Big Daddy Kane

USA, 1986–now

American rapper (b. 1968, Antonio Hardy), also of the Juice Crew. Long Live the Kane (1988) matched a baritone smoothness to fast, intricate rhyming; the delivery of 'Ain't No Half-Steppin' set a standard of technical control that the Brooklyn rappers who followed measured themselves against.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Big Daddy Kane and 2 artists Big Daddy Kane influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Big Daddy Kane?

• Cold Crush Brothers — Kane took his rhyme construction from Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers, admiring how many words Caz could tie together inside a single line.

Which artists did Big Daddy Kane influence?

• Jay-Z — Kane took the young Jay-Z under his wing and out on tour, and the blueprint Jay-Z then ran with was Kane's.
• The Notorious B.I.G. — Kane's deep, controlled baritone is the precursor to the sturdy-yet-nimble flow Biggie built.