Do you feel you get the respect that you deserve from hip hop artists and audiences today?

Kane: From people on the street and other entertainers yea. Now from the media or radio hell no! But it’s like everything I’ve done was for fans so when I get love from them it’s beautiful. So I’m satisfied.

Where do you see yourself in today’s scene. I know you’ve been working on some new stuff, where’s your spot now?

Kane: I ain’t really been too focused on it that hard. I’ve really just been more like if it’s going to be it’s going to be we’ll see. That’s all to it. If it was meant to happen I’m ready and very much on top of my game, if not I’m cool with that too. I got what a lot of cats don’t have, a lot of good memories and I’m alright.

And you were an influence to everybody I know. I think my father is a Kane fan. Your persona reminded me of a younger version of him. One year when I first started getting my turntables and stuff he came around with all these records and he had this big ass Big Daddy Kane collection out of all of these old records. I was like wow. If he was listening to any rap it was Kane.

Kane: That’s interesting. I remember when I met Teddy Pendergrass. This was after the accident and everything. I forgot what it was for but it was a big thing with a bunch of entertainers. He said how are you doing and I was like hey man I’m a big fan of your work I’ve always loved your music and he started smiling and said I’m a big fan of yours too “Pimpin Ain’t Easy” is my cut.

Oh snap.

Kane: I fuckin lost it. I walked around the whole day like ‘Yo you heard what Teddy said?’

If Teddy Pendagrass told me that, I would feel like the man.

Kane: That’s how I was the whole day, it was like you can’t tell me shit.

I’ve been listening to a lot of your stuff lately and sometimes it’s not even what you say but the charisma that comes off the records. Its’ like at the end of some of your verses you were like the competition is so pathetic I’m just gonna giggle at the fact they even want to step to me.

Kane: That’s that sarcasm. I got that from Grand Master Caz. Even back then when I thought Moe Dee was the nicest rapper in the early eighties, I thought that Caz had that fuckin style. Like that nigga said “I’m six one and a half/ No good at math/ Say rhymes to myself when I’m taking a bath.” Just certain shit he said like “Grand Master Caz I’m the best you can get / If you can’t say something nice don’t say shit.” It’s just stuff that Caz said I just thought this cat is off the hook. Just the way he expressed himself. It’s crazy. So I was like a real big Caz fan.

That’s tight how you recite those verses that influenced you back in the day. Cuz man I can just remember sitting here rewinding the joint till I could actually say I’m the B-I-G-D-A-Double D-Y K-A-N-E. That took me a while to be able to say it that fast along with the record. I had to practice.

Kane: I’ve always thought it was funny how that became a topic because to me I didn’t do shit but spell my damn name.

Haha

Kane: I didn’t really do nothing real fancy about that.

What do you think about the greatest hits CD they put out for you not too long ago?

Kane: I think it was put together real nice.

Last question what would you say if you were stuck in an elevator with Jah Rule and 50 Cent.

I would probably tell them to make it a sport and not personal because there is a whole lot of money they can make off of that. They don’t have to like each other just like the amount of money ya’ll beef could make. They could sit up there, make a pay per view event Jah Rule vs. 50 Cent, make crazy money, and just go at it battling song for song.

Thanks a lot man it’s been a pleasure.

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Posted by Halftime on Thursday, April 8th, 2004 and is filed under HIP HOP ICON SERIES.