Big Daddy Kane Celebrates 20 Years
 photo by Steed Media Servce
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NEW YORK-Hip hop was alive and well Friday night in New York City as Big Daddy Kane celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Long Live the Kane.
The legendary Brooklyn-bred MC performed before a sold out crowd at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in Times Square.
He told rolling out that the occasion was a chance to give back to his fans for their support over the years. “We’re trying to really really bring it home,” he said shortly before showtime. “We’ve got the original team here and we’re about to go in and do what we do and make a celebration out of this.”
Comedian Talent served as the night’s host. Fellow New York hip-hop pioneers such as The Beatnuts, Positive K, Biz Markie and Roxanne Shanté got the crowd warmed up with their classic hits before a triumphant Kane took the stage backed by a live band and long time DJ Mister Cee.
The excited audience cheered and rapped along with Kane as he breezed through such classics as “Ain’t No Half Steppin’,” “Raw,” “Smooth Operator” and “I Get the Job Done.” However, the crowd reached near-frenzy level when he was joined onstage by DJ Marley Marl and fellow Juice Crew cohorts Masta Ace and Craig G. to perform their memorable hip hop staple, “The Symphony.”
Other celebs in the audience included Busta Rhymes, M.O.P., Greg Nyce of Nyce N Smoove and Brand Nubian’s Sadat X. Producer Swizz Beatz was rendered momentarily speechless when he made a surprise appearance onstage to congratulate Big Daddy Kane on his anniversary and thank him for his contribution to hip-hop.
“I wanna give a major, major shout out to the legend, BK’s finest, the Big Daddy Kane. He’s the original showtime,” Swizz told the audience. “I’m so amped right now, man. This is real hip-hop right there; this is where all of us come from.” -ivory m. jones
