GZA with Big Daddy Kane and Roy Ayers

GZA, born Gary Grice in Staten Island, NY, is a revered Wu-Tang Clan member known for cerebral, intricate rhymes. His solo albums, Liquid Swords and Beneath the Surface, are hip-hop classics. Collaborating with DJ Muggs and others, he lectured at top universities and blended science with hip-hop for NYC students.

Brooklyn-born Big Daddy Kane, alias for Antonio Hardy, emerged in the late '80s as a hip-hop icon. Known for his smooth style and Afrocentric themes, Kane was part of the Juice Crew, collaborated with Biz Markie, and released classics like "Ain't No Half-Steppin'." He gained fame with hits such as "Smooth Operator" and worked alongside legends like Barry White. Despite a dip with the 1991 album Prince of Darkness, Kane's influence remains substantial in the genre.