Big Daddy Kane

A member of Marley Marl's legendary Juice Crew, Big Daddy Kane first appeared on wax alongside Biz Markie (whom he also wrote rhymes for) on "Just Rhymin' With Biz" (1987). His debut LP Long Live The Kane (1988) established him amongst hip-hop's elite emcees, featuring classic singles like "Raw" and "Ain't No Half Steppin'." Kane's powerful rhyme style was multifaceted, mixing Islamic wisdom with ferocious braggadocio and smooth-talking love jams. His follow-up It's A Big Daddy Thing was another gem, featuring the timeless hit "Smooth Operator." In the '90s, however, many fans grew tired of his high-class posturing and lover-boy themes, and subsequent albums got lukewarm responses at best. Despite his latter-day material, Big Daddy Kane remains one of hip-hop's most admired pioneers, his early hits DJ staples to this day.