Kendrick Lamar appeared to change the tides in Hip Hop with one verse in 2013. The Compton, California emcee didn’t drop an album this year and still managed to be named HipHopDX’s Emcee of the Year. This is yet another testament to the power of his “Control” bars, lines that made him one of the year’s most-discussed rappers. Beyond this, Kendrick Lamar also had other notable articles in 2013 and HipHopDX brings you the most-viewed Kendrick Lamar news stories of the year.
Kendrick Lamar Says He’s “Trying To Murder” Drake, J. Cole, Wale On Big Sean’s “Control”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse was one of 2013’s most explosive stories. Taking a page from Kurupt’s rhyme book, Lamar called himself the “King of New York” and caused an uproar in and out of the Empire State. Lamar also named many emcees, including J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electronica, Tyler, the Creator and Mac Miller. “I’ve got love for you all,” Lamar rapped on the track, “But I’m tryin’ to murder you niggas.” With one verse, Lamar seemingly had the Rap world’s attention in one hand.
Kendrick Lamar Reportedly Disses Drake In BET Cypher
Soon after “Control” arrived, many rappers had to respond to questions about Kendrick Lamar’s verse. This was particularly true for rappers named on the track. Drake was outspoken about this, saying he “lost a little bit of respect for the sentiment of the verse.” Following this, many supposed Kendrick Lamar responded to these statements with his “BET Hip Hop Awards” cypher verse. “Nothing’s been the same since they dropped ‘Control’ / And tucked the sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes,” Kendrick Lamar says in his cypher verse. Lamar’s “nothing’s been the same” was seen by many as a likely reference to Drake’s album title, Nothing Was The Same. The pajama reference was also believed to be regarding Drake, who was photographed wearing silk pajamas at a nightclub previously. Drake recently addressed a perceived feud with Lamar in an interview with Vibe and noted that a final resolution has yet to be made. “We haven’t seen each other [since the BET cypher], but I’m sure we’ll see each other and it’ll be cool,” Drake said. “And if it’s not, then I guess that’s how our story unfolds.”
Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s “BET Hip Hop Awards” cypher verse.
Kendrick Lamar Describes Having Vision Of Tupac Shakur
Kendrick Lamar’s GQ cover story became a much-discussed news item when Top Dawg Entertainment’s CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith expressed disapproval. But the article also included a memory from Kendrick Lamar, one that featured Tupac Shakur. “I was coming from a late studio session, sleeping on mom’s couch,” Kendrick Lamar says during the interview with GQ. “I’m 26 now. It wasn’t that long ago. I remember being tired, tripping from the studio, lying down, and falling into a deep sleep and seeing a vision of ‘Pac talking to me…Weirdest shit ever. I’m not huge on superstition and all that shit. That’s what made it so crazy. It can make you go nuts. Hearing somebody that you looked up to for years saying, ‘Don’t let the music die.’ Hearing it clear as day. Clear as day. Like he’s right there. Just a silhouette.”
–Big K.R.I.T. Responds To Kendrick Lamar’s Verse On Big Sean’s “Control”
–Kanye West Resumes “Yeezus” Tour, Reschedules Dates
–Kendrick Lamar Speaks Out Against Molly
–Kendrick Lamar Discusses Sherane’s Reaction To “good kid, m.A.A.d city”
–Papoose Says Kendrick Lamar Is A “Joke,” Disses Kanye West, Drake & Big Sean
–Kendrick Lamar Says King Los Had The Best “Control” Response
–Kendrick Lamar Explains “Control” Lyrics, “King Of New York” Line
RELATED: The 2013 HipHopDX Year End Awards
theres so much more you can say about his year tbh, he had a great year.
he ran that shit and I’m not even a fan
He definitely ran 2013, which is impressive considering he didn’t release “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” this year. His dominant 2013 came from a couple of verses and that alone is impressive. I’m curious, what is it that makes you not a fan?
nice article
Thank you for reading.
Overhyped. He released a great album in October of 2012. I like that album. It is what it is…a great album.
However, he over saturated himself with many pointless features the past year and people over hyped him. People eat up whatever he does simply because he released a great album. People think he’s untouchable. He name dropped a bunch of other rappers…for attention…not so other rappers “step up their game.”
Other rappers are killing it even more than Kendrick.
