Ain’t No Half-Steppin’ Lyrics

[Intro]
Mm, mm, mm
Aw yeah, I'm with this
I'm just gonna sit here laid back to this nice mellow beat, you know
And drop some smooth lyrics
'Cause '88 time to set it straight, know what I'm sayin'?
And ain't no half-steppin'
Word, I'm ready


[Verse 1]
Rappers steppin' to me, they wanna get some
But I'm the Kane, so, yo, you know the outcome

Another victory, they can't get with me
So pick a B.C. date 'cause you're history
I'm the authentic poet to get lyrical
For you to beat me, it's gonna take a miracle
And steppin' to me, yo, that's the wrong move
So what you on, Hobbs, dope or dog food?
Competition, I just devour
Like a pit bull against a Chihuahua

'Cause when it comes to bein' dope, hot damn
I got it good, now let me tell you who I am

The B-I-G D-A-double-D-Y K-A-N-E
Dramatic, Asiatic, not like many
I'm different, so don't compare me to another
'Cause they can't hang, word to the mother
At least not with the principal in this pedigree
So when I roll on you rappers, you better be
Ready to die because you're petty
You're just a butter knife, I'm a machete
That's made by Ginsu, wait until when you

Try to front, so I can chop into
Your body, just because you tried to be basin'
Friday the 13th, I'ma play Jason
No type of joke, gag, game, puzzle or riddle
The name is Big Daddy, yes, Big, not little

So define it, here's your walkin' papers, sign it
And take a walk as the Kane starts to talk, 'cause
[Chorus]
Ain't no half-steppin'
I'm the Big Daddy Kane
Ain't no half-steppin'
I'm the Big Daddy Kane
Ain't no half-steppin'
I'm the Big Daddy Kane
Down the road

[Verse 2]
My rhymes are so dope and the rappers be hopin'
To sound like me, so soon, I'll have to open
A school of emceein' for those who wanna be in
My field and court, then again, on second thought
To have MCs comin' out soundin' so similar
It's quite confusin' for you to remember the
Originator, and boy, do I hate a
Perpetrator, but I'm much greater
The best, oh yes, I guess, suggest the rest
Should fess, don't mess or test your highness
Unless you just address with best finesse
And bless the paragraphs I manifest

Rap prime minister, some say sinister
Non-stoppin' the groove until when it's
The climax and I max, relax and chill
Have a break from a take of me actin' ill
Brain cells are lit, ideas start to hit
Next the formation of words that fit
At the table I sit, makin' it legit
And when my pen hits the paper, aw shit
I stop and stand strong over MCs
And devour with the power of Hercules
Or Samson, but I go further the length
'Cause you could scalp my Cameo and I'll still have strength

And no, that's not a myth, and if you try to riff or get with
The man with the given gift of gab
Your vocab, I'll only ignore
Be sleepin' on your rhymes 'til I start to snore
You can't awake me, or even make me

Fear you, son, 'cause you can't do me none
So, think about it if you're tryna go
When you wanna step to me, I think you should know that
[Chorus]
Ain't no half-steppin'
I'm the Big Daddy Kane
Ain't no half-steppin'
I'm the Big Daddy Kane
Ain't no half-steppin'
I'm the Big Daddy Kane
Down the road

[Verse 3]
I appear right here and scare and dare
A mere musketeer that would dare to compare
, put him in the rear
Back there where he can't see clear
Get a beer, idea or near stare, yeah
So on to the wannabe competition
Tryin' to step to me, must be on a mission
Up on the stage is where I'ma get you at
You think I'm losin'? Tsk, picture that

[Chorus]
Ain't no half-steppin'
Ain't no half-steppin'
Ain't no half-steppin'
Ain't no half-steppin'
Mister Cee, step to me
[Post-Chorus]
Get on— Get on down
Get on down— down
Get on— Get on down
Down
Get on— Get on down
Get on—
Get on— Get on—
Down—
(Look) Down— (Look) Down— (Look) Down—

[Verse 4]
The name is Big Daddy, you know, as in your father
So when you hear a def rhyme, believe that I'm the author
I grab the mic and make MCs evaporate
The party people say, "Damn, that rapper's great"
The creator, conductor of poetry
Et cetera, et cetera, it ain't easy bein' me
I speak clearly so you can understand
Put words together like Letter Man
Now that's dictation, proceedin' to my innovation
Not like the other MCs that are an imitation
Or an animation, a cartoon to me

