June 26, 2025 • 27 mins
Rewind to August 28, 2024, when DJ Kristyles welcomed hip‑hop legend Big Daddy Kane for a timeless throwback conversation. In this episode, the Brooklyn-born MC dives into the journey that defined his career—from the golden age and Juice Crew beginnings to shaping today’s industry. They unpack his enduring legacy, the evolution of hip‑hop culture, and reflect on the genre hitting its 50th anniversary milestone. Tune in for an authentic snapshot of one of rap’s greatest voices, as he speaks on longevity, influence, and the state of the game through the decades.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is WOVU Studios, the number one DJ in the
game Wow one two three, the DJ Crys Styles ninety
five point nine f image Boy, DJ Chris Styles. Listen,
I have a goat in here, and not a goat
talk about an animal goat. I'm talking about one of
(00:24):
the best mcs of all times, numerous of Grammy nominations,
b T Awards. Fashion just brought in a different type
of style to hip hop back in nineteen eighty eight,
and everybody give it a one time for Big Daddy
(00:44):
King is in the building.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
What's happening. What's happening?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
How are you feeling today? You look a good looking,
like a million bucks.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I'm wonderful man. Everything is good. I can't complain.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Great to have you on. Listen.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
My brothers and me followed your music forever eight No
half that wasn't no half step.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It was raw uh raw, one of the best.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Just to me is like a battle record because you're
just coming in and kicking, just kicking in the door.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
That honestly the intent, you know, to kick in the door.
I felt like it was, you know, uh, finally my
shot to breathe, you know.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, and tell me about coming out the Jews Crew
of a great group of DJ Marley, mau Beiz Markie.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Uh tell me about group of mcs.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Tell me how was those go back if you can,
those studio sessions.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Uh? Man, they were amazing, you know, they were amazing,
having the opportunity to be in the lab with Marley
and work with him. Also, you know, being able to
just be there with other artists, like you know, like
the day we recorded the Symphony, you know, you know,
me and cool Gie Vapp working together master as Craig
(02:11):
g you know, and then going to see Bizz sessions
and seeing how Biz work and how creative he was.
You know, it was all it was always something amazing.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
And you came out, You came out with albums back
to back to back.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
On that first album, that first set of records that
that you that you created, did you expect that to
pop off? It was stick top five and hip hop
charts I think made up to thirty and the two
hundred Billboard, which is tough back you talking about back
in the eighties.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, yeah, it was hurting. Yeah, nobody was really focused
on hip hop, you know, they didn't really consider it
the genre at the time, So it was definitely really tough.
But yeah, I mean I thought that, you know, it
was gonna, you know, do well because Raw was doing well.
It was like, we had a song out with Biz
called Jess Raymer with Big and it was getting local success.
(03:02):
But when we dropped Raw Warner Brothers, you know, they
were like, you know, don't press no more. We want
him on the label. And they brought me to Warner
Brothers and put it in the movie Colors and it
started getting worldwide. So I was like, you know, I
felt like, yeah, things is about to happen.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Ninety five point nine FM, we got Big Debdy King,
who will be here September fourteenth at the fresh Fest.
Thinking about the history of how a lot of people
follow behind you. When we talk about style, we talk
about flow, we talk about lyrics. You brought everything together
and I think it was ahead of your time, especially
with the RBS type production and now you're starting to
(03:42):
see it now. Did you foresee that when you were recorded,
because everybody else is just lyrics, lyrics, lyrics, You was lyrics,
dancing style and smoothness.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Well, I mean, you know, my vision was to be
an artist, you know, because I was already lyricists, and
I pretty much proved my point as a lyricist. So
my vision was to be an artists artist. And as
far as you know the you know, the R and
B stuff, I mean you know, I mean, hey man,
you know heavy D had you know, don't you know?
(04:16):
And you know missed the big stuff ll had I
need love. Prior to that, pretty much everything that the
sugar Hill Gang and Flashing the Furious Fire put out
was you know, replayed disco music you know, by by
a studio band for sugar Hill Records. So I mean,
as far as I felt like, you know, it was
(04:37):
part of hip hop.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Absolutely, nine point NFL Big Dedy King is in the building.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And I won't call a resurgence.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
But after COVID and we got the fifty years of
hip hop, we see a lot of legendary rappers. Feel
good to me because like my childhood is back. A
lot of you guys are touring, like guys are putting
out music now, and hip hop we grew up. Now
we finally got to see what hip hop looked like
(05:06):
as older.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
How is that change for you? Now? You see more
tours coming, more people come to the shows.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Well, I mean you know with me, you know, being
from New York, I was pretty much an adult when
I finally got to see the Treacherous Three perform with
Kumo d. You know, when I finally got to see
you know, Cold Crush. You know, so I was already
(05:37):
you know, accustomed to older artists performing in hip hop.
But you know, right now, I think that it's beautiful,
especially to see MC light with the new project LL Coolja.
His album is phenomenal. I think this might be the
best LL album ever. Rock Kim has a new project
out in Pete Rock and Common. I think it's beautiful.
(05:58):
Before it's just for the simple fact that, you know,
you have artists like you know, Patti LaBelle, Ron Wiseley,
Charlie Wilson is still doing their thing and you know
their fan base and supporters are coming out to support them.
