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> Artist: Big Daddy Kane
> Title: 'Untouchable'
> Label: Heights Entertainment
> Year: 1998
This is a nice little bootleg only release from the Kane that dropped in 1998. 'Untouchable' is actually a duet with the 2Pac. I don't know why they don't mention him on the label... I guess they were confident they'd sell out of their full run, anyway; or maybe they just were just concerned that 'Pac's label was a little litigious, if not outright violent, than Kane's.
I asked Kane about this record, and he told me, "I hooked up with him ('Pac) after a Tyson fight... I think it was the Tyson/Frank Bruno fight, out in Vegas. We were talkin' about doing something, and Suge thought it would be a hot idea. So he had me and 'Pac fly from Vegas back to LA, back to the studio, knock it out. So, you know, we're in there. We never got finished, because, actually, Snoop was supposed to be on the chorus."
And it does indeed sound unfinished here; the hook is decidedly silent except for letting the beat ride. But I think I actually prefer it this way, rather than having Snoop delivering some trite refrain over and over between verses. This song is all about the epic collaboration of 2Pac and Big Daddy Kane ("the first syllables of our names put together is '2 Big.' ... Think about that," the song says in its corniest moment); so the fewer excess label mates there are cluttering up the song, the better.
The beat's unexceptional but acceptable. It's a very typical studio-made, left coast style beat of its time (no producer is credited), but it's got an effective bassline; and that coupled with the drums, synths and familiar funk guitar loops will definitely keep you rocking along to the MCs verses.
For the opener, Kane recycles a verse from one of his underrated 'Veteranz' Day' tunes, 'Unda Presha' (or, possibly, he recycled his verse from 'Untouchable' for "Unda Presha"). 'Pac comes in on the second verse, which is definitely original to this song (the line "watch Kane and 'Pac drop the sho' shot" pretty well proves it was written for this). His lyrics aren't quite as dexterous as Kane's, but he does an admirable holding his own considering the act he's following, and the fast track only helps matters.
They close the show with a tight third verse, passing the mic back and forth every couple of bars. Kane is spitting fire, and the interplay makes the whole thing feel like a rich, vibrant song rather than just two MCs acapellas laid onto the same beat.
All in all, it's a funky little artifact, b/w a Radio Mix on the B-side that you'll never listen to. 'Pac fans seem to have re-Christened this song as 'Where Ever U R' over the years on the internet; but once you know what you're looking for is actually called 'Untouchable', it's not too hard to find. And it's inexpensive when ya do, so stop passing this one over and throw it in your cart next time you're digging.
> Reviewed by: Werner
> Title: 'Untouchable'
> Label: Heights Entertainment
> Year: 1998
This is a nice little bootleg only release from the Kane that dropped in 1998. 'Untouchable' is actually a duet with the 2Pac. I don't know why they don't mention him on the label... I guess they were confident they'd sell out of their full run, anyway; or maybe they just were just concerned that 'Pac's label was a little litigious, if not outright violent, than Kane's.
I asked Kane about this record, and he told me, "I hooked up with him ('Pac) after a Tyson fight... I think it was the Tyson/Frank Bruno fight, out in Vegas. We were talkin' about doing something, and Suge thought it would be a hot idea. So he had me and 'Pac fly from Vegas back to LA, back to the studio, knock it out. So, you know, we're in there. We never got finished, because, actually, Snoop was supposed to be on the chorus."
And it does indeed sound unfinished here; the hook is decidedly silent except for letting the beat ride. But I think I actually prefer it this way, rather than having Snoop delivering some trite refrain over and over between verses. This song is all about the epic collaboration of 2Pac and Big Daddy Kane ("the first syllables of our names put together is '2 Big.' ... Think about that," the song says in its corniest moment); so the fewer excess label mates there are cluttering up the song, the better.
The beat's unexceptional but acceptable. It's a very typical studio-made, left coast style beat of its time (no producer is credited), but it's got an effective bassline; and that coupled with the drums, synths and familiar funk guitar loops will definitely keep you rocking along to the MCs verses.
For the opener, Kane recycles a verse from one of his underrated 'Veteranz' Day' tunes, 'Unda Presha' (or, possibly, he recycled his verse from 'Untouchable' for "Unda Presha"). 'Pac comes in on the second verse, which is definitely original to this song (the line "watch Kane and 'Pac drop the sho' shot" pretty well proves it was written for this). His lyrics aren't quite as dexterous as Kane's, but he does an admirable holding his own considering the act he's following, and the fast track only helps matters.
They close the show with a tight third verse, passing the mic back and forth every couple of bars. Kane is spitting fire, and the interplay makes the whole thing feel like a rich, vibrant song rather than just two MCs acapellas laid onto the same beat.
All in all, it's a funky little artifact, b/w a Radio Mix on the B-side that you'll never listen to. 'Pac fans seem to have re-Christened this song as 'Where Ever U R' over the years on the internet; but once you know what you're looking for is actually called 'Untouchable', it's not too hard to find. And it's inexpensive when ya do, so stop passing this one over and throw it in your cart next time you're digging.
> Reviewed by: Werner
