MUSICIANS
Antonio Hardy, Matt Lambert, Benjamin Geis, Judson Nelson, John Williams

When Big Daddy Kane and a Tiny Desk collide, the world pays attention. The lyrical legend, the man known as Dark Gable, Big Daddy Kane, whatever moniker you assign him, he is still one of the greatest of all time. If you’ve ever seen Big Daddy Kane outside of an MTV video you know that he is one of the coolest dudes out there. Not just “Smooth Operator cool”, but genuine. He seems like a guy that you could just sit down, have a beer, and bullshit with for hours. Yes, Kane, this is an unofficial invitation for you to come on the Mr. Throwback Thursday podcast for an interview….but that is not our only purpose here.

Big Daddy Kane is one of our classic hip hop legends. I said it. CLASSIC HIP HOP LEGEND. Nowhere did I say “old” anything. The minute Kane picks up the mic, the word “old” is the furthest thing from your mind. To see him perform on stage with the same energy and moves that he had 30 years ago, the word “old” doesn’t come to mind. What does come to mind….is the word classic. Everything about Kane is just that; classic. There is nothing that we can say here, that hasn’t been said. So, why don’t you just sit back, relax, and listen to the man that told you…… it’s hard being the Kane.

“I just rip shop, flip-top, and watch MC’s get dropped
As I manifest in hip-hop
Rhymes I construct are tough like a Tonka truck
And just like lightnin’ they struck
Down on all the toy MC’s that annoy
That’s how I build and destroy
The poetic printer, rough rhyme inventor
With a groove so smooth you can’t help but get into
So I’m advisin’ competition to flee
‘Cause I can bake an MC like Chef Boyardee
Holdin’ my own on the microphone
‘Cause I break bones just like sticks and stones
So let it rain let it rain as I put em in pain
God damn, it’s hard bein’ the Kane! ”

– Big Daddy Kane 1990 “It’s Hard Being The Kane”

You can check out the entire Tiny Desk video series on NPR.org by clicking here.