So you know, we need that nearpop.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Absolutely. And I say this about hip hop. We are
at a spot where now we can started celebrating. We
should have been already celebrating, you guys, but now having
going to these condos. I just went to the Missy
Elliott and Buster Ron's concert and they were sold out
like crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I'm like, yes, this is what we a visioned for
it to be.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Should there be a sub genre of hip hop for
artists like you? Let we call it. Some people might
call it dark contemporary or adult hip hop or whatever
term that knife wonder and I think another artist was
talking about this. Should they be a subgenre separated for
what we have from today's music and artists like you
(06:59):
rock Cam uh mc light, who's putting our music, she
is separated at this point.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I'm not I'm not gonna say separate, you know, because
that sounds too much like it's not for the younger generation,
you know. So I'm not gonna say separate, but I
wouldn't mind that being a term for it. And I
love the term that LL gives it. LL calls it
timeless music time excuse me, timeless hip hop, And I
(07:28):
love that term. So I use that a lot when
I reference it.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, I use I use uh.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I use raw hip hop a lot, I sayss raw
hip hop to the essence of, you know, of the
core elements of hip hop. Now, are we gonna see
a new album from Big that it came or you working?
I'll see you in the studio now, because I can
see the back wall and everything.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
I can see that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
That means you was working. You just turned around to
get this interview so you could turn back and.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Make some lyrics something like that. Man. But yeah, yeah, yeah,
we're working on some new stuff right now. We're working
on some new stuff right now. I've been cursed out
by LL and Q Tip and Bust have been trying
to get me, you know, you know, to do something
for several years now. So yeah, we're gonna make it happen.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Ninety five point nine FM big that it came the
legends here in the building. While has the entertainment portion
of our performances whine just a little bit, like the
newer artists don't party like you do?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Like you still do?
Speaker 1 (08:36):
You still do a couple of dance moves for the
last twenty to thirty years that like he can still
get his leg over and do a split and do
all this.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
What keeps you moving like? And what keeps going? Why
hasn't performances been like that lately with other artists?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Well, you know, I mean, I guess it's a matter
of passion. You know, come from an era where you know,
you saw people like Dougie Fresh Run, DMC Houdini to
put on, you know, on tremendous shows, they shows, So
I wanted to be able to do the same, you know,
(09:13):
to be able to perform on that type of level,
you know, that type of magnitude. It's a younger generation
where that's not their thing. They didn't grow up off
of that. So I think that they, you know, they
they do things a little different. Their thing is like
uh for I mean for what I've heard them say
is it's about the vibe, you know. So I mean
(09:36):
that's I guess that's where they're at with it, you know.
But I mean I would love to see artists that
you know, have great stage shows. Matter of fact, I
think that the Migos put on a great show and
Lola Brook, Yes, yes, Brook different a great show.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
She's different.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Point out n FM big that it came in the building.
Did you ever foresee that hip hop will be here
when you started? Because it was such so new, so new,
and years later did you foresee it as being I
called it? I say hip hop is the new pop
music because everybody's doing some type of resemblance of hip hop.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, well said, I'll agree with you on that, you know,
I mean I always thought the hip hop was going
to be really big because when you heard people talk
about it back in the days, they were referring to
it the same exact way they referred to rock and
roll in the beginning. You know that it was you know,
(10:41):
they called the devil music, they called it something you know, trendy,
it's not gonna last. And you saw what rock and
roll did, so I expect the hip hop to do
the exact same thing.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Ninety five point NFL Big Daddy King is in the building.
Let's talk about some of your past when it come
up to your last few records.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
I seen an article and that you was in an
interview and you said, yeah, I was upset with the producers.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
I didn't get the beats.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I did now to go back and look at to
myself and say, well, it wasn't them, It's probably was me.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
No, it wasn't. So broadly, I knew it was me.
You know. Now, once I listened to some of the
artists that were new artists at that time period, I
realized it was me.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
What then with that change?
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Or is it like cause I know it is a
tough thing to have one style, one flow for so long,
and then you've seen the changing of of of the
landscape of.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
It, and you've been in such a dope lyricist.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Were you just not listening to the music, were out,
or you were just like, yo, I just know this
is gonna work because it's been working.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
A little bit of I noticed it's going to work
because it's been working. But then also, you know, when
you're playing your music, you're normally playing it around people
that you know, and they're accustomed to your sound, so
you know, they're like, we love it, it's dope. You know,
maybe I should have played it around some people that
(12:14):
I don't know, played it around some some younger cats,
and you know they would have boy, like, I don't
know about the way you're flowing on this, my brother.
You know it might have been you know, they may
have said that beforehand, and.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
That's you know, you get that a lot of times.
I get that a lot of times about my show,
like it sounds good. That's what you get them, yes
man in the corner.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, I mean you know, yeah, sometimes you got yes man.
You know they want to be around you know, you
know I'm not you know, mess up being able to
hang out and get in the club for you know.
But then you know, sometimes it's just people that they
like the way you sound. Oh that's you know what
I'm saying. It's not that they're yes man, it's like,
this is what they want to hear from you. You know.
