Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One are the latest hip-hop legends to grace the culture with a Verzuz battle.
Verzuz confirmed the pairing on its social media platforms on Tuesday. The match will go down on October 17 in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
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KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane were the sh*t back in the day for all the youngins out there. Big Daddy Kane was a member of the Juice Crew with the late Biz Markie and famed producer Marley Marl. He helped popularize the high-top fade and was known for his fast-rapping style, per Billboard. He also had a ladies’ man persona. Kane’s hits include “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’” and “Smooth Operator.”
On the flip, KRS-One was on the conscious tip. He got his start in 1987 when he founded Boogie Down Productions (BDP) with DJ Scott LaRock and released their first project Criminal Minded, according to Rolling Stone. LaRock was fatally shot the same year while trying to break up a fight. The death inspired KRS-One became an anti-violence activist. Songs like “My Philosophy” and “Stop the Violence” became a vehicle for his message. He is also a battle rap GOAT.
Those battle rap skills were on Big Daddy Kane’s mind when he declared KRS-One is the only rapper he wants to face in a Verzuz session.
“If we can get it to happen with me and KRS-One, I would rather it be like a battle format,” he told HipHop DX in June. “If it’s going to be me and Rakim, then we might as well just do it with the music. You know what I mean? I don’t really see him as a battle rapper.
“I think it would be better to just do it with just the music, if it’s going to be me and him,” Big Daddy Kane continued. “But KRS is a battle rapper, so it’s going to be me and him. I think we should do the music for the fans but also do a few rounds of battle rap.”
The Verzuz match between KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane will air exclusively on Triller and FITE TV so get your smart TV in formation.
