--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rakim is a great rapper, but, you know…" description: "\"Rakim is a great rapper, but, you know, he's not a battle rapper.\" — Big Daddy Kane" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/big-daddy-kane-3344_battle_rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he_699628.png" --- # Rakim is a great rapper, but, you know, he's not a battle… ![“Rakim is a great rapper, but, you know, he's not a battle rapper.” quote by Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/big-daddy-kane-3344_battle_rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he_699628.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/big-daddy-kane-3344_battle_rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he_699628.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/big-daddy-kane-3344_battle_rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he_699628.png) > “Rakim is a great rapper, but, you know, he's not a battle rapper.” [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges Rakim's lyrical skill while noting he doesn't specialize in battle rap. **In simple terms:** Rakim is skilled but not a battle rapper. Key Takeaway Recognize strengths and limits. Themes music hip hop talent competition genre recognition Mood analytical critical Type observational analytical When to use this quote - Music criticism - artist interviews - genre discussions Key Concepts Lyricism battle rap artist identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you define a battle rapper? - What makes a rapper excel in battles? A Different Perspective Some fans may disagree on classification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-rapper-805844/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-rapper-630184/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-battle-948974/) [Rakim Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rakim-great-5541129/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rapper Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper-know-1220252/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Rakim is a great lyricist. To me, it was always beautiful to be compared to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/rakim-is-a-great-lyricist-to-me-it-was-always-beautiful-to-be/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Think that I started taking emceeing very serious probably from the very beginning. Because I started as a battle rapper. It was something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/think-that-i-started-taking-emceeing-very-serious-probably-from-the/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [People who know me would know that I take one battle at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/people-who-know-me-would-know-that-i-take-one-battle-at-a-time/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I've never considered myself a rapper. I know how to do it. I know how to make my voice project, and I know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-ve-never-considered-myself-a-rapper-i-know-how-to-do-it-i-know-how/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [My favorite rapper and I know you have no clue who he is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ashmore/my-favorite-rapper-and-i-know-you-have-no-clue-who-he-is/) [Timothy Ashmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ashmore/) > [I think every rapper should know how to sing, like a little bit. I mean common man it'll make your rapping better straight up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonreal/i-think-every-rapper-should-know-how-to-sing-like-a-little-bit-i-mean/) [SonReal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonreal/) > [I never was the battle rapper. That was never my thing. I always felt like it's enough room for everybody to do their thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly/i-never-was-the-battle-rapper-that-was-never-my-thing-i-always-felt/) [Nelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly/) > [What a lot of people don't know is that Wyclef started off as a battle rapper, when he decided that he would rhyme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/what-a-lot-of-people-don-t-know-is-that-wyclef-started-off-as-a/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [If you're a battle rapper on the block, the emcee battle challenger, not writing your rhymes could really hurt you. When you're an artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/if-you-re-a-battle-rapper-on-the-block-the-emcee-battle-challenger/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [Not everybody is a great rapper; not everybody lives for the art of lyricism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/not-everybody-is-a-great-rapper-not-everybody-lives-for-the-art-of/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [There's two elements to rap: having the thoughts, and then being a great rapper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/there-s-two-elements-to-rap-having-the-thoughts-and-then-being-a/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [I'm not just a great white rapper. I'm a great rapper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machine-gun-kelly/i-m-not-just-a-great-white-rapper-i-m-a-great-rapper/) [Machine Gun Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machine-gun-kelly/) > [I don't even think I'm that good at rapping, but I think what makes a great rapper - what CAN make a great rapper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/i-don-t-even-think-i-m-that-good-at-rapping-but-i-think-what-makes-a/) [Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/) > [I want to show the fans that I do have a voice, as well as I'm a great rapper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-devayne/i-want-to-show-the-fans-that-i-do-have-a-voice-as-well-as-i-m-a-great/) [Chi Chi DeVayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-devayne/) > [I'm not the greatest writer or the great rapper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taboo/i-m-not-the-greatest-writer-or-the-great-rapper/) [Taboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taboo/) ## More by Big Daddy Kane > [If you call 'Rapper's Delight' an old-school record, I agree with you. If you call Sugar Hill Gang old school, I agree with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/if-you-call-rapper-s-delight-an-old-school-record-i-agree-with-you-if/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [When people in the street say, 'You're in my top five,' that means the world to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/when-people-in-the-street-say-you-re-in-my-top-five-that-means-the/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [I realized pretty much everything I did wrong with 'Long Live the Kane' and went right back in and did 'It's a Big Daddy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/i-realized-pretty-much-everything-i-did-wrong-with-long-live-the-kane/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Shame is something that's man-made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/shame-is-something-that-s-man-made/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [You gotta school these young macks comin' up today... I mean to be 'frank', they just hot dogs, The girls are relish, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/you-gotta-school-these-young-macks-comin-up-today-i-mean-to-be-frank/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Plenty poisoned minds of the people are ours. Slaves, from mental death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/plenty-poisoned-minds-of-the-people-are-ours-slaves-from-mental-death/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [I just wanted to be the best MC. I wasn't about owning a Bentley. I wanted to be recognized as the illest MC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/i-just-wanted-to-be-the-best-mc-i-wasn-t-about-owning-a-bentley-i/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [If you're White then yes, you have White privilege. It's there for the taking if you choose to use it, you know, just keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/if-you-re-white-then-yes-you-have-white-privilege-it-s-there-for-the/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [My best album is probably my second one, It's a 'Big Daddy Thing.' I like a lot of the songs on there. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/my-best-album-is-probably-my-second-one-it-s-a-big-daddy-thing-i-like/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Shyheim, I took him on the road with me on the Budweiser Superfest. He was like 15 years old, too young to be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/shyheim-i-took-him-on-the-road-with-me-on-the-budweiser-superfest-he/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [There are desires that we all want to achieve, but remember respect is most greatest to receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/there-are-desires-that-we-all-want-to-achieve-but-remember-respect-is/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [I take them 8 to 80, dumb, crippled, and crazy. Crisp and clean with no caffeine, and a pair of spandex or either tight jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/i-take-them-8-to-80-dumb-crippled-and-crazy-crisp-and-clean-with-no/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Being acknowledged as one of the best is enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/being-acknowledged-as-one-of-the-best-is-enough-for-me/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Rap songs don't always have to have a message. They can be done for pure entertainment or just to get a laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/rap-songs-don-t-always-have-to-have-a-message-they-can-be-done-for/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Pushers don't pay taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/pushers-don-t-pay-taxes/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) [Explore all 133 Big Daddy Kane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rakim is a great rapper, but, you know, he's not a battle rapper.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Big Daddy Kane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he-s-not-a-battle-rapper/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he-s-not-a-battle-rapper/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/big-daddy-kane-3344_battle_rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he_699628.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/big-daddy-kane-3344_battle_rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he_699628.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/513/big-daddy-kane-3344_battle_rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he_699628.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rakim is a great rapper, but, you know, he's not a battle rapper.” — Big Daddy Kane", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Big Daddy Kane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Rakim is a great rapper, but,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he-s-not-a-battle-rapper/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/rakim-is-a-great-rapper-but-you-know-he-s-not-a-battle-rapper/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```