Long Live The Kane

Go back in time with me to when rap was young and innocent. Back to a time when guys with fun names like Biz Markie and Kool Moe Dee were at the top of the game. Remember when Just-Ice was probably the most terrifying emcee making records? Remember Big Daddy Kane, and how much diamond-studded pink canoe this dude pulled? Seriously, there was time when this fresh faded Lothario just uttered a few lines and the furback turtles came a crawlin'. Look at the cover: it's Kane's first album, and already he has women bringing him fruit, fanning him with purple peacock feathers, and offering him goblets of wine. When was the last time anyone fanned you? Right. Long Live The Kane starts of strong with "Ain't No Half Steppin,'" utilizing a sample from The Meters. Here Big Daddy makes it abundantly clear that he is a formidable emcee with his voice, delivery, and the fact that he mentions it about a hundred times. And in case you were unclear on Kane's role as a leader in the rap game, "Raw" contains more boasts, more bold claims, and once again the whisker biscuits get buttery at the confidence and swagger of the Daddy. "Set it Off" picks up the pace and shows why Marley Marl was one of the leading hip hop producers at the time. Kane still isn't done letting you know how badass he is. Big Daddy eventually takes a break from stating his own case to woo all the smelly jelly holes with a tender R&B ballad, "The Day You're Mine." Kane can't really sing, and this is before autotune, but it doesn't matter, the butter boat still comes. "On the Bugged Tip" is a fun number with a great guest spot by BDK ballwasher, Scoob Lover. More boasts, more beats, and Long Live The Kane has done its work. No half steppin'.

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