Yes Rakim and Big Daddy Kane had a bit of a "Secret War" where they would throw subliminal disses to each other constantly. They fans never really knew it however people in the industry knew very well what was brewing between the current reigning king of hip-hop Rakim and a cocky young lyrical assasin from brooklyn named Big Daddy KANE (King Asiatic Nobody's Equal}The first hip-hop secret war.
How the beef began...
Dj Marley Marl was set to produce Eric B and Rakim's first album "Paid In Full"
Marly Marl produced the blazing beat for the first single off the album "My Melody" But shocked the duo by letting them know that "My Melody" would be the only track he would produce for them because he wanted to work with his new crew of MC's....
1.Kool G Rap
2.Mc.Shan
3.Biz Markie
4. And yes the legendary Big Daddy Kane
This was Rakim...and you would leave him to waste your production on four unknowns. Now at Marly's studio Rakim was taking his time in the booth writing the verses to the "My Melody" track. When those four unknown mc's came in to view the "legend" afterwhich they would begin recording their own verses for their own albums.
But after an hour of writing and rewriting, the other mc's standing outside the booth began to clown Rakim. Kane even went so far as to blurt out "I couldve made 2 albums in the time this nikka taking to make one damned song. Hearing this Rakim ripped up his verse and blazed a rhyme to his critics right to their faces...
With that in mind listen to the Verse starting at the 0:55 sec mark...below are the lyrics, read them first before the song, then read along with the music while you listen to it.
Eric B. & Rakim - My Melody - YouTube
Verse Two:
So what if I'm a microphone fiend addicted soon as I sing
One of these four MC's so they don't have to scream(***complain)
I couldn't wait to take the mic, flow into it to test
Then let my melody play, and then the record suggest
That I'm droppin bombs, but I stay peace and calm
Any MC that disagree with me just wave your arm
And I'll break, when I'm through breakin I'll leave you broke
Drop the mic when I'm finished and watch it smoke
So stand back, you wanna rap? All of that can wait
I won't push, I won't beat around the bush
I wanna break upon those who are not supposed to
You might try but you can't get close to
Because I'm number one, competition is none
I'm measured with the heat that's made by sun
Whether playin ball or bobbin in the hall
I just writin my name in graffiti on the wall
You shouldn't have told me you said you control me
So now a contest is what you owe me
Pull out your money, pull out your cut
Pull up a chair, and I'ma tear shyt up
My name is Rakim Allah, and R & A stands for "Ra"
Switch it around, but still comes out "R"
So easily will I e-m-c-e-e
My repetition of words is "check out my melody"
Some bass and treble is moist, scratchin and cuttin a voice
And when it's mine that's when the rhyme is always choice
I wouldn't have came and said my name around the same weak shyt
Puttin blurs and slurs and words that don't fit(**Kane,Kool G rap and them rap fast)
In a rhyme, why waste time on the microphone
I take this more serious than just a poem
Rockin party to party, backyard to yard
Now tear it up, y'all, and bless the mic for the gods
Verse Three:
The rhyme is rugged, at the same time sharp
I can swing off anything even a string of a harp
Just turn it on and start rockin, mind no introduction
Til I finish droppin science, no interruption(*dISS)
When I approach I exercise like a coach
Usin a melody and add numerous notes
With the mic and the R-a-k-i-m
It's a task, like a match I will strike again
Rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped
Put in order to pursue with the momentum except
I say one rhyme and I order a longer rhyme shorter
A pause, but don't stop the tape recorder
Verse Four:
I'm not a regular competitor, first rhyme editor(**THEY HAD NEVER DROPPED AN ALBUM)
Melody arranger, poet, etcetera
Extra events, the grand finale like bonus
I am the man they call the microphonist
With wisdom which means wise words bein spoken
Too many at one time watch the mic start smokin
I came to express the rap I manifest
Stand in my way and I'll lead a ??? words protest
MC's that wanna be dissed they're gonna
Be dissed if they don't get from in fronta
All they can go get is me a glass of Moet
A hard time, sip your juice and watch a smooth poet
I take 7 MC's put em in a line
And add 7 more brothas who think they can rhyme
Well, it'll take 7 more before I go for mine
And that's 21 MC's ate up at the same time
Easy does it, do it easy, that's what I'm doin
No fessin, no messin around, no chewin
No robbin, no buyin, bitin, why bother
This slob'll stop tryin fightin to follow
My unusual style will confuse you a while
If I was water, I flow in the Nile
So many rhymes you won't have time to go for your's
Just because of a cause I have to pause
Right after tonight is when I prepare
To catch another sucka duck MC out there
Cos my strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe
And after this you'll call me your majesty
My melody...
Verse Five:
Marley Marl synthesized it, I memorize it
Eric B made a cut and advertised it
My melody's created for MC's in the place
Who try to listen cos I'm dissin ???
?Take off your necklace, you try to detect my pace?
?Now? you're ?buggin? over ??? off my rhyme like bass
The melody that I'm stylin, smooth as a violin
Rough enough to break New York from Long Island
My wisdom is swift, no matter if
My momentum is slow, MC's still stand stiff
I'm genuine like leather, don't try to be clever
MC's you'll beat the "R", I'll say "Oh never"
So Eric B cut it easily
And check out my melody...
Kane never forgot the subliminal diss he received so on his first album he replied on the song set it off (One of my favorite songs)
"Rap Soloist...you dont want NONE OF THIS!!!!!!" Rakim called himself the Rap Soloist on his first album. Check it out...0:20 sec.
Big Daddy Kane - Set It Off - Big Daddy Kane - YouTube
Rakim hearing this got his hands on an advanced copy of Kanes upcoming second album "Its a Big Daddy Thing" When he heard the song "Smooth Operator" he laughed to himself and released the track "Microphone Fiend"
1:27
"E-F-F-E-C-T
A
smooth operator operating correctly..."
Big Daddy Kane- Smooth Operator - YouTube