I mean I have friends to today that's like, you know,
(12:58):
when I see them, they like, Yo, you need to
put something out like raw again. Right now is the time,
you know, because that's what they want to hear. You know,
I don't hear nothing on the trade. It sounds like raw,
but that's what they want to hear, you know. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
But so here's a crazy thing about that. Here's a
crazy thing about that. I wouldn't mind that either now
because it breaks it up, like like I want.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
To hear you get busy with you know, on a
pharal b.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
I wanted you to get busy on some other people production, right,
But then also I do want to hear that that
type of sound every now and then because you just
know where you was coming from, Like you know, you
just went in through. I'm just gonna rip the mic down,
that's what you get.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Well, that was a conversation that I had with one
of the people that I'm working with, and I explain
that to them that yeah, we're going to have to
do one of those type of songs. And I explained that.
I was like, you know, but it need to come
from you know, someone knows how to make a beat
that's like one hundred and thirteen hundred and fifteen beats.
He's permitted, you know, and we need to give them that,
(14:04):
you know, fast paced BDK field. But the difference is
now I know to watch my cadence, you know, and delivery,
you know.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
And how how was that when you right? Now? Do
you still right? Because a lot of people just come
off top of the dome.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Now, aren't. I mean, all my freestyles are always going
to be written, Like off the Dome is something that
I would do every once in a blue moon in battles.
But all my freestyles were always written, and that's the
way it's always going to be. Because I look at
it from an artist's standpoint that you're painting a picture,
(14:42):
and when you paint it, you want to be to
be a masterpiece. You know what I'm saying. If I'm
just sitting there just throwing stuff at you, then that's
some abstract art that you know, people either gonna see
it or they not right.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
And so because it's always amazing, I always wanted to
I'm not a rapper, I'm just a part of just
a DJ. But I find it's so fascinating that you
guys the knowledge and the intelligence and the charisma and
take to write these rides for it to make sense,
like having a whole conversation. Well, how does your writing process? God,
I don't know if anybody ask this, but what's your
(15:16):
writing process in.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
The studio sit down? Do you just go with it
for a full week?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Now? It depends. It's like, you know, sometimes I'm just
I'm in a zone and I'm feeling something and I
start writing a rhyme and in that type of case,
I have to now have to find a beat that
matches it right. Then. You know, other times people give
you production and you're writing to the production. You feel
the flow. Oh I need to be like this on
this track. Oh yeah, Oh I can change it up
(15:45):
well in these four bars right here and do it
like that. You know, you feel you know, and then
you know there's sometimes where you might see a direction
like this is something sentimental, or this is something like
this is a song about out a certain type of grievance,
and you know, I might walk away from it and
(16:05):
go sit down listen to some David Ruffing or some
oldest Renten just getting his zone.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
You know, David Ruffing, you get to one of the
mean zones. We need to say, David Ruffing, You're right
that another level of thinking.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Now if I'm pulling down that film, we got a
big debdy cane here for the Fresh Fest of September fourteenth.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
He will be here at Cleveland, Ohio. Where's last time
he was in Cleveland?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Man? Oh, I don't put like I said, last time
I was in Cleveland, mister Alberts was still open.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Oh that's a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, but the fact that you spent.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Out mister Alberts makes us that No, that's a legendary spot.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. I
sometimes staying extra day just to do a little shopping.
You know, back in the days for some gators and
stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
You know, where did.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Your fashion since come from? Like you you are fashion?
You love fashion way before this new generation talk about fashion?
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I say, yo, big Daddy came was fashion? Hip hop?
Was that? Where did you get your fastest sense from
and where is it now?
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And have you ever collabor right now with any clothland brand?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Now? I pretty much work with independent designers. But my
fashion sense, my pops was a fancy dresser. And then
you know, when you was young, you know, you grew
up watching you know, the pimps and the hustlers around
the way and the way they dress and they pull
up and the deuce in the quarters and they elder
bottles or whatnot, and you're like, yeah, when I grow up,
I want I want to do like that.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, because I think you was one of the best dressed,
one of the best dancers out there.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Putting on the show Big Daddy.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Came a couple more questions, if I if I, if
I could from you, do you ever feel that you
at some point you didn't get your flowers? You know,
when we reach talking about the pioneers, your name comes up,
but don't I think it should come up a lot
more because you paved the way for a lot of
(18:09):
styles of hip hop.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
What would we have today?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I mean, you know, people don't like what they like.
I mean I feel like I do get my flowers.
You know, I've never I've never made music for someone
that writes for Billboard magazine or someone that writes for
Source magazine or anything like that. You know, I never
made music for Rolling Stone. I made music for the people.
(18:34):
And the people you know, they you know, always show love.
They come to the concerts and they say amazing things
like your music got me through college, your music got
me through nursing school, your music got me through desert storm.
