Big Daddy Kane verses, especially of the solo variety, are true rarities. The Brooklyn, New York MC icon spits only when he’s got something to say, and that’s been his M-O since the Juice Crew days. In the wake of some spiritually and mentally challenging happenings that affect the heart, mind, and soul, B.D.K. raises up on this production from Britain’s Dr. G.

“The Times” finds one of the true GOATs making sense of the madness, with a confident, liquid-like flow. One of Kane’s own voices of reason, Minister Louis Farrakhan, is sampled from some of his messages—something Heads heard last year care of Kane’s homie Cormega on Mega Philosophy. Without being preachy, Kane soothes the soul, at the same time, warning on how he can step to a mistreated woman, and command an audience as he has since ’88 and before…

It’s bigger than Hip-Hop.

Related: Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Big Daddy Kane vs. Kool Keith…Who You Got?