Big Daddy Kane

To experience a Vegemite sandwich in all its glory… and maybe headline Meredith Music Festival while he’s at it. In the meantime, the dulcet tones of a deep, warm voice slide through the intermittent crackle of an international phone line as Kane looks forward to his forthcoming Australian tour.

“Honestly, since childhood, I’ve been dying to see what a Vegemite sandwich is,” he says. “I just wanna see one – I’ve always wanted to see one.”

Since the mid-’80s, Kane has impressed his smooth-talking and sharp-dressing influence on the hip hop community worldwide. With the rise of the Juice Crew – the Queensbridge hip hop collective that brought Kane and others into the spotlight – Kane forged the foundation of what was to be an extensive and highly influential career. Fast-forward almost three decades, and the name Big Daddy Kane still echoes through the hip hop halls of fame. Heck, even today the New Yorker is at the forefront of most contemporary rappers’ list of influences.

But such discussion should not stand as a eulogy. Kane’s legacy is not yet complete, despite the arrival of online services like Spotify, Pandora and YouTube that bring with them an audience of listeners who weren’t even born when he started his career. How has Kane managed to maintain relevance in a time of immeasurable access and endless choice?

“Well, I think that for one I have a decent catalogue that people still want to hear. These songs still get played on radio stations, on satellite radio, in film, music channels and television. I have a catalogue that still plays,” he says. “And as we perform, we still try to give great shows and make it entertaining. We try and make it so that people don’t feel like it’s the same old thing. I try to make sure people are entertained and make sure the live show is a lot deeper than just playing the album. I try to give what I give and I get a lot of love. My fans, they give a lot of love, and in return, I try to give my all.”

Unlike many of his peers, Kane’s confidence in his back catalogue isn’t a symptom of arrogance. When it comes to discussions over his biggest achievements, he is as sincere and humble as anyone.

“I would definitely say having the opportunity to work with Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle, Barry White – they were all great moments in my career,” he says. “Also, watching T.I. performing my song ‘Smooth Operator’ at the second VH1 Hip Hop Honors in 2005, I just thought that was so interesting. He is a Southern rapper and he is doing an East Coast song, but he is doing it in his Southern style. You know, it’s like when you hear Johnnie Taylor or Willie Nelson remake an R&B song – it gave me that feeling. So that was something really spectacular to witness.”

Further questions directed towards Kane’s long list of career highlights are rewarded with a thoughtful and polite response, but it is evident the rapper is more focused on the present day. With that in mind, we talk modern-day influences; who and what keeps an artist known for his lyrical prowess on his toes and excited about the craft he has nurtured for so many years.

“What keeps me inspired to write lyrics is when I see young cats that don’t fall into the basic trends of the music industry and they try to be brave lyricists,” he says. “Artists like Joell Ortiz, Logic, Saigon, Kendrick Lamar. People I hear that haven’t fallen into what is trending. These guys are trying to be great lyricists and that’s inspirational to me. It makes you still wanna do what you do.”

Following shows in the UK, Kane and his entourage will make their way to the sunburnt continent for the aforementioned Meredith date as well as a string of sideshows.

“I really just wanna get over there to perform, for the most part,” he says. “On Twitter and Instagram I’ve had so many people asking when I was going to be that way. I am just really looking forward to perform. I am going to dabble with some new stuff and even drop some surprise songs from my back catalogue that people wouldn’t expect to see performed onstage.

“I’ve been looking forward to it for the longest time. So many things have held everything up and I’m happy everything has finally worked out and that I can make it out to Australia. I want to have a good time and I especially want everyone in the crowd to have a good time. We’re going to do the best we can!”

[Big Daddy Kane photo by Jonathan Minnion]