So I mean, those are the flowers that I look for,
you know. You know, I like what someone puts in
(18:54):
a magazine or on their arm, on their website. You know,
that's that's their opinion entitled to it. You know, I'm
cool with that.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Well, we know here at w over U ninety five
point in NFL, we still play all your music is
already in our system, is played continuously. I play it,
and I just want to give you flowers for paving
the way for me, for being the DJ doing and
also being on the radio, inspiring me listening to your
music and get me through just life period.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I appreciate it. And see that's what I'm talking about
right there, what you just said, that's that's what I'm
talking about. That's those those are the as you say,
you know flowers that matter, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
And it's really dope. Like I said, you you're one
of my icons.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
And uh, I'm trying not to fan out right now
because I never thought. Years later, I'm like, oh, I'm
talking to big Dad. It came at the time listening
to raw. It's a time listening to eight and a
half step in Smooth Operator. I could go on and
on with the dop.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
We are here, we are baby, here, we are.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
You're here crazy, So tell me tell me some of
the best battles you've been in. Like I ever wondered,
did you ever battle rock Kim because I thought that
that should have went down.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Oh, we just didn't see it.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Now we never battled what hey, I already.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Thought y'all did it in the back room somewhere.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Nah, that never happened. They tried to make it happen,
I think nineteen ninety or something like that pay per
view event, but it fell apart.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Is it a story out there that you battle somebody
that we didn't know? Like, like I said, it was.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
In the backroom, pool hall somewhere, and y'all just let's
let's get it there.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
I battled several you know, rappers that made albums before. Uh,
I guess probably the most known would probably be Case solo,
(20:59):
you know, but yeah, there was several others that I battled.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
On on a quiet tip, a quiet battle and didn't
tell anybody.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Yeah, this was like inside inside a hotel, like in
the hotel hallway, and it was really just uh me
and him, I think P M D and well my
boy JC.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Oh, that's dope. I needed. I need to be a
fly on that wall.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Uh of those battles and everything that's going on. Now
you're touring a lot, You're you're you've been asked for
what what can respect for the next five years from
Big Daddy King.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Now, I think that you can expect to see me
more visibly on on on film and television to.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Talk about that. Yes, you are a good actor.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
You are Like what that's that's the that's the real
question is the real question is why do you stop?
Speaker 2 (22:02):
You know, it's just a matter of you know, getting
the right roles. You know, there's so many productions out
there and so many different you know, opportunities to be part,
you know, part of different projects, but you know, sometimes
they can be the wrong project. And taking too many
of the wrong projects will put you in a certain
box where that's the only place you're going to work,
(22:26):
you know, so it's like you have to really be selective,
you know, you know that type of thing.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Yeah, because I think that was a natural progression for you.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I also I thought that was like, Okay, he's moving
to another roalm of his talented, of his talents and everything.
And then I was like, man, my man, big that
it came he needed to be more in the film.
And I see you more on Instagram too, I see
more in social media. Tell me how how has that
change with with you working within his entertainment industry?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
For you, well, I mean, you know, a way to
connect with your supporters. I used to do it, you know,
when they started Twitter, but I just felt like Twitter
just started turning into too much debates and arguments and
I kind of, you know, fell back. But Instagram it
(23:20):
seemed like, you know, it was more fun, especially you know,
because you know, you put posts up, you know, videos
and stuff like that. So I was like, Okay, I
think that's a good way to engage. You know, people
can hear what I'm listening to, you know, vibe out
or what I vibe about on you know, you know,
see them type of things, show them old photos, and
(23:41):
I felt like it was a great connection with my
fan base. So you know, that's that's that's where I'm
at most of the time. You know, I TikTok and
face Facebook as well, but I'm I'm usually on on
on ig the most.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
And I think it's I think I g shows more
your personality. I got to know you a little bit
more on some things that you like, so that this,
like I always this is real dope because I do
follow you. So if I if I could look at
your you Spotify, what what what streaming services you used
to listen to music.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I listened to music on w B d K, I
play yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Yeah, okay, we'll go go down the line.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Yeah, but also rock the bells on Serious X Rock.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
So if if I could get a list, because you
know Spotify, you have a list of people you listen
to most, right, your top five artists that you listen
to the.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Most the most, I would say genre. I would say
David R. Willie Hutch, Anthony Hamilton, uh Coochie rap hmmm,
(25:16):
I know who. So I listened to a whole lot.
I don't know, maybe Biggie, Maybe Biggie.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Yeah, Brooklyn, Brooklyn's in the building with Biggie.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
That David Ruffians the one that that sticks out for
me because I'm a huge Temptation fan, a huge Temptation fan,
and David Ruffians I think is underrated immensely for just
being one of the betest singers of all time.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And that's just me. Maybe I'm right or wrong, I
don't know, I don't care. But what moved? Does David
Russian put you in?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Like when you listen to it, because that's the second
time you said his name, so obviously he resonates.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
What was the first time that you heard that?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Well, I mean it's like the pain that you hear
in his voice. I think it's just so soulful man.
And then like you know, the stuff that his range,
his range was just extremely incredible. Like there was this
joint that me and Jerall LeVert used to listen to
and always sit and chop it up and talk about
(26:22):
called the Double Cross with the stuff that David was
doing vocally was so phenomenal man that you never hear
hardy any singers do that, you know. So yeah, I
mean just the pain that you hear in his voice
and his vocal range phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
It is phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Shout out that David Ruffing man got rest in peace
for this man. Hey, listen, I appreciate you coming on. Yeah,
my phone went off too. I'm looking at I don't
worry about it.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
No, my doorbell.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
September fourteenth, Cleveland, Ohio, the fresh Frest. What do you
expect to hear to see in Cleveland?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
To see in Cleveland?