J. Cole released Truly Yours 1, Truly Yours 2, Born Sinner (an underrated, damn good album), Truly Yours 3, sold 297 K first week, Nas passed him the torch, second #1 album, and he puts on an amazing live show with a full band, back up singers and a DJ….all those things together = better overall 2013 than Kendrick.
You can’t tell me that Kendrick dropped anything better in 2013 than Can I Holla At Ya, Kenny Lofton, Tears for ODB, Cousins, Villuminati, Power Trip (best single of the year), Runaway, Rich Niggaz, Let Nas Down…plus Cole on Hell’s Kitchen, Cold Blood, TKO Remix, and Lit….Cole killed it this year.
But the media gargles Kendrick’s nuts for some reason. He raps fast and uses goofy voices. Ehh, I’ll take Kenny Lofton and Rich Niggaz by Cole over the fast rapping alien voices and name dropping other rappers for attention.
Get off Cole’s nuts. His album was decent, nothing else. Son stays with that lullaby ass flow and boring beats. Kendrick is a better artist and had a bigger year, period, end of story.
Those are all interesting points. However, it doesn’t have to be one or the other in this case. J. Cole had an impressive year, but Kendrick Lamar really made tides turn with that verse. Statistics (based on readership) showcase the power and appeal of “Control” surpassed nearly all other news cycles in 2013. That’s one of several reasons Kendrick Lamar has earned the accolades. But, J. Cole definitely had a solid year, one that, as you mentioned, also deserves recognition.
the problem is J Cole is boring and uninspired
Cole sucks
boring? that’s an adhd dudes preference. uninspired? nah, you clearly don’t listen to words or appreciate music. just beats and bass for you i’m sure.
Hip hop would be dead without Kendrick, Killer Mike, EL-P, Danny Brown and Ghsotface Killah. Their albums and songs were progressive. Other artists are too conservative and boring
Kendrick tells us stories of being on the set of California Love while he was a child, and this is a clear sign that he made it into the industry through family connections, and not talent.
Oh clearly, it’s a good thing this world has people like you to figure these things out.
props to him, hes making hip hop interesting again, I’ll give his albums a listen.
he gave me faith in hip hop again and I haven’t even lsitened to his albums yet lol
kendrick the new King
This nigga right here is THE man!bumping section .80 right now
Kendrick Lamar is the worst rapper alive and here is why:
1. he is small and chubby but wears tight women clothes
2. he became famous because Lil Wayne let him to rap over Tha Carter III beats, but this disloyal nigga singed to Dr. Dre’s pop label
3. his lyrics are average and laughable
4. his beats are just generic pop music (he sampled Lady Gaga and David Guetta)
5. Kenny is gay – he had a secret relationship with Frank Ocean, Eminem fucked him during MMPL 2 sessions, he had a gay orgy with other Black Hippy members
6. his hairstyle is a copy of the fresh price of Bel air
7. “Sherane” is a man, he is a tranny
8. Kenny is not a gangster, he is from a rich family
9. his mother cried and tried to kill herself when found out Kenny downloaded gay pon on her laptop in 2006
10. in 2000 he wrote a poem about having sexy with 2Pac and Eminem
swag
I don’t like him but objectively, hes probably the best rapper of the last 6 years.
most complex lyricist since Nas in 1994.
And none of this is true, troll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1uwCrGLpp4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUtS3biY1mA
bumping gkmc as we speak, damn true fucking classic.
this guy is confirmed top 10 of all time
one of the 10 top most overrated rappers I agree
the real king of the 2010s.
Kendrick > my favorite rapper
Stop dick riding this freak.
can’t wait for his next album, cemented classic
don’t really like him but hes doing something good for the genre
gave gkmc a listen this mroning and holy shiiiiiit… AMAZING
hes the new PAC
kendrick would rap circles around my favorite rapper from the 90s
Take Kendrick lames dick out of your azz and wipe his cum out of your eyes 90s rappers would rap circles around this chump a billion times over
Kdot >>>>>>>>>>
this guy is growing on me, used ot hate him but hes slowly making it into my top 10 of all time
HiphopDX:Right I got the lube now drake tell me were kendricks at.
Drake:why you going over there ?
HipHopDX:well weve been riding your dick for a few years we gotta ride kendrick but don’t worry we got a time share going on so we will be back on the end of your dick first thing tommorow.