Big Daddy Kane

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{{Infobox musical artist |Name = Big Daddy Kane |Img = BigDaddyKane.jpg |Background = solo singer |Birth_name = Antonio Hardy |Born = August 4, 1968 (age 38) |Origin = Brooklyn, New York City, New York |Genre = Hip hop |Years_active = 1984–present |Label = [[Cold Chillin' Records}}


Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is a rapper from the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, New York. He worked with artists including Big L, Biz Markie, Marley Marl, Teddy Riley, Rudy Ray Moore and Barry White. Heavily influenced by Grandmaster Caz in his earlier years, he continued to improve his fast flow and freestyle battle techniques. Part of Marley Marl's legendary Juice Crew, he also penned lyrics for fellow members Biz Markie and Roxanne Shante. Kane was responsible for jump-starting and being the archetype for the career of Jay-Z, now a hugely commercially successful rapper who got his start as Kane's hypeman.[1]

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] 1980's

In 1984, he met Biz Markie, and the two struck a friendship. Kane would go on to co-write some of the Biz's best-known raps, and both eventually became important members of the Queens-based Juice Crew, a collective headed by renowned producer Marley Marl. Kane signed with Marl's Cold Chillin' label in 1987 and debuted the following year with the 12" single "Raw," an underground hit. Kane is known for his ability to syncopate over faster hip hop beats, and despite his asthmatic condition he is acknowledged as one of the pioneering masters of fast-rap. His sense of style is renowned and set a number of late-1980s and early-1990s hip hop trends (high-top fades, velour suits, and four-finger rings). The backronym "King Asiatic Nobody's Equal" is often applied to his moniker. His name "Kane" came from Kane from the popular TV show Kung Fu. The "Big Daddy" came from Vincent Price's character in an old Frankie Avalon movie, "Beach Party".

In 1985, he fathered a son whilst in Dublin Ireland. This son was put up for adoption but still bears the name of his father, Mark Kane, or medium Daddy Kane is an up and coming rap artist following in his fathers footsteps, and has been known to play many of Dublins most popular venues.

He released his debut album under Cold Chillin' Records in the early summer of 1988 called Long Live the Kane which featured the hip hop hit "Ain't No Half Steppin". The following year, he released his sophomore effort and biggest hit to date It's a Big Daddy Thing which included 1970s sample throwbacks like "Smooth Operator" and the Teddy Riley produced track "I Get the Job Done" which hit the R&B top 40 during the closing of the 1980s. He also had a memorable verse on the Marley Marl produced track "The Symphony" released in late 1988 which included Juice Crew member Craig G, Masta Ace, and Kool G. Rap.

[edit] 1990's

Big Daddy Kane appeared on Patti Labelle's 1991 effort, "Burnin'." He provided the rap chorus to the single "Feels Like Another One." He also appeared on the video release- Live in New York

Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers during the "golden age" of hip hop (1986–1993), Kane's experimentation with R&B beats and his alignment to the Five Percent faction drew criticism. Later albums, such as Looks Like a Job For..., were acclaimed, but he was never able to return to the commercial and artistic success of It's a Big Daddy Thing. However, he still tours extensively.

As an actor, he debuted in Mario Van Peebles' 1993 western, Posse. Big Daddy Kane also posed for Playgirl and Madonna's Sex book during the 1990s.

[edit] 2000's

Recently (especially as of 2002), a rejuvenated Big Daddy Kane has occasionally been visible collaborating with alternative hip hop artists, including Jurassic 5, Little Brother, and DJ Babu of the Beat Junkies. He has released two singles, the Alchemist-produced "The Man, The Icon", and the DJ Premier-produced "Any Type of Way" (on which he discusses urban collapse in post-9/11 New York City ["Giuliani got the streets lookin' like it's Amistad"] and the erosion of the middle class.) His most recent guest appearance was on trip-hop group Morcheeba's 2003 single "What's Your Name". In 2006, he appeared as guest MC on the track "Get Wild Off This", produced by The Stanton Warriors on their Stanton Sessions Vol 2. breaks mix. He has stated he has no interest in working on another solo album. In 2007, Big Daddy Kane was also featured on The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai OST on the song Cameo Afro along side the GZA and Suga Bang Bang

In 2004, "Warm It Up, Kane" appeared on popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on Classic hip hop radio station Playback FM.