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Yeah, yeah, any place you want to go because you're
being a long time.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
No, I just want to see the people. That's all
I need to see. I need to see people come
out and enjoy theirself, and then we're gonna make appen
This is WOVU Studios, the number one DJ in the
game Wow one two three, the DJ Crys Styles ninety
five point nine f image Boy, DJ Chris Styles. Listen,
I have a goat in here, and not a goat
talk about an animal goat. I'm talking about one of
(00:24):
the best mcs of all times, numerous of Grammy nominations,
b T Awards. Fashion just brought in a different type
of style to hip hop back in nineteen eighty eight,
and everybody give it a one time for Big Daddy
(00:44):
King is in the building.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
What's happening. What's happening?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
How are you feeling today? You look a good looking,
like a million bucks.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
I'm wonderful man. Everything is good. I can't complain.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Great to have you on. Listen.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
My brothers and me followed your music forever eight No
half that wasn't no half step.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It was raw uh raw, one of the best.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Just to me is like a battle record because you're
just coming in and kicking, just kicking in the door.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
That honestly the intent, you know, to kick in the door.
I felt like it was, you know, uh, finally my
shot to breathe, you know.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, and tell me about coming out the Jews Crew
of a great group of DJ Marley, mau Beiz Markie.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Uh tell me about group of mcs.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Tell me how was those go back if you can,
those studio sessions.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Uh? Man, they were amazing, you know, they were amazing,
having the opportunity to be in the lab with Marley
and work with him. Also, you know, being able to
just be there with other artists, like you know, like
the day we recorded the Symphony, you know, you know,
me and cool Gie Vapp working together master as Craig
(02:11):
g you know, and then going to see Bizz sessions
and seeing how Biz work and how creative he was.
You know, it was all it was always something amazing.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
And you came out, You came out with albums back
to back to back.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
On that first album, that first set of records that
that you that you created, did you expect that to
pop off? It was stick top five and hip hop
charts I think made up to thirty and the two
hundred Billboard, which is tough back you talking about back
in the eighties.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, yeah, it was hurting. Yeah, nobody was really focused
on hip hop, you know, they didn't really consider it
the genre at the time, So it was definitely really tough.
But yeah, I mean I thought that, you know, it
was gonna, you know, do well because Raw was doing well.
It was like, we had a song out with Biz
called Jess Raymer with Big and it was getting local success.
(03:02):
But when we dropped Raw Warner Brothers, you know, they
were like, you know, don't press no more. We want
him on the label. And they brought me to Warner
Brothers and put it in the movie Colors and it
started getting worldwide. So I was like, you know, I
felt like, yeah, things is about to happen.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Ninety five point nine FM, we got Big Debdy King,
who will be here September fourteenth at the fresh Fest.
Thinking about the history of how a lot of people
follow behind you. When we talk about style, we talk
about flow, we talk about lyrics. You brought everything together
and I think it was ahead of your time, especially
with the RBS type production and now you're starting to
(03:42):
see it now. Did you foresee that when you were recorded,
because everybody else is just lyrics, lyrics, lyrics, You was lyrics,
dancing style and smoothness.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Well, I mean, you know, my vision was to be
an artist, you know, because I was already lyricists, and
I pretty much proved my point as a lyricist. So
my vision was to be an artists artist. And as
far as you know the you know, the R and
B stuff, I mean you know, I mean, hey man,
you know heavy D had you know, don't you know?
(04:16):
And you know missed the big stuff ll had I
need love. Prior to that, pretty much everything that the
sugar Hill Gang and Flashing the Furious Fire put out
was you know, replayed disco music you know, by by
a studio band for sugar Hill Records. So I mean,
as far as I felt like, you know, it was
(04:37):
part of hip hop.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Absolutely, nine point NFL Big Dedy King is in the building.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And I won't call a resurgence.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
But after COVID and we got the fifty years of
hip hop, we see a lot of legendary rappers. Feel
good to me because like my childhood is back. A
lot of you guys are touring, like guys are putting
out music now, and hip hop we grew up. Now
we finally got to see what hip hop looked like
(05:06):
as older.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
How is that change for you? Now? You see more
tours coming, more people come to the shows.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Well, I mean you know with me, you know, being
from New York, I was pretty much an adult when
I finally got to see the Treacherous Three perform with
Kumo d. You know, when I finally got to see
you know, Cold Crush. You know, so I was already
(05:37):
you know, accustomed to older artists performing in hip hop.
But you know, right now, I think that it's beautiful,
especially to see MC light with the new project LL Coolja.
His album is phenomenal. I think this might be the
best LL album ever. Rock Kim has a new project
out in Pete Rock and Common. I think it's beautiful.
(05:58):
Before it's just for the simple fact that, you know,
you have artists like you know, Patti LaBelle, Ron Wiseley,
Charlie Wilson is still doing their thing and you know
their fan base and supporters are coming out to support them.
