J.Period And Big Daddy Kane: Nuff Respect Due

Most mixtape DJ’s these days are overly concerned with the future: breaking new songs, new artists, new beefs. Occasionally, a posthumous blessing from a late MC may make the mix. Otherwise, expect nothing from yesterday. A Brooklyn DJ with the capability to be a mega-bomb dropper, opted to do otherwise. In June, DJ J Period […]

Most mixtape DJ’s

these days are overly concerned with the future: breaking new songs, new artists,

new beefs. Occasionally, a posthumous blessing from a late MC may make the mix.

Otherwise, expect nothing from yesterday.

A Brooklyn DJ

with the capability to be a mega-bomb dropper, opted to do otherwise. In June,

DJ J Period released a mixtape chronicling the immense career of hip-hop’s most

stylish innovator, Big Daddy Kane. The mix not only features Kane’s well known

hits, but also the better efforts of his later work mixed and remixed to sound

so sweet. If that weren’t enough, J Period added an exclusive unreleased Nas

collaboration, as well as rare freestyles and Juice Crew cyphers. You’d need

to rob a milk truck alone to hold the records that J Period used to capture

the man, the icon.

This mix was so

tight that we at AllHipHop had to shine some light on it. We chopped it up with

J Period on the elements of a quality mix, the reason behind his efforts, and

much much more. If that wasn’t enough, Big Daddy Kane came through to drop some

knowledge of his own, and speak up about J’s efforts. Does AllHipHop represent

for the DJ’s? Bet your Vestax.

In terms of the

art itself and not the image, Big Daddy Kane is arguably the most influential

figure in the way MC’s recite their lines today. According to J Period, thorough

Brooklyn resident, "Kane influenced Biggie, he influenced Jay-Z, just in

terms of their lyrical styles. But he doesn’t get the notoriety the others do.

I haven’t been able to figure out why that is." True when spouting off

your favorite rapper, do you really mention the Kane? You need to. J Period

knew that, and it was part of his inspiration in making the mix: "Kane

was one of my favorites growing up. I memorized every word and just knew him

backwards and forwards. [Then] he kinda went off the radar for a while. I did

this [mix], because I wanted cats to be like, ‘Oh s###, I forgot about Kane.’"

But what exactly

is it about Kane that caused such impact? We all have our own opinions. The

man behind the mix, J Period provides his: "Kane is the combination of

all the elements of hip-hop in one MC. He can do it hardcore and raw. He can

[also] do a smooth, pimped out style [too.]" It can also be the fact that

the mix equally portrays Kane’s dedication to providing the audience with a

distinct message. At times, Kane breathed words of encouragement to the Black

community. Other times, it was peace and positivity. But don’t get too coy rudeboy,

‘cuz Kane was more than capable of rhyming out a blueprint to just he thoroughly

he could get up in that ass. All of these messages and styles are organized

and demonstrated on J’s mix.

The motivation

for the mix came in two parts. While J Period would’ve likely done this anyway,

he was approached by Lyricist Lounge to make the mix for the Big Daddy Kane

tour. While many "Best of" mix CD’s seem to benefit the DJ and not

the artist, Big Daddy Kane himself says otherwise of this mix: "I truly

believe that it does benefit me. There’s a younger generation out there buying

mixtapes. I made a whole lot of songs. This [mix] is giving cats not familiar

with my work a chance to hear it. Stuff you not gonna hear on radio stations."

Kane’s right, and this mix is hitting the hands of a whole new demographic.

If the word of

mouth benefit weren’t enough, J Period went a step further: "Out of respect

to Kane, I sent him a couple hundred CD’s to do with what he pleases. So he

can make a couple G’s. I don’t know if other mixtape DJ’s do that, and honestly,

I don’t care." Actions like these are living proof to the lost belief that

there is generosity and compensation left in hip-hop. Are other DJ’s really

keeping it fair? If they were, why would this sound so unique.

Still, in classic

Kane style, when asked what he thought of the action, and if he was pushing

the CD’s, Kane smoothly stated as he chuckled: "The CD’s still sitting

in the crib." Clearly, you ain’t gonna catch King Asiatic on Canal Street.

So that leaves

the mix itself to question: what makes it good? First of all, by ‘Best Of’,

this is not simply a greatest hits collection. Instead, J Period cataloged the

entire Kane career, including things us lightweights overlooked. With some help

from Q-Unique of the Rocksteady Crew, almost every Kane drop was accounted for.

From the solo records, to the guest spots, to Juice Crew cutouts, and one moment

in particular that touched Kane: "He put the whole version of the Madison

Square Garden with Biggie and ‘Pac on there. Other people have used it and only

used other n##### parts, and that’s my show! That was real love." See,

even Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap need to re-look the Kane. And speaking of that

freestyle, J remixed it with some Neptunes jams that will leave you handicapped.

Another highlight

of the mix that cannot be ignored is the Nas feature. While many say that G

Rap was the most obvious influence on Nas, J Period left us with questions.

On the classic, "Young Gifted and Black" you’ll hear Nasty Nas rip

it on time, and with good reason. "I heard this [rare] Nas freestyle that

just fit. He was rhyming over [Kane’s beat] and into a Biz beat. I felt whatever

the vibe Nas was on when he [spit] that freestyle, it fit." The collaboration

comes so smooth that you’ll swear it was intended that way.

These two tracks

are just faces in a crowd of flavorful cuts. J Period updated a lot of the sounds,

and this mix serves as a moment of truth. If Kane were to drop an album right

now, he has the skills to erase any chart position rapper out there. So, can

we dispel the rumors that Kane and Alchemist had a falling out? "Alchemist

is my man. I love that brother til’ death. He’s been very supportive and in

my corner. We’re always workin’ together." But will the producer apprentice

and the master MC make that promised album on Landspeed Records? "I don’t

know. Honestly, I’m not too focused on the music like that." Instead, Kane

is devoting the majority of his time to persuing acting as well as develop two

promising artists under his wing: Mika Swing, and Saga. The criminally slept-on

production efforts of Kane will be back in tact when these artists come forward

soon.

There’s the formula.

J Period has made an album of a mix in times where mixtapes play for less than

a month until their useless. An ‘album’ that Kane says he wants his fans to

have. A DJ mix that Kane supports. A DJ that went out of his way to support

Kane. This type of coexistence makes hip-hop what it is.

Beyond the release,

J Period is currently working hard. He recently completed a mix for Ecko clothing

lines. Period, the DJ for underground group Zion I, is also on the cuts for

several tracks of their new album, "Deep Water Slang."

As far Big Daddy Kane, he recently self-pressed "Any Type of Way",

produced by DJ Premier. Meanwhile Kane is dedicated to furthering his role in

Hollywood as an actor.