Rap News Rundown: Kendrick Lamar
This marks the first time we’ve featured only one rapper in the Rap News Rundown. But unless you’ve been under a rock this past week, you know why. Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s “Control” became another “shot heard around the world” after he name-checked a number of his peers, announced his intention to dominate them all and declared himself the King of New York:
“I’m usually homeboys with the same n****s I’m rhyming with/ But this is hip-hop and them n****s should know what time it is/ That goes for Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale, Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electron[ica], Tyler [the Creator], Mac Miller / I got love for you but I’m tryin’ to murder all you n****s / Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you n****s / they don’t want to hear not one more noun or verb from you n****s.”
Reactions to the lyrics have been varied. Most praised the newcomer for providing a shot of adrenaline to the game, while others thought the competitive verse was out of place. There was also disagreement about who (if anyone) should be offended. Should it be the rappers he listed as his peers? Or should it be those who didn’t get mentioned at all?
Southern rapper Big KRIT said he was pleased to be mentioned. “It’s exciting because it was probably crazier for his fans, for him to mention my name among rappers that people would consider top tier, people kind of look at as being the future, and my name just randomly popped up … For me it was like, ‘Thank you for the promotion,'” said KRIT to HipHopDX.
Cassidy responded with “Control Freestyle,” saying that the Cali rapper’s verse “excited” him. Joe Budden nearly got into an argument with Styles P via Twitter, then responded to Lamar’s verse with a “Lost Control (Freestyle),” as did fellow Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz. New York MC Papoose was less than pleased with the song. He countered with a freestyle of his own, called Lamar “a joke” and advised him and the rest of the acts on Top Dog Entertainment “to lay off the PCP.”
Chicago artist Lupe Fiasco responded with “SLR 2,” alluding to Jay Z, 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne and Kendrick. B.o.B. retorted with “How to Rap,” and Uncle Murda came back with arguably the most biting comeback, “The Response.”
Thus far, none of the rappers Kendrick Lamar mentioned on the song have responded with disses.
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Rap News Rundown: Kendrick Lamar
This marks the first time we’ve featured only one rapper in the Rap News Rundown. But unless you’ve been under a rock this past week, you know why. Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s “Control” became another “shot heard around the world” after he name-checked a number of his peers, announced his intention to dominate them all and declared himself the King of New York:
“I’m usually homeboys with the same n****s I’m rhyming with/ But this is hip-hop and them n****s should know what time it is/ That goes for Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale, Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electron[ica], Tyler [the Creator], Mac Miller / I got love for you but I’m tryin’ to murder all you n****s / Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you n****s / they don’t want to hear not one more noun or verb from you n****s.”
Reactions to the lyrics have been varied. Most praised the newcomer for providing a shot of adrenaline to the game, while others thought the competitive verse was out of place. There was also disagreement about who (if anyone) should be offended. Should it be the rappers he listed as his peers? Or should it be those who didn’t get mentioned at all?
Southern rapper Big KRIT said he was pleased to be mentioned. “It’s exciting because it was probably crazier for his fans, for him to mention my name among rappers that people would consider top tier, people kind of look at as being the future, and my name just randomly popped up … For me it was like, ‘Thank you for the promotion,'” said KRIT to HipHopDX.
Cassidy responded with “Control Freestyle,” saying that the Cali rapper’s verse “excited” him. Joe Budden nearly got into an argument with Styles P via Twitter, then responded to Lamar’s verse with a “Lost Control (Freestyle),” as did fellow Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz. New York MC Papoose was less than pleased with the song. He countered with a freestyle of his own, called Lamar “a joke” and advised him and the rest of the acts on Top Dog Entertainment “to lay off the PCP.”
Chicago artist Lupe Fiasco responded with “SLR 2,” alluding to Jay Z, 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne and Kendrick. B.o.B. retorted with “How to Rap,” and Uncle Murda came back with arguably the most biting comeback, “The Response.”
Thus far, none of the rappers Kendrick Lamar mentioned on the song have responded with disses.