So you know, we need that nearpop.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Absolutely. And I say this about hip hop. We are
at a spot where now we can started celebrating. We
should have been already celebrating, you guys, but now having
going to these condos. I just went to the Missy
Elliott and Buster Ron's concert and they were sold out
like crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I'm like, yes, this is what we a visioned for
it to be.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Should there be a sub genre of hip hop for
artists like you? Let we call it. Some people might
call it dark contemporary or adult hip hop or whatever
term that knife wonder and I think another artist was
talking about this. Should they be a subgenre separated for
what we have from today's music and artists like you
(06:59):
rock Cam uh mc light, who's putting our music, she
is separated at this point.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I'm not I'm not gonna say separate, you know, because
that sounds too much like it's not for the younger generation,
you know. So I'm not gonna say separate, but I
wouldn't mind that being a term for it. And I
love the term that LL gives it. LL calls it
timeless music time excuse me, timeless hip hop, And I
(07:28):
love that term. So I use that a lot when
I reference it.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Yeah, I use I use uh.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I use raw hip hop a lot, I sayss raw
hip hop to the essence of, you know, of the
core elements of hip hop. Now, are we gonna see
a new album from Big that it came or you working?
I'll see you in the studio now, because I can
see the back wall and everything.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
I can see that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
That means you was working. You just turned around to
get this interview so you could turn back and.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Make some lyrics something like that. Man. But yeah, yeah, yeah,
we're working on some new stuff right now. We're working
on some new stuff right now. I've been cursed out
by LL and Q Tip and Bust have been trying
to get me, you know, you know, to do something
for several years now. So yeah, we're gonna make it happen.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Ninety five point nine FM big that it came the
legends here in the building. While has the entertainment portion
of our performances whine just a little bit, like the
newer artists don't party like you do?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Like you still do?
Speaker 1 (08:36):
You still do a couple of dance moves for the
last twenty to thirty years that like he can still
get his leg over and do a split and do
all this.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
What keeps you moving like? And what keeps going? Why
hasn't performances been like that lately with other artists?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Well, you know, I mean, I guess it's a matter
of passion. You know, come from an era where you know,
you saw people like Dougie Fresh Run, DMC Houdini to
put on, you know, on tremendous shows, they shows, So
I wanted to be able to do the same, you know,
(09:13):
to be able to perform on that type of level,
you know, that type of magnitude. It's a younger generation
where that's not their thing. They didn't grow up off
of that. So I think that they, you know, they
they do things a little different. Their thing is like
uh for I mean for what I've heard them say
is it's about the vibe, you know. So I mean
(09:36):
that's I guess that's where they're at with it, you know.
But I mean I would love to see artists that
you know, have great stage shows. Matter of fact, I
think that the Migos put on a great show and
Lola Brook, Yes, yes, Brook different a great show.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
She's different.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Point out n FM big that it came in the building.
Did you ever foresee that hip hop will be here
when you started? Because it was such so new, so new,
and years later did you foresee it as being I
called it? I say hip hop is the new pop
music because everybody's doing some type of resemblance of hip hop.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, well said, I'll agree with you on that, you know,
I mean I always thought the hip hop was going
to be really big because when you heard people talk
about it back in the days, they were referring to
it the same exact way they referred to rock and
roll in the beginning. You know that it was you know,
(10:41):
they called the devil music, they called it something you know, trendy,
it's not gonna last. And you saw what rock and
roll did, so I expect the hip hop to do
the exact same thing.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Ninety five point NFL Big Daddy King is in the building.
Let's talk about some of your past when it come
up to your last few records.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
I seen an article and that you was in an
interview and you said, yeah, I was upset with the producers.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
I didn't get the beats.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I did now to go back and look at to
myself and say, well, it wasn't them, It's probably was me.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
No, it wasn't. So broadly, I knew it was me.
You know. Now, once I listened to some of the
artists that were new artists at that time period, I
realized it was me.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
What then with that change?
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Or is it like cause I know it is a
tough thing to have one style, one flow for so long,
and then you've seen the changing of of of the
landscape of.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
It, and you've been in such a dope lyricist.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Were you just not listening to the music, were out,
or you were just like, yo, I just know this
is gonna work because it's been working.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
A little bit of I noticed it's going to work
because it's been working. But then also, you know, when
you're playing your music, you're normally playing it around people
that you know, and they're accustomed to your sound, so
you know, they're like, we love it, it's dope. You know,
maybe I should have played it around some people that
(12:14):
I don't know, played it around some some younger cats,
and you know they would have boy, like, I don't
know about the way you're flowing on this, my brother.
You know it might have been you know, they may
have said that beforehand, and.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
That's you know, you get that a lot of times.
I get that a lot of times about my show,
like it sounds good. That's what you get them, yes
man in the corner.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Well, I mean you know, yeah, sometimes you got yes man.
You know they want to be around you know, you
know I'm not you know, mess up being able to
hang out and get in the club for you know.
But then you know, sometimes it's just people that they
like the way you sound. Oh that's you know what
I'm saying. It's not that they're yes man, it's like,
this is what they want to hear from you. You know.
