Tha True Definition Of A Mark

I would love it if the caption for this photo appeared somewhere and read “Two Of The World’s Greatest Lyricists Finally Meet”. In truth, the more appropriate caption would read “Legendary Hip-Hop Icon Big Daddy Kane And His Biggest Mark”.

As I mentioned on my Facebook status (imagine me, actually updating that shit!), I’m not too cool to admit when I’m a huge mark. Of course, I’ve been accused by many members of Tha Nation of O for being a mark. Most often, for my remarks about dudes like Santino Marella.

But straight up, there is no wrestler, not even the Hulkster himself (okay, maybe Hulk) who I mark for more than my favourite M.C.’s. And Big Daddy Kane is my favourite of them all.

I can guarantee you that no one else in the capacity crowd at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto last night had memorized as many of Kane's lyrics as I had. I nearly lost my voice performing every single song myself.

Now, I became inebriated with hip-hop at the age of ten. Almost immediately after becoming a fan, I decided that I had to try emceeing myself. Within two years, MC Rock D (ha ha! yep, that’s right) became "Dan-e-o". Within that same two years, I got my hands on pretty much any and every hip-hop record or tape I could find.

I loved none more than Big Daddy Kane’s 1988 debut Long Live The Kane. Including undisputed classics like “Raw”, “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’”, “Just Rhymin’ With Biz” and my favourite song of all time, “Set It Off”, this album taught me how to rap. More importantly, it taught me about the type of rapper I wanted to be:

A lyricist. A rapper focused on spittin’ the best damn lyrics possible. Wordplay, punchlines, metaphors, multi-syllabic rhyme patterns. All part of Big Daddy Kane’s repertoire. And now part of mine.

By the time I was 13, I was on a Toronto dance show called “Electric Circus” winning a contest with a song entitled “Can’t Test Me”. This song - my attempt to replicate the sheer ferocity of Big Daddy Kane’s lyrics on “Set It Off” - won me free tickets to an LL Cool J concert and the chance to meet him in person.

LL is dope and all (even if he did rip off my debut 1996 single “Dear Hip Hop”), but he’s no Big Daddy Kane in my books. Upon meeting Kane, the mark that I am had to let him know that the first track on my 2000 The Book of Daniel album was a homage to “Set It Off”. Using the first verse from “Can’t Test Me” that I wrote as a 13 year old, the track “Prologue: Set It Off/Can’t Test Me” is my official “thank you” to Big Daddy Kane.

Last night, I was able to thank him in person. By the way, I owe HUGE props and a debt of gratitude to O-ster and concert promoter Shawn “Drop” Holland for making it all possible.

Now while I’m sure that I’ll incur the wrath of gay jokes worldwide from O-sters, this is one time where I just don’t care. In the words of our boy Emmanuel Melo, I’m a mark…and proud of it.

It’s been discussed on Tha O Show before that professional wrestling seems to be the only industry where fans are literally made fun of or looked down upon. Hence the term “mark”, which originally was meant for those fans who think the wrestling they are watching is a real fight.

To me, a “mark” is someone who truly loves and has a passion for the piece of entertainment that he or she is following. Our wrestler bredrens say it all the time. Wrestlers are the biggest marks of them all. Who else displays more passion for the business than someone who literally busts his ass for it?

I’ve done what I feel is the same thing in the hip-hop world. Anyone who knows me knows that I love nothing more than to write, record, release and especially perform music. I get no bigger rush. Nothing is more satisfying (besides the obvious). I am indebted to those who have paved the way for me, inspired me and created the incredible music that has truly shaped my life.

I’m not above asking for a picture or an autograph. That being said, I remain eternally grateful to the number of fans who posed for pictures with me and bought my CDs off me last night. Sometimes, in my markdom, I forget that I’ve put out music that people like too. Huge thanks to all my fans who were at the show last night. You guys inspire me as well.

Because of you guys, the only CD I had available on me to give to Big Daddy Kane when I met him was my last copy of The Book of Daniel. Worked out perfectly, I guess, considering that the first song on it is pretty much dedicated to him. By the way, huge shout out to Scoob Lover (a.k.a. Johnny Famous), Kane's long time dancer and cohort who I also had the pleasure of meeting last night.

So call me a mark and make fun all you want. I can’t be brought down from this high. Believe me, I’m working steadily on getting a track done with Kane. I truly believe though, just like the Ontario wresters that we steadfastly support here at Tha O Show, that you SHOULD be a mark to achieve success in your given field.

I teach in my “The School of Rap” workshops across Toronto the concept of feeling a great sense of pride in the work that you do. To be a fan of your own music and the music that has come before your own is imperative to visualizing your success. If you can’t find it worthwhile to BUY someone’s music, how will you able to convince someone else to BUY yours?

I’m thankful that I grew up in an era when hip-hop was fuckin’ unbelievable. I feel sorry for the ten year olds and young teens of today who have to turn the radio on and hear complete bullshit excrete out of it. No matter what, I will continue to work diligently to make what I feel is good music and teach the younger generations to do the same.

I feel that I owe it to them. And I owe it to legends like Big Daddy Kane.

Check out:
www.officialbigdaddykane.com
www.defianceentertainment.com

By the way, O-sters may be interested in knowing that I also had a backstage...confrontation...with one, Choclair. Let's just say that Chocs has agreed to address the on-air call out I gave him weeks ago on a future episode of Tha O Show! Stay tuned.

UPDATE: The magic of YouTube brings you to last night's concert already!:

Nuff Respect

Raw

Ain't No Half-Steppin'

I Get The Job Done

Platinum Plus

Warm It Up, Kane

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