Customer Reviews

Very Best of Big Daddy Kane

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While I agree that there are many previously unreleased tracks that should have found their way onto this album, in and of itself, this "best of" collection is truly one of the most important and impressive albums in history. Kane is probably the single most slept-on artist of the past 15 or so years. His presence in Hip Hop is unparalleled, his style untouchable. He was the greatest live performer of all time, next to Rakim. And this album pays tribute to an all time great, a living legend in his own right, and a musical pioneer. If it weren't for his innovations throughout his early career, but especially in the early 90s, rap would be much different now. While he received much criticism then, for introducing R&B to rap, and for doing duets with singers Barry White and Patti LaBelle, he opened the door for the present day trends in contemporary music. Kane's laid back yet on-point style is still unmatched. And the last track on the album (previously unreleased), "Give A Demonstration" is one of the most innovative displays I've ever heard. If it had come out in '91, when it was recorded, there would have been riots in the street, because nobody had developed such style or rhyme technique at the time.

While Big Daddy Kane is by all means deserving of a career retrospective, especially when so much of today's player and R&B hook laden rap is a pale derivative, this greatest hits album seems a bit of a disappointment. It does feature some of Kane's best songs, with his amazing wordplay, mixture of humor and braggadocio, along with a political consciousness initially rooted in five-percent teachings. Also, the liner notes consist of a nice essay on Kane's legendary status (though little historical info), with plenty of photos. Perhaps for those who are new to King Asiatic this is sufficient, but why can't a compilation meet the needs of the die-hard fan as well as serving as a primer for the initiate? Rhino has at times seemed almost fetishistic in their desire to be complete with their retrospectives. However, with THE VERY BEST OF BIG DADDY KANE, over 3/4th's of the material comes from LONG LIVE THE KANE and IT'S A BIG DADDY THING. While these may be his most important efforts, the later albums are criminally underrated and should have been better represented, dispelling the myth that Kane fell off a long time ago. Only two songs are from TASTE OF CHOCOLATE, and just one from his comeback album, LOOKS LIKE A JOB FOR... and that is "Very Special" with Spinderella - by far the weakest track! Presumably it is included to represent Kane's romantic side, but that could have been better achieved with any of his previous ballads ("The Day You're Mine", "To Be Your Man", even the much maligned "All Of Me" with Barry White). His fourth album, THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS is missing entirely, perhaps because it was panned when it came out, Kane seemingly moving towards an R&B audience. However, on it there are many notable songs to choose from. Why not the title track, the singles "Groove With It" and "Ooh Aah Nah Nah Nah", or the collaboration with Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip on "Come On Down"? Any of these would have made this a far better rounded affair instead of twelve of seventeen songs coming from just two albums. Lastly, this may seem a bit nitpicky, but more rare non-LP material could have been included, which would have shown some real effort was put into compiling this CD. Granted, there is "Raw", here in its original single mix; but why not the original 12" versions of "Wrath Of Kane" and "Rap Summary (Lean On Me)" as opposed to the ones already available on IT'S A BIG DADDY THING? Kane's first 12" on the Prism label from 1987, "Get Into It"/"Something Funky" would have been a nice addition. Only "Just Rhymin' With Biz" from that same single is included, available already on LONG LIVE THE KANE. Then there's the rare promo-only Marley Marl remix of "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" which would have made this a must have. Ironically, the only unreleased track, "Give A Demonstration" is an outtake from THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS and it comes as a nice finale. Not surprisingly, none of Kane's non-Cold Chillin' work is here, like "Nuff Respect" from the JUICE soundtrack and songs from his last two albums DADDY'S HOME and VETERANZ DAY. Their inclusion would have made for a more complete overview of Kane's career and further asserted the worthiness of a greatest hits album. Admittedly, the songs on THE VERY BEST OF BIG DADDY KANE do this anyway, but little is added to the argument post-1989. Big Daddy Kane is deserving of a collection that highlights all of the aspects of this versatile MC's 14 plus year career. Instead we get a Cliff Notes of his first two albums. Why bother? Those are BEST OF's already.

When I listen to folks like Big Daddy Kane, it amazes me that today's rappers think they're "the best rapper alive." You have got to be kidding me! I can't think of one rapper who is on today's "hip hop" magazine covers that can outdo Kane. This man took metaphors, similes, multisyllabics, rhythm, and competition and annihilated them. I love this album. I added his page to my MySpace page and I could just sit and listen to it all day. "Smooth Operator" and "Set it Off" are my favorite cuts on here, but I could let every single one of these songs play out. I must be getting old because I'm at the point where when I want to go to a club, I specify what kind of music the deejay must play for me to even drive into the parking lot. Remember when hip-hop consisted of something past how much your car/jewelry cost and how many hoes you had? Man, those were the days!

To me, I find Bigg Daddy Kane one of the most talented rappers to ever touch the mic. I've heard very little material from him, probably because I was in dipers when this man was making hits. To me, having "The Very Best Of Big Daddy Kane" is a wonderful starter kit to knowing his legacy back in the late 80's. While listening to this CD, I understand why Kane was such a big name back in the day. His flow was amazing. Every rhyme he says is on point. The linear notes inside really expains in detail about Kane's legacy from the days while he was in The Juice Crew.

Now the songs themselves are great. A lot of the songs are from his first two albums "Long Live The Kane" (1988), and "It's A Big Daddy Thing" (1989), with only a few from "A Taste Of Chocolate" (1990) and "Looks Like A Job For..." (1993). I believe his biggest hit was "Ain't No Half Steppin'" which has one of the best beats I've heard in a minute made by Marley Marl. Every rapper seems to make refrence to that song, and I can see why. Another song that really stuck out to me when I first heard it was "Smooth Operator" which also has a nice beat. And his voice in that song was deep, I see why the ladies loved the man.

