Kane recently responded to Rakim’s gauntlet with his verzuz pick
With a bit of flex, Rakim (The God) took to social media in August of 2020, posting a flyer spotlighting himself with hip-hop contemporary Kane (King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal). Rakim was throwing down the gauntlet. For emphasis, he requested that “They do it for the culture!” but eventually, Rakim took down the post. As we know, there was no challenge.
Kane recently took to media addressing who he would like to battle in a verzuz. While he did not outright object to a Rakim challenge, he made KRS-One his obvious choice. It was made clear he wouldn’t enter a challenge with Rakim, and when asked who he would choose, he stated, “I think KRS-One would be an interesting one too!
Verzuz challenges are trending, and the hip hop community has its ears tuned
2020 was a year of change. During the pandemic, the push was for every industry to find creative ways to survive. Verzus was a way for vocal powerhouses, hip hop artists, and music producers to showcase their bodies of work. The concept is a mock duel performed from the comfort of their homes/studios and broadcast on social media. This creative outlet made for great fandom.
Kane, Rakim, and KRS-One are hip-hop pioneers
PC: Laze Elliot 3
They were there at the start and have gained much respect for their contributions. According to sources, Rakim and Eric B’s early 1987 album “Paid in Full” sparked a turning point in hip hop. KRS-One is appropriately called the “teacha.” His lyrics are said to have deep roots mired in the soil of some of the greatest thinkers and cultural influencers such as W.E.B. DuBois, Carter Woodsen, and John Henrik Clarke. At the same time, Kane is deemed a living legend. His contributions led to a shift in what lyricists brought to hip hop. Before them, no other hip-hop artists had come to the table with that level of depth.
Some are willing participants, while others answer the calling
Some of the biggest names in the industry have been participants–Babyface vs. Teddy Riley, Jagged edge vs. 112, Fabolous vs. Jadakiss, Ludacris vs. Nelly, and Snoop Dogg vs. DMX. The list is almost endless.
Whether there will be a Rakim and Kane verzuz or a Kane verzuz KRS-One is yet to be known. However, Kane has made his choice known. However, they owe nothing to the hip-hop community. Their legendary accomplishments speak for themselves. Still, a verzus against these pioneers would be an event to remember, providing fans a cultural exhibition of historic proportions.
Renae Richardson|
For a little bit more on what Rakim has been up to, check out our retrospective article!