I mean I have friends to today that's like, you know,
(12:58):
when I see them, they like, Yo, you need to
put something out like raw again. Right now is the time,
you know, because that's what they want to hear. You know,
I don't hear nothing on the trade. It sounds like raw,
but that's what they want to hear, you know. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
But so here's a crazy thing about that. Here's a
crazy thing about that. I wouldn't mind that either now
because it breaks it up, like like I want.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
To hear you get busy with you know, on a
pharal b.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
I wanted you to get busy on some other people production, right,
But then also I do want to hear that that
type of sound every now and then because you just
know where you was coming from, Like you know, you
just went in through. I'm just gonna rip the mic down,
that's what you get.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Well, that was a conversation that I had with one
of the people that I'm working with, and I explain
that to them that yeah, we're going to have to
do one of those type of songs. And I explained that.
I was like, you know, but it need to come
from you know, someone knows how to make a beat
that's like one hundred and thirteen hundred and fifteen beats.
He's permitted, you know, and we need to give them that,
(14:04):
you know, fast paced BDK field. But the difference is
now I know to watch my cadence, you know, and delivery,
you know.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
And how how was that when you right? Now? Do
you still right? Because a lot of people just come
off top of the dome.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Now, aren't. I mean, all my freestyles are always going
to be written, Like off the Dome is something that
I would do every once in a blue moon in battles.
But all my freestyles were always written, and that's the
way it's always going to be. Because I look at
it from an artist's standpoint that you're painting a picture,
(14:42):
and when you paint it, you want to be to
be a masterpiece. You know what I'm saying. If I'm
just sitting there just throwing stuff at you, then that's
some abstract art that you know, people either gonna see
it or they not right.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
And so because it's always amazing, I always wanted to
I'm not a rapper, I'm just a part of just
a DJ. But I find it's so fascinating that you
guys the knowledge and the intelligence and the charisma and
take to write these rides for it to make sense,
like having a whole conversation. Well, how does your writing process? God,
I don't know if anybody ask this, but what's your
(15:16):
writing process in.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
The studio sit down? Do you just go with it
for a full week?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Now? It depends. It's like, you know, sometimes I'm just
I'm in a zone and I'm feeling something and I
start writing a rhyme and in that type of case,
I have to now have to find a beat that
matches it right. Then. You know, other times people give
you production and you're writing to the production. You feel
the flow. Oh I need to be like this on
this track. Oh yeah, Oh I can change it up
(15:45):
well in these four bars right here and do it
like that. You know, you feel you know, and then
you know there's sometimes where you might see a direction
like this is something sentimental, or this is something like
this is a song about out a certain type of grievance,
and you know, I might walk away from it and
(16:05):
go sit down listen to some David Ruffing or some
oldest Renten just getting his zone.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
You know, David Ruffing, you get to one of the
mean zones. We need to say, David Ruffing, You're right
that another level of thinking.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Now if I'm pulling down that film, we got a
big debdy cane here for the Fresh Fest of September fourteenth.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
He will be here at Cleveland, Ohio. Where's last time
he was in Cleveland?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Man? Oh, I don't put like I said, last time
I was in Cleveland, mister Alberts was still open.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Oh that's a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, but the fact that you spent.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Out mister Alberts makes us that No, that's a legendary spot.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. I
sometimes staying extra day just to do a little shopping.
You know, back in the days for some gators and
stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
You know, where did.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Your fashion since come from? Like you you are fashion?
You love fashion way before this new generation talk about fashion?
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I say, yo, big Daddy came was fashion? Hip hop?
Was that? Where did you get your fastest sense from
and where is it now?
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And have you ever collabor right now with any clothland brand?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Now? I pretty much work with independent designers. But my
fashion sense, my pops was a fancy dresser. And then
you know, when you was young, you know, you grew
up watching you know, the pimps and the hustlers around
the way and the way they dress and they pull
up and the deuce in the quarters and they elder
bottles or whatnot, and you're like, yeah, when I grow up,
I want I want to do like that.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, because I think you was one of the best dressed,
one of the best dancers out there.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Putting on the show Big Daddy.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Came a couple more questions, if I if I, if
I could from you, do you ever feel that you
at some point you didn't get your flowers? You know,
when we reach talking about the pioneers, your name comes up,
but don't I think it should come up a lot
more because you paved the way for a lot of
(18:09):
styles of hip hop.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
What would we have today?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I mean, you know, people don't like what they like.
I mean I feel like I do get my flowers.
You know, I've never I've never made music for someone
that writes for Billboard magazine or someone that writes for
Source magazine or anything like that. You know, I never
made music for Rolling Stone. I made music for the people.
(18:34):
And the people you know, they you know, always show love.
They come to the concerts and they say amazing things
like your music got me through college, your music got
me through nursing school, your music got me through desert storm.
So I mean, those are the flowers that I look for,
you know. You know, I like what someone puts in
(18:54):
a magazine or on their arm, on their website. You know,
that's that's their opinion entitled to it. You know, I'm
cool with that.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Well, we know here at w over U ninety five
point in NFL, we still play all your music is
already in our system, is played continuously. I play it,
and I just want to give you flowers for paving
the way for me, for being the DJ doing and
also being on the radio, inspiring me listening to your
music and get me through just life period.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I appreciate it. And see that's what I'm talking about
right there, what you just said, that's that's what I'm
talking about. That's those those are the as you say,
you know flowers that matter, you know.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
And it's really dope. Like I said, you you're one
of my icons.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
And uh, I'm trying not to fan out right now
because I never thought. Years later, I'm like, oh, I'm
talking to big Dad. It came at the time listening
to raw. It's a time listening to eight and a
half step in Smooth Operator. I could go on and
on with the dop.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
We are here, we are baby, here, we are.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
You're here crazy, So tell me tell me some of
the best battles you've been in. Like I ever wondered,
did you ever battle rock Kim because I thought that
that should have went down.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Oh, we just didn't see it.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Now we never battled what hey, I already.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Thought y'all did it in the back room somewhere.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Nah, that never happened. They tried to make it happen,
I think nineteen ninety or something like that pay per
view event, but it fell apart.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Is it a story out there that you battle somebody
that we didn't know? Like, like I said, it was.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
In the backroom, pool hall somewhere, and y'all just let's
let's get it there.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
I battled several you know, rappers that made albums before. Uh,
I guess probably the most known would probably be Case solo,
(20:59):
you know, but yeah, there was several others that I battled.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
On on a quiet tip, a quiet battle and didn't
tell anybody.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Yeah, this was like inside inside a hotel, like in
the hotel hallway, and it was really just uh me
and him, I think P M D and well my
boy JC.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Oh, that's dope. I needed. I need to be a
fly on that wall.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Uh of those battles and everything that's going on. Now
you're touring a lot, You're you're you've been asked for
what what can respect for the next five years from
Big Daddy King.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Now, I think that you can expect to see me
more visibly on on on film and television to.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Talk about that. Yes, you are a good actor.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
You are Like what that's that's the that's the real
question is the real question is why do you stop?
Speaker 2 (22:02):
You know, it's just a matter of you know, getting
the right roles. You know, there's so many productions out
there and so many different you know, opportunities to be part,
you know, part of different projects, but you know, sometimes
they can be the wrong project. And taking too many
of the wrong projects will put you in a certain
box where that's the only place you're going to work,
(22:26):
you know, so it's like you have to really be selective,
you know, you know that type of thing.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Yeah, because I think that was a natural progression for you.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I also I thought that was like, Okay, he's moving
to another roalm of his talented, of his talents and everything.
And then I was like, man, my man, big that
it came he needed to be more in the film.
And I see you more on Instagram too, I see
more in social media. Tell me how how has that
change with with you working within his entertainment industry?
Speaker 2 (22:57):
For you, well, I mean, you know, a way to
connect with your supporters. I used to do it, you know,
when they started Twitter, but I just felt like Twitter
just started turning into too much debates and arguments and
I kind of, you know, fell back. But Instagram it
(23:20):
seemed like, you know, it was more fun, especially you know,
because you know, you put posts up, you know, videos
and stuff like that. So I was like, Okay, I
think that's a good way to engage. You know, people
can hear what I'm listening to, you know, vibe out
or what I vibe about on you know, you know,
see them type of things, show them old photos, and
(23:41):
I felt like it was a great connection with my
fan base. So you know, that's that's that's where I'm
at most of the time. You know, I TikTok and
face Facebook as well, but I'm I'm usually on on
on ig the most.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
And I think it's I think I g shows more
your personality. I got to know you a little bit
more on some things that you like, so that this,
like I always this is real dope because I do
follow you. So if I if I could look at
your you Spotify, what what what streaming services you used
to listen to music.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I listened to music on w B d K, I
play yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Yeah, okay, we'll go go down the line.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Yeah, but also rock the bells on Serious X Rock.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
So if if I could get a list, because you
know Spotify, you have a list of people you listen
to most, right, your top five artists that you listen
to the.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Most the most, I would say genre. I would say
David R. Willie Hutch, Anthony Hamilton, uh Coochie rap hmmm,
(25:16):
I know who. So I listened to a whole lot.
I don't know, maybe Biggie, Maybe Biggie.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Yeah, Brooklyn, Brooklyn's in the building with Biggie.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
That David Ruffians the one that that sticks out for
me because I'm a huge Temptation fan, a huge Temptation fan,
and David Ruffians I think is underrated immensely for just
being one of the betest singers of all time.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And that's just me. Maybe I'm right or wrong, I
don't know, I don't care. But what moved? Does David
Russian put you in?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Like when you listen to it, because that's the second
time you said his name, so obviously he resonates.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
What was the first time that you heard that?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Well, I mean it's like the pain that you hear
in his voice. I think it's just so soulful man.
And then like you know, the stuff that his range,
his range was just extremely incredible. Like there was this
joint that me and Jerall LeVert used to listen to
and always sit and chop it up and talk about
(26:22):
called the Double Cross with the stuff that David was
doing vocally was so phenomenal man that you never hear
hardy any singers do that, you know. So yeah, I
mean just the pain that you hear in his voice
and his vocal range phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
It is phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Shout out that David Ruffing man got rest in peace
for this man. Hey, listen, I appreciate you coming on. Yeah,
my phone went off too. I'm looking at I don't
worry about it.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
No, my doorbell.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
September fourteenth, Cleveland, Ohio, the fresh Frest. What do you
expect to hear to see in Cleveland?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
To see in Cleveland?
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Yeah, yeah, any place you want to go because you're
being a long time.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
No, I just want to see the people. That's all
I need to see. I need to see people come
out and enjoy theirself, and then we're gonna make appen
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