But when I'm finished, I'm sure that you are soon to see
Reality, my secret technique
Because I always speak with mentality
I put my title in your face, dare you to base
And if you try and come get it, yo, I'ma show you who's with it
So if you know like I know, instead of messin' around
Play like Roy Rogers and slow down
Just give yourself a break, or someone else will take your title
Namely me, because I'm homicidal
That means murder, yes, I'm out to hurt a-
-nother MC that try to get with me
I'll just break him and bake him and rake him and take him
And mold him and make him hold up the peace sign
As-salamu alaykum

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About

Genius Annotation

“Ain’t No Half-Steppin'” is one of Kane’s most popular songs. Released as the lead single from his first album Long Live the Kane, it reached #53 on the US R&B/Hip Hop chart in October 1988 (it did not appear on the US Rap chart because it didn’t exist until the following year).

Half-stepping means not doing something correctly, thoroughly and giving your all. The song samples The Emotions'“Blind Alley” (also used in Babu’s classic beat-juggling routine), Heatwave’s “Ain’t No Half Steppin' and ESG’s “UFO”.

In 2012, Rolling Stone Magazine voted this as the 25th best hip hop song of all time.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Credits
Produced By
Scratches
Release Date
June 28, 1988
Songs That Sample Ain’t No Half-Steppin’
Ghost Writer by Skillz, One Life One Love by Hieroglyphics (Ft. Casual, Del the Funky Homosapien, Pep Love & Tajai), The Punisher (Friday The 13th Remix) by Hakeem Shakur (Ft. MC Zappa), Like They Used to Say by Common, Meurtrier au micro by Freeze Corleone, Gangsta Gangsta (Clean) by N.W.A, 88 by O.C. & PF Cuttin', Another Victory by Big Daddy Kane, Talk of the Town by Rampage, The Next Movement by The Roots (Ft. DJ Jazzy Jeff & Jazzyfatnastees), Letterman by K-Solo, I'm Different by Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs, Food For Thought by Lord Finesse, No Delayin' by Nice & Smooth, Wrath of the Math by Jeru the Damaja, The Big Picture (Intro) by Big L, Fuck 'em (instrumental) by Lord Finesse, Fuck 'Em by Lord Finesse, Wrath of Kane by Big Daddy Kane, Ever so clear [Radio Verison] by Bushwick Bill, Fed Up Wit the Bullshit by Big L, My Chick Bad by Ludacris (Ft. Nicki Minaj), A Christmas Fucking Miracle by Run The Jewels, Blah Blah Blah ft. Slug by Brother Ali (Ft. Brother Ali & Slug), Blah Blah Blah by Brother Ali (Ft. Slug), Gangsta Gangsta by N.W.A, Reservation for One by Joey Chavez (Ft. DJ Babu & Evidence), Discipline 99 Pt. 1 by Quasimoto (Ft. Wildchild (Lootpack)), Guns and Cigarettes by Atmosphere, I Gotta Say What Up!!! by Ice Cube, Nuthin' But Music by Krayzie Bone, Heart Cold by MC Eiht (Ft. The Lady of Rage), Raw (Extended Alternate Version) by Kool G Rap (Ft. Big Daddy Kane), Smooth as Suede by Ultimate Force, Do It to the Crowd by Twin Hype, The House That Cee Built by Big Daddy Kane, No One Loves You (Vox Version) by Dru Down, Word Play by The X-Ecutioners, Can't Hold Back by WC (Ft. Ice Cube), Pen Hits the Paper by Mr. Voodoo, Push by Tisha Campbell (Ft. Clement Campbell), One, Two, and One More Makes Three by Nice & Smooth, Talking in My Sleep by ​eLZhi, Intro by Group Home, Ever So Clear by Bushwick Bill, Love No Ho (Demo) by The Notorious B.I.G., Get The F... Outta Dodge by Public Enemy (Ft. True Mathematics), Daddy Was a Street Corner by Naughty By Nature, More Wins by Step Brothers, Doowutchyalike by Digital Underground, HA! Jackin For Beats 2015 by O.T. Genasis, Manifest/Outro by Fugees (Ft. Kool DJ Red Alert), Bloody Axe by R.A. The Rugged Man, Potholderz by MF DOOM (Ft. Count Bass D), Fed Up With the Bullshit by Big L, Original Copies by C-Rayz Walz, Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G., Check What You're Listening To by Public Enemy, Joey Bada$$ Six Fingers of Death Freestyle by Sway in the Morning, 1988 by The Hood Internet, Rescue Me (I’m Not Mad) (Remix) by Al B. Sure! & L.N.D.C. by Las Ninyas del Corro
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