We get a few treats here on this album. There is "Wrath Of Kane" that was recorded live from the Apollo Theatre, which has fans screaming at the top of their lungs showing love for Kane. I haven't heard the album version yet, but this one here is good as well. Then at the end of the album we get "Give A Demonstration" that was an outtake from his "Prince Of Darkness" (1991) album. I personally don't see how was an outtake. Hearing that song really shows Kane's versitale lyrical skills throughout that song.

So there we have it. One of rap's biggest icons best songs all here on one CD. This CD is really a starter kit to Big Daddy Kane. A lot of rappers chipped their flow off of Kane, like Jay-Z and Big L (no disrespect) and some people never realized that. All these people who listen to the radio and claim that some artist who debuted some 3 or 4 years ago is the best rapper alive really need to listen to artists like Big Daddy Kane and experience what origionality is all about. I didn't know that Kane was one of the first people to wear jewelery and drive nice cars and get upscale ladies, before everybody and their mother in rap music were doing that. Talk about one hell of a trendsetter.

There are a few tracks I want to hear though that are not on here. I heard he made a song with the late Barry White and that has me curious to what it sounds like. Also none of his songs from his last two albums "Daddys Home" (1994) & "Veterans Day" (1998) are on here...and from what I heard, they were not as good. But if you are a fan of hip hop and haven't heard of anything from Kane, this album is what you should get.

Lyrics: A+
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A
Overall: A

Favorite Tracks: Raw, Ain't No Half Steppin', Word To The Mother (Land), Just Rhyming With Biz, I Get The Job Done, Wrath Of Kane (Live), Smooth Operator, Young Gifted And Black, Rap Summary (Lean On Me)[Remix], Give A Demonstration

Peace everyone!!!

I used to listen to Big Daddy Kane while growing up. I was a sophmore when the song Very Special came out. This whole CD took me back to my teens and the wonderful times I had while listening to his music. Very Special is still one of my very most favorite songs. The whole CD is filled with great songs, going from 1988 to 1993. You will recall some songs he sang from Yo MTV Raps. Great CD. Everyone that likes Big Daddy Kane or Rap in general should buy this CD. One of the very best CD's ever created. Art at its finest. This CD is "Very Special"!

One of the originators of hip-hop, Big Daddy Kane, was larger than life in his prime in the late 80's/early 90's. With his smooth, but street cred flow and rapid fire delivery at times he helped revolutionize the way of rhymin and gettin the ladies at the same time. With 17 songs, you get some of his best work, and a few that could have been left off of here. I don't get why 2 or 3 of his albums don't have any songs on here but none the less it's a tight CD. Of the 17 songs, 3 are classics, 2 are near classics, 1 I skip over and 3 are ok, the rest are good. Guests are only on 2 songs, which was the way it was done back then, not having 2 dozen others on your albums. The production is tight for the time of it's release and done by some of the better producers around. Marley Marl does 8 songs, Big Daddy Kane does 6, Easy Mo Bee, Teddy Riley, and Prince Paul all do 1. A must have for fans of the golden age of hip-hop to help see where it all started.

#1 - 9.5 (tight beat and the song that made him in demand)
#2 - 9
#3 - 10 (great beat -- tied for his best song ever)
#4 - 8 .5(good beat)
#5 - 9 (nice beat)
#6 - 8 (f/ Biz Markie)
#7 - 7.5
#8 - 7 (a ladies song)
#9 - 8 (live version -- the album version is better)
#10 - 8
#11 - 10 (great beat and smooth delivery -- tied for my favorite of his songs)
#12 - 10 (CLASSIC!! -- my favorite song of Kane's -- great beat)
#13 - 6
#14 - 8
#15 - 8
#16 - 4 (f/ Spinderella, Laree Williams, Karen Anderson -- why they put this trash on here I don't know)
#17 - 9.5 (great beat -- it;s a mystery why this wasn't released in 1991, it's definitely one of his 5 to 10 best songs ever)

Antonio Hardy -- b. 9/10/68 -- Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NY
Check all my reviews

Big Daddy Kane symbolised exactly what hip hop culture would become in the future. For all those who see and listen to the artists of today, the reference book on style, flow,delivery and innovation in hip hop is still in the hands of THE KANE. The track GIVE A DEMONSTRATION shows it all, even though unreleased at the time it was recorded, should stand out as a classic, for it was way ahead of anything around at the time. Ask Busta and Co., what books they have been reading, and if any of them is honest, they'll mention THE BOOK OF KANE. The tracks on this CD are a lecture in the evolution of hip hop.

and my isht'll flow. I think Kane's the best, rapid fire delivery, crazy battle lyrics the original rap pimp, but if theyre going to put some silly song like Very Special with Spinderella, how can they NOT have Come On Down, with Busta and Tip, OR Show& Prove with a young JZ, ODB and others. Plus, one of Kane's best songs was the one he did on Prince Pauls album, Mackula's Theory. (now boy you know you need your @$$ whipped for holdin on her hand as if youre going on some first grade class trip), but that can be forgiven. Leaving off Pimpin Aint Easy (I'm tall dark and handsome and all that junk, even white girls be saying oooh kanes a hunk), from Kane's so-called prime? That's going to be harder to forgive. And if we're talking "The Very Best of Kane?" Symphony 1 and 2 are necessary, too.

I liked this Cd, it brought me back to the old days, and made me remember when I was young and foolish. I tell my kids about this kinda music as compared to the music of todays Hip Hop and R&B,. If more of todays Artists could put out music like this, the world would be a safer place for our kids today.

This CD was a nice addition to my collection. At the time, Big Daddy Kane was one of the best rappers around. I like the collection of songs on this disc and I am glad I was able to find it on Amazon.