Since the release of Big Sean’s “Control” which originally was set to be showcased on his upcoming Hall Of Fame LP, the topic of discussion in the world of Hip Hop has been Kendrick Lamar’s guest verse. All over the internet and across the vast lands of social media, people have been weighing in with their thoughts behind the TDE rapper putting himself on a pedestal above his peers.
“I’m usually homeboys with the same n—s I’m rhyming wit’/But this is Hip Hop and them n—s should know what time it is/ and that goes for Jermain Cole, Big KRIT, Wale/Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake/Big Sean, Jay Electron’, Tyler, Mac Miller/I got love for you all but I’m tryna murder you n—s’/Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you n—s/They don’t wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you n—s/what is competition,” raps the Compton, Calif. native.
Adding insult to injury, Kendrick’s lyrics also include: “I’m important like the Pope/I’m Muslim on pork/I’m Makaveli’s offspring/I’m the king of New York/King of the coast, one hand, I juggle them both.”
Needless to say, Lamar has single handedly sparked the fire that the industry needed in order to shift everyone’s interest back towards lyricism. With everyone so busy turning up and focusing their efforts on “getting to the money,” artists and fans alike got too comfortable with the direction that Hip Hop found itself going in. Though rappers have always continued to take stabs at one another from time to time, it’s been awhile since Hip Hop’s seen a respected lyricist embody that competitive spirit of the past and deliver something good enough to put our attention’s in a chokehold.
Let’s be clear, Kendrick Lamar came out from behind the curtains and just gave everyone in the squared circle the steel chair to the back. However, this is what the essence of Hip Hop has always been about. One can only assume that somewhere along the way artists found themselves suffering from convenient amnesia as they were more concerned with blurring the lines of competition. There’s no other explanation for the excitement and anticipation that one verse has been able to stir up in just a few days.
Lamar’s “Control” verse has forced any self respecting rapper to start sharpening their lyrical sword again and a few worthy wordsmiths have already taken up his challenge. Artists who weren’t even addressed such as Joell Ortiz, The Mad Rapper, JR Writer, Cassidy, Mickey Factz, Fred The Godson and B.O.B. have already scrambled out the booth to capitalize on the open invitation and released their responses. Other artists, producers and celebrities such as Russell Simmons, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, Young Guru, Big Sean, Wale, Joey Bada$$, Pusha T, Bun B, Ice T, Big KRIT, Royce Da 5’9″, Lupe Fiasco, Phil Jackson, Missy Elliott and Diddy have all taken the opportunity to voice their opinions by way of interviews and social media.
All hooks aside, the West Coast native keeps it straight bars, hits the reset button on Hip Hop and strategically slips his name alongside Hip Hop’s elite like Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, and Andre 3000. Though there hasn’t been an equally as impressive lyrical comeback that’s surfaced just yet, or one for that matter from anyone directly targeted, expect Lamar’s gutsy wordplay and self crowning as the “King of New York” to keep the internet flooded with incoming responses. The industry needed an artist like Kendrick Lamar with a loud enough voice and credibility to get everyone excited but more importantly issue a reminder that Hip Hop requires skill.
Written By: Luis Carrion
