Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar may have approached his verse on Big Sean’s “Control” like any of the other guest verses he’s appeared on, but his addition to the No I.D.-produced song morphed into something more than a standard guest feature. On the lengthy verse, Kendrick challenged his fellow emcees and even boasted on holding the title of “king of New York.”
Weeks after the song’s release, the TDE emcee is finally speaking on his celebrated verse. Kendrick, who was out of the country when “Control” dropped, shared his thoughts on the verse and the feedback it’s received during an interview with Los Angeles’ Power 106 yesterday (August 28) and spoke even more in-depth about the song while chopping it up with HOT 97 personality Peter Rosenberg today (August 29).
Shortly after speaking on social media’s negative effect on the verse, Kendrick spoke on his fear of less “polished” emcees being so caught up in their Twitter replies and friends gassing them up that they take their response to the verse to unnecessary levels.
“All the ignorance behind it, you can kill that noise,” Kendrick demanded. “It’ll never be like that again where two coasts [rivals]. Not on my behalf. You get what I’m saying? Not while I’m doing this. And I think the OG’s of the game would want that anyway. They’d want that competitive nature back and no bloodshed over it. You feel me? I’m way too wise and I’m way too polished to not get caught up in the hype of the media, but what I’m scared of is cats that’s not polished and they getting caught up in what they Twitter responses is saying. And what they’re homies around them saying and people gassing them up. And they try to take it to the next level. Nah, that’s not G. That’s not gangsta.”
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Despite receiving “all love” from New York heavyweights including Jay Z and Diddy, Kendrick further clarified his “king of New York” mention on “Control,” stating that he was merely trying to convey how “hungry” of an artist he is.
“My first sold out show was in New York. You get what I’m saying? So, I always looked at that place as a place that respected me and my lyrics and [I] respected the culture and the birthplace of it. I think the ones that really took it out of context was the people that we know [who] wanted to grab an opportunity just off the fact of the hype of the record,” said the good kid, m.A.A.d city rapper. “Rather than actually tuning in and listening and know how hungry I am…I’m saying I’m the most hungry in this…I respect the legends in the game. I respect people who done it before me. People that lost they lives over this. So, because of what they laid down I’m gon’ try and go ten times harder and breathe it and live it. And that’s the whole point of the whole verse.”
Lastly, Kendrick offered his thoughts on the artists he feels had the best “Control” responses. Among them were Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, King Los, and Kevin Hart’s rap persona, Chocolate Drop.
“I liked the [King] Los verse,” Kendrick revealed. “Joe Budden did this thing, Joell; a lot of people with different approaches…Joey had the facts in his verse, a few things that he felt. Papoose had the comical joint. Los was flipping his words and putting that spunk on it. I think he had the killer thing though. Yeah, Los killed it out of everybody. But the number one joint at the top of the list had to be Chocolate Drop.”
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King Los’ “Control” response can be heard below, via L.A. Leakers.
On top of a guest verse from Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean’s “Control” also includes a feature from New Orleans lyricist Jay Electronica. The record was not featured on the Detroit rapper’s sophomore album, Hall of Fame.
RELATED: The Top Responses To Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” Verse
