Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have fans of hip-hop pioneer Big Daddy Kane, who praise the two rappers as “true lyricists” in-game.
in a new interview with all hip hopAiring Saturday (June 10), the Juice Crew veteran gave an update on the upcoming Netflix documentary. Paragraph I expresswhen he gave props to Kendrick and Cole, while tracing their rap lineage to other pillars of the genre.
“Looking back at the days of Melle Mel, Grandmaster Kaz and Kool Moo Dee, you can see how it evolved into Rakim and KRS-One, and then into the days of Nas, Biggie and Jay. I see how it evolved again.-Z, from a lyrical standpoint, I’d love to see it continue to evolve,” he said.
“By the time the ’90s came around, hip-hop had become very commercial, and commercial songs and simpler things were important. It was more about writing catchy songs instead of focusing on it, and that’s exactly where their mindset was.”
“So when I look at people like J. Cole, Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, Kendrick Lamar, Lady London, I have a special respect for them. That’s why.”
This isn’t the first time Big Daddy Kane sent flowers to J. Cole. In January, he called the “workout” rapper his hero, exclaiming: pimp a butterfly rapper too.
“J. Cole is my hero,” he said. “That’s my man out there. J. Cole is my hero. I love Kendrick too. Rhapsody, Lady London. Lady London is a monster. She’s incredible.” ”
The Juice Crew legend also posted a video on Instagram of himself talking to J. Cole about how important he is to hip-hop.
“A lot of people are coming to me and a lot of others right now, giving me flowers and other things while we’re here,” Kane said in the clip. “But listen, I want to give this young brother here flowers, just like the real thing.”
After Cole looked down and replied, “Damn,” Kane continued. This brother is here and makes me feel that hip-hop is still alive, and when this brother is here to spit and listen to his music, hip-hop stays here. I love you, fam. ”