Big Daddy Kane 20th Anniversary Show at BB Kings Nov 14

Big Daddy Kane; one of the few intricate and lyrical emcees from the late 1980s decided this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of his first album on Cold Chillin’ record; “Long Live The Kane”
Just Rhymin’ with Biz feat Biz Markie was released in 1987. Of course an anniversary could not be complete without returning to his home city and repping to the fullest!

Now … I always felt that B.B. Kings Blues Grill and Club was not the best place to watch a rap show. It always seems that too much eating is going on.

J. Period was the house DJ and Talent - Morning Show Host + Comedian - 98.7 Kiss FM New York; was the Master of Ceremonies (note.. this is the true derivative of MC/emcee that I know of from New York City in the 1970s!)

Connie Price and the Keystones was a good choice to be the backup band for Big Daddy Kane. They pretty much started the joint off with grooves that I remember from my breakbeat collecting days. His longtime road djay Skaz Digga joined him and the band on stage. Let’s not forget Mr, Cee, who hyped up the crowd and dutifully took his position on the opposite end of the stage from Skaz. Mad Money Murph then joined on to keep the crowd in anticipation for BDK. Lyrics To Go had their banner in the backdrop of the stage.

The performing guest list included:

The Beatnuts with JuJu & Psycho Les dropping “Off The Books”
Positive K came on stage looking heavy-set like both Beatnuts before him to do ‘I Got A Man’; and two other hits.
Biz Markie did a DJ set. Basically; He’s been a DJ on the world circuit tour for more than 10 years.

Biz Markie along with DJ Cool V knocked out hits like ‘Picking Boogers’; ‘This is Something for the Radio’; ‘Nobody Beats The Biz’; ‘The BizMarkie Is Going Off’; ‘The Vapors’; and a special treat from 1985 with Roxanne Shante doing ‘Get Retarded’ - Whoooa. Practically flawless. He then moved on to ‘Just A Friend’ where he forgot the majority of the second and third verse lyrics. Damn Biz!

Big Daddy Kane Live @ BB King Blues Club and Grill - NYC via AOL video
Be sure to see other video embeds of the show in this YouTube window!

Watch more YouTube videos on AOL Video

He later introduced Big Daddy Kane along with Mad Money Murph.

“You, You and you! Please get off the stage! I don’t want to share this stage with no one at this moment!” Thus started a 2 hour ; nearly flawless performance with that statement from Big Daddy Kane.

This when I spotted Ice T and Coco heading toward the VIP backstage area. (They never made it to the stage); and Busta Rhymes enjoying the scene in the house toward the back of the club. I’m sure there were other Hip Hop celebs in the ‘packed like sardines’ audience. BB King Club is barely lit during showtime. Hard to make out faces in the audience.

Big Daddy Kane and the KeyStone Band with DJ Mr. Cee and Skaz proceeded to ‘wreck shop’. Hit were interpolated with ferocity and grace such as:
‘Set It Off’
‘Warm It up Kane’
I Get The Job Done’
‘Smooth Operator’

After some breaks and a collab with Biz Markie on The 1987 hit; ‘Just Rhyming with Biz’; Classic! it was fun rapping along and watching others such as Busta Rhymes do the same.

Kane was in top form!. I didn’t even see him swig a bottle of water! The Band; BDK and Skaz all had the dapper Black and red thing going on with their clothes. It looked alright to me.

At one point; Kane asked if any one in the audience was over 25? 30? 35? and 40 years old? He got the crowd participating.

MOP joined the party and amped up the place with - ‘Ante Up’ and ‘Cold As Ice’.

Swizz Beats spread some love and positive comments with a hugs and deep admiration for BDK. Then Mr. Cee called the producer that made it all happen … Marley Marl.

Marley briefed on the history of his relationship with Kane and proceeded to boast about what going to happen with these famous lines. “I don’t care who’s first or who’s last. But I know that y’all better rock this at a drop of the dime baby!” Bamm! ‘The Symphony’ was re-incarnated! Good to see Masta Ase come out and set it off! The Keystones then slide right into groove. Craig G. (yet another heavy-set rapper) blessed the mike with a tight; but super-amped flow. No Kool G Rap in the house. No one even did his lyrics. So that left the lane open for Big Daddy Kane to jar our memory on why we were in BB King Club in NYC in the first place. Wooow! Still classic. Maaaaan. I miss the good parts of 1988. “It’s a sabotage as I take charge, don’t barge .. cuz goddam! I’m living large!

Eric B came on stage after to give props to BDK.

Scoop and Scrap joined him for some Hip Hop Golden era dance routines (Nice!) on ‘R.A.W.’

He later flexed with a long interpolation of Ain’t no Half Steppin’ in which he ended his show. Tight, Tight

Looks like you will have to catch him in other cities cuz he said he’s “On a roll” now.!