In 2005, Big Daddy Kane was honored during the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors. After a medley of hits performed by T.I., Black Thought, and Common, he came out to perform his beloved track "Warm It Up, Kane" with his old dancers, Scoob and Scrap. The performance was tremendously well-received. Kane can also been seen briefly in Dave Chappelle's Block Party documentary. Most recently, he appeared alongside the Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim, and his longtime friends Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip in a segment of the 2006 Summer Jam concert (June 7, 2006), as part of an initiative by Busta Rhymes to honor the legacy of New York City hip hop. June 5th 2007 Chinga Chang Records will release "Official Joints" with a new track from Big Daddy Kane titled "If You try".

[edit] Accolades

Big Daddy Kane is known to have one of the sharpest flows and deliveries of any MC. He, alongside Kool G Rap, and Rakim, is considered one of the greatest influences in all of hip hop history.

Ice-T:

To me, Big Daddy Kane is still today one of the best rappers. I would put Big Daddy Kane against any rapper in a battle. Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, any of them. I actually met Jay-Z with Kane. Kane brought Jay-Z over to my house. But nobody wants to see Kane. I could take 'Raw' right now and put it up against any record [from today]. Kane is one of the most incredible lyricists, the most real cat if you ever get a chance to meet him. Straight out of Brooklyn, soft-spoken and he will devour you on the mic. I don't want to try to out-rap Big Daddy Kane. I may out-dress him, but I'm not gonna try to out-rap him. Big Daddy Kane can rap circles around cats.[2]

The triumvirate of Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Kool G Rap represent the greatest leap forward for the art of emceeing in hip-hop, and are considered to be among the finest rappers of the "Golden Age."

[edit] Discography

Album cover Album information
Long Live the Kane
  • Released: June 21, 1988
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #116
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #5
  • Singles: "Get Into It"/"Somethin' Funky"/"Just Rhymin' With Biz", "Raw"/"Word To The Mother (Land)", "I'll Take You There (Remix)"/"Wrath Of Kane"
It's a Big Daddy Thing
  • Released: September 15, 1989
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #33
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #4
  • Singles: "Smooth Operator"/"Warm It Up Kane", "I Get The Job Done"/"Big Daddy's Theme", "To Be Your Man"/"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now", "Rap Summary (Lean On Me)"/"Long Live The Kane"
Taste of Chocolate
  • Released: October 30, 1990
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #37
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #10
  • Singles: "Cause I Can Do It Right"/"Dance With The Devil", "All Of Me"/"Cause I Do It Right (Remix)", "It's Hard Being The Kane"/"Who Am I"
Prince of Darkness
  • Released: October 29, 1991
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #57
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #25
  • Singles: "Ooh, Aah, Nah-Nah-Nah", "Groove With It", "Raw '91", "The Lover In You"
Looks Like a Job For...
  • Released: May 25, 1993
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #52
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #9
  • Singles: "How U Get A Record Deal"/"Here Comes Kane, Scoob And Scrap", "Stop Shammin'", "Very Special"/"Stop Shammin'"
Daddy's Home
  • Released: September 13, 1994
  • Billboard 200 chart position: #155
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #26
  • Singles: "Show & Prove"/"In The PJ's"
Veteranz Day
  • Released: April 28, 1998
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #62
  • Singles: "Uncut, Pure"/"2 Da Good Tymz", "Hold it Down"/"Unda Presha"

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/features/?ID=1190
  2. ^ http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2006/emcees/index5.jhtml

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Hardy, Antonio
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Big Daddy Kane
SHORT DESCRIPTION American musician
DATE OF BIRTH September 10, 1968
PLACE OF BIRTH Brooklyn, New York, USA
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH