Big Daddy Kane - It's A Big Daddy Thing

Released in 1989

It's a Big Daddy Thing was Kane's second studio album and was ample proof that the dreaded sophomore slump doesn't strike all artists. If I were to try and sum up this album with one word, it would be "bigger." Beyond the obvious longer length of this follow-up (the debut album contained 10 tracks while this one features a whopping 17) lies an expanded bag of lyrical tricks. No longer content with sticking solely to boasting and battle rap as he did with Long Live the Kane, Kane spreads his horizons and lays out tracks that tackle romantic and societal issues.

Kane's career could be divided into two primary stages: his youthful, brilliant battle rap and his later attempts at becoming the equivalent of hip-hop's Barry White. While Kane's powerful voice and flow made his later smooth R&B-infused albums functional, he was at his absolute best when he was annihilating his competition on the mic. It's a Big Daddy Thing is a transition album; it contains the same raw style and intensity as his previous work, but it was clear that this rap artist was trying new things in hopes of breaking through the underground to become a commercial sensation.

Some of the album highlights are:

• It's a Big Daddy Thing – The battle MC tears up the mic with creative and sharp lyrical assaults, proving that he hasn't lost his touch since his last album.
• Smooth Operator – This track features a sweet flow and came the closest of any track on the album to becoming an actual commercial success.
• I Get The Job Done – Kane added a bit of new jack swing to some of his works on this album, as evidenced by this standout track.

Big Daddy Kane struggled for his entire career to become a bona fide commercial success like other accomplished rappers such as L.L. Cool J and Run-D.M.C., but he never did manage to really obtain this goal; instead he was hailed as an underground grandmaster of the genre. His third album would further aim for commercial appeal, which ended up diluting his creativity and intensity, thereby making his future efforts shunned somewhat by the masses as well as those who appreciated his first two rawest and most sincere albums.

It's a Big Daddy Thing was the last truly great album from this lyrical wizard and is a must for collectors of classic rap albums.

Rating: 8 stars

Track List It's a Big Daddy Thing Another Victory Mortal Combat Children R the Future Young, Gifted and Black Smooth Operator Calling Mr. Welfare Wrath of Kane I Get the Job Done Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now Pimpin' Ain't Easy Big Daddy's Theme To Be Your Man The House That Cee Built On the Move Warm It Up, Kane Rap Summary (Lean On Me)

Additional Resources

• Long Live the Kane Review

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