Big Daddy Kane, born Antonio Hardy on September 10, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American rapper, producer, and actor who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hip hop.

Rolling Stone ranked his song "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" number 25 on its list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time, calling him "a master wordsmith of rap's late-golden age and a huge influence on a generation of MCs."

His early life in the rough neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant shaped his gritty and determined personality. In high school, he met Mister Cee, who would later become his DJ and play an integral role in his career.

His sense of style is renowned and set a number of late-1980s and early-1990s hip hop trends, including high-top fades hairstyles, velour suits, and four-finger rings. The backronym "King Asiatic Nobody's Equal" is often applied to his moniker.

His career took off in 1987 when he signed with Cold Chillin' Records and released his debut single "Raw," which became an underground hit. His debut album, "Long Live the Kane," was released in 1988 and featured the hit "Ain't No Half Steppin'."

The following year, he released his second album, "It's a Big Daddy Thing," which included hits like "Smooth Operator" and "I Get the Job Done."

Throughout the 1990s, he continued to release successful albums and collaborate with other artists, including Public Enemy and Ice Cube. His contributions to hip hop were recognized with several awards, including a Grammy and a VH1 Hip Hop Honor in 2005.

In his personal life, Big Daddy Kane is married to Shawnette Hardy, and they have two children together.