The rapper who made Big Daddy Kane feel like hip-hop was “still alive”
Big Daddy Kane is one of the great wordsmiths of rap’s golden era. But according to Kane, just because the good old days are behind us doesn’t mean rap isn’t still alive and well. In an Instagram post, he revealed his “favourite MC out here right now,” carrying the legacy of impeccable lyricism: J Cole.
The legacy laid down by Big Daddy Kane has guaranteed his spot as one of the legends of rap, which makes the announcement of his favourite active MC no small thing. But Kane doesn’t half-step in his declaration, he makes it abundantly clear that J Cole is at the top of his active rapper list:
“This is the brother right here that makes me feel like hip-hop is still alive and it’s here to stay when I listen to this here brother spit and listen to his music. Love you, fam.”
Hip-hop is most definitely still alive, thanks to rappers like J Cole. But the question is, what about Cole’s work sets him at such a high level in Kane’s eyes? When you check out BDK’s discography, and his interviews about hip-hop, it’s easy to see. If you read between the lines.
Big Daddy Kane has always had a particular focus on lyrics. In a Hip-Hop Wired interview with Ghostface Killer, he once said that rappers like himself, KRS-One, Rakim, and the members of Wu-Tang Clan brought the centre of attention in late-80s/early-90s hip-hop to the content of the words. And that was coming out of an era when hip-hop was more centred around dancing than paying attention to the message.
Lyricism is so important to Kane that back in 2021 he began production on a documentary titled Paragraphs I Manifest. The project is all about the art of penmanship in hip-hop and will feature interviews with some of rap’s strongest writers, like Eminem, JAY-Z, Common, Black Thought, and of course, J. Cole.
The Instagram video above was recorded on the same day as J Cole’s interview for the documentary. Evidently, Kane thought it was important enough to announce to the world that his favorite MC was a part of the project.
The idea that J. Cole is one of the great storytellers in modern rap is no secret. His projects like 2014 Forrest Hills Drive and 4 Your Eyez Only show his ability to maintain a cohesive theme throughout an entire album. He layers double entendres and clever punchlines in his verses while also moving the larger narrative of the album forward.
This kind of careful attention to verbal precision is no doubt what unites rappers like Big Daddy Kane and J Cole. It’s a case of talent recognising talent. One great lyricist passing the torch to another.
If the smile on Cole’s face didn’t make his appreciation clear enough, when one of rap’s legends declared him as the greatest in the game right now, seeing one of the most eloquent active MCs at a loss for words did: “Love, bro. Thank you, man. I appreciate that, bro. Legendary. Thank you. Sh**.”
The official release date for Paragraphs I Manifest is yet to be announced, but rap fans everywhere will be ready to tune in. Especially ones with an appreciation for a sharp pen.