy sense of style contrasted by our ganxta approach waaaaaaaaaaay before anybody in Hip Hop thought to co-opt the term "swagger". Big Daddy Kane had "it" before "it" became an integrally contrived component of the mainstream marketing plan. Son had the dookie links, the Dapper Dan (the famous Harlem clothier of choice for all heavyweight hustlers and rappers trying their best to look like them during the 80's and early 90's), Fila velour and sharkskin suits, Scoob and Scrap Lova dancing, Mister Cee on the 1's x 2's and was universally known for "transforming on stage like a Decepticon" ... lol.
Hip Hop has always been an acutely unforgiving art form though. After his masterful debut "Long Live The Kane" and his sophmore follow up "It's A Big Daddy Thing", once son started doing songs with Patti Labelle and the late, great Barry White and thought it necessary to pose for Playgirl Magazine AND Madonna's "Erotica" book, nobody and I mean NOBODY was fucking with the homie. He fell off super hard! There was no Kane drought ... the work wasn't "R.A.W." enough anymore and was simply garbage @ that point.
Be that as it may, Big Daddy Kane held his own with contemporaries like Kool G. Rap and Rakim Allah - he managed to be great amongst greats. Big Daddy Kane, along with his aforementioned comrades, created the soundtrack that shaped my young world as ragtop Nissan Maximas, cheery red Sterlings, Jeep Cherokees and Benz 190 E's floated by me along Flatbush Avenue. Their quotables permeate my casual conversations 'til this day and laid the bedrock for the MC that I have become.
I vividly and fondly remember my cousin Kelii turning out his 9th birthday party with the song "Warm It Up Kane". Back then, Big Daddy Kane asked the world, "Whose flat top rules in 89?" and, almost 20 years later, the answer still remains the same. Long live the Kane aint a damn thing changed.
BONUS:
NOTE: Peep the Dapper Dan MCM trenchoat! They just don't make bootleg beauties like that nowadays ... lol.
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