Happy Birthday To Big Daddy Kane. Ever Hear His “Raw” Remix With Kool G Rap?

Today (September 10) marks Big Daddy Kane’s birthday. Commanding audiences far and wide since he was a teenager, the now 51-year-old living legend continues to be among the culture’s best performers. From collaborations with Ghostface Killah and Joell Ortiz, as well as new freestyles, King Asiatic continues to add to a respected catalog—even if he keeps fans waiting on a potential eighth LP.

In less than a month, the MC born Antonio Hardy will join 9th Wonder in entering North Carolina’s Music Hall Of Fame (the Brooklyn native has made a home in NC). On his B-day, we salute one of the greatest rappers with a rarity that reminds of his excellence.

Big Daddy Kane & Kool G Rap Battle Song-For-Song, In Concert (Video)

In April of 1988, Marley Marl was giving a lot of shine to his and Mr. Magic’s Juice Crew. With Marley playing the records, they did so at New York City’s 107.5 WBLS FM. At the time, the two radio juggernauts were expanding their New York City collective including Roxanne ShantĂ©, Biz Markie, and MC Shan. Kane represented a battle-tested emerging Brooklyn artist on the Queens-based arsenal of lyricists. Ahead of Long Live The Kane, Marley played a rendition of “Raw” that did not make the album. It featured another MC on the rise, Kool G Rap.

Kane’s rhymes in the first verse are the same as the eventual “remix” version on the Cold Chillin’ Records LP. However, in this rawer version of the record, he keeps going without the scratch chorus. Kane throws out his elbows with bars like “Nothin’ but the finest, your supreme Highness / Out to diminish, delete and minus / All rappers that’s inferior, playin’ my area / Rhymes I recite will make them deteriorate away / And just get this straight / To compete, I will defeat and totally humiliate / All imitation with the combination / Of rhymes more deadlier than Freddy or Jason / I’ll be on ya like Robitussin on a cough / If you know like I know, you’d step the hell off.” Even before his LP was out, Kane was proclaiming himself a Rap idol. Few could argue. Kane makes his own transition, honoring a classic rhyme routine, and shouting out his Bally footwear.

Big Daddy Kane Details Recording This 1988 Mixtape Collabo With JAY-Z (Video)

Moments before the 3:00 mark, Kane specifically welcomes G Rap to his lyrical terror-dome. “Kool G Rap, my mellow, my man / Get on the mic with the gangsta plan,” spits B.D.K. Even then, the Corona, Queens MC was known for kicking street-savvy rhymes that would ultimately make him one of the pioneers in the subgenre.

In a major moment, G flexes with compound rhymes. “This little note is like a formula, the antidote / For copy-catters, I quote, they wanna deep-throat / Lyrics that I wrote, placed upon a beat so neat / Orchestras and bands can’t compete or compare / Or even come near to this here This is a mere affair, you just stare and cheer,” begins the then-teenager with the slick cadence. Like Kane, G Rap approaches the moment like a battle: “Musical master, rhyme reacts as a / Brain that has the knowledge of NASA / You’re just a Kit Kat, small as a Tic-Tac / But I’m a Big Mac, ’cause I’m G Rap / Well equipped with a Hip-Hop lip / My memory bank is like a microchip / My bass’ll give a shake of an earthquake / It’ll make you, sucker MC, wanna jump in the lake / ‘Cause I’m murder, homi-cide, comma / Crush, kill, destroy with excitement and drama.” The MC rhymes right until Marley ends the segment. Notably, several of G’s bars would end up on the last verse of “Jive Talk” years later. With a more matured voice, he would lay those bars a bit differently for the ’90s.

The Symphony 2016 ft Kane, G Rap, Royce, Monch, Black Thought, Freeway & More (Exclusive Video)

This version was uploaded by producer, historian, and curator, Will C. Previously, Will has made songs and mixes inspired by The Juice Crew and this era. It also appeared on the 2006 Traffic Entertainment Group’s re-release of Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s Road To The Riches.