Dana Dane During the Early Days
During a conversation with Soren Baker, legendary rapper Dana Dane opened up about his journey to becoming an MC, including how fellow Kangol Crew member Slick Rick influenced him to become a master storyteller.
Dane explained how he would take a 40-minute train ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan to attend Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, where he met Slick Rick. Little did he know that a moment in History class would help shape his future as a rapper.
According to Dane, the two future MCs were in History class with a substitute teacher when one of their classmates began creating a beat by tapping on a desk.
“Rick goes into this rhyme about playing poker,” Dane recalled.
Dane was so impressed by Rick’s ability to turn something as simple as a card game into an engaging story that the moment became the launching pad for his own storytelling career.
Dana Dane On Writing His First Rap
Later in the interview, Dane discussed writing his first rap in 1980. He also revealed that Slick Rick was supposed to produce a track for his debut album, Dana Dane with Fame. However, due to a contractual agreement with his record label, Profile Records, Dane was only allowed to accept beats from Luv Bug.
Shout out to Jeezy for paying homage to the legendary MCs in his 2013 hit “R.I.P.” The Snowman gave both rappers a nod with the following lyrics:
“Who the n***a think he is, Slick Rick or Dana Dane? Think he Rakim or something, look at his chain.”
