By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
The Kendrick Lamar Control verse hype continues. We’ve already highlighted on this site quite a number of times how swiftly it appears Kendrick Lamar is becoming a huge force in Hip Hop, but the young rapper from Compton had yet another big moment Monday night after Big Sean dropped his “Control” track. Although the song is Big Sean’s and another talented emcee by the name of Jay Electronica also laid down a verse, the only thing people are talking about since last night is Kendrick Lamar’s verse. In the verse, the rapper did some name dropping and he asked his good friends and fellow rappers Drake, J. Cole, Wale, Big Sean, ASAP Rocky, Meek Mill and a few others to step up lyrically because he is raising the bar. While the verse doesn’t signal to us he meant to be malicious, some people are not happy that right before he name dropped he proclaimed himself as “The King of New York.”
Here’s a snippet of the controversial verse:
I heard the barbershops spittin’ great debates all the time
Bout who’s the best MC? Kendrick, Jigga and Nas
Eminem, Andre 3000, the rest of y’all
New n*ggas just new n*ggas, don’t get involved
And I ain’t rockin no more designer sh*t
White T’s and Nike Cortez, this is red Corvettes anonymous
I’m usually homeboys with the same n*ggas I’m rhymin’ wit
But this is hip hop and them n*ggas should know what time it is
And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale
Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake
Big Sean, Jay Electron’, Tyler, Mac Miller
I got love for you all but I’m tryna murder you n*ggas
Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you n*ggas
They dont wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you n*ggas
What is competition? I’m tryna raise the bar high
Who tryna jump and get it? You better off tryna skydive
The verse itself set off a social media frenzy, and many people took to their Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts to talk about the bars dropped by Kendrick, with most reactions being filled with nothing but praise. Even some rappers took to their Twitter accounts to give Kendrick props, while some declared they would step up to the challenge in the studio.
While the praise was thick, not everyone was feeling the verse. In particular, fellow rapper Lupe Fiasco made it clear he’s not impressed in the least bit. He tweets the following from his now protected Twitter account (He made his account private after he got slammed for his comments regarding the George Zimmerman verdict). Read tweets from top to bottom:
Listen to the track below and let us know if you think the verse was worthy of praise.
Lupe’s not impressed because his name wasn’t mentioned.
Thank you! He’s mad he couldn’t even be thought about on a song this hype. And why would Kendrick mention him? He’s not that dope and he spends more of his time throwing Twitter rants than dropping bars. He’s so lame to me.
Right! But he’s too much of a light weight for Kendrick to even think about him.
Why am I not surprised at all by this? This is what Lupe does best. Hate.
Lupe is the non-female and non-ghetto version of Keyshia Cole. He sits on Twitter all day and hates/trolls for attention. I lost respect for him after the whole Trayvon Martin thing.
The verse is fire. Lupe can rap very well, but I think his reasoning didn’t even make sense for why he says it wasn’t all that. He’s become very annoying.
Kendrick Lamar went Super Saiyan on that verse.
Jealousy from a man always makes me chuckle. I swear men act more like females than we do in 2013.
As always, Lupe is hating! I wish he would just close his Twitter account! I miss the days of not knowing how much of a douche bag he was.
Lupe is such a HATER! Kendrick’s flow was epic and flawless. This should motivate his non rapping azz to step his game up. Just add this to the list of L’s for Lupe.
Exactly… this verse was straight motivation “if” you’re an MC.
*blank stare*
The hate is so real. Lupe couldn’t touch Kendrick on his worst day. Keep on tweeting though Lupe. That’s the only way your words will get on the blogs because your verses sure don’t.
Lupe’s b-tch a-s is back at it.
Dumbest tweets ever. His bitterness is always showing.
Actually this is what Hip Hop needs. Lupe is just mad because he couldn’t do it. He hasn’t been able to make people hop on Twitter and Facebook and talk about Hip Hop to this degree ever! Kendrick did that! He’s the real deal and he’s going to be one of the greatest when it’s all said and done.
I expected nothing less from Lupe.
When men try to say they don’t hate on each other like females, I will reference this post.
I’m not sure why people are so hype by this verse. This is what Kendrick does on every song he records. At some point, it will become like Nas dropping a dope feature. People will be like, but it’s Nas. When the novelty runs out, they will look at Kendrick the same way and expect nothing less than fire.
Is Lupe on his period again?
All I’m gonna say is this. Any one (rapper or fan included) that can find anything negative to say about Kendrick’s verse or how “low” the bar has been set is….delusional and emotional. His verse wasn’t a diss. It wasn’t disrespectful. I’m not a fan of Lupe’s so idk exactly how good he is lyrically, but from the standpoint of hip hop and what it’s about, I can’t see how of all things, these were his responses. Iron sharpens iron baby. Get up, get out and get something. Ol’ dormant a*** negro.
LOL. Lupe is such a hater.
Lupe said a whole bunch of nothing, as usual. Kendrick dropped fire. To say otherwise is nothing but pure hate and delusion. It’s a good day for Hip Hop.
A very good day!
Maybe this is what was needed to make these young rappers step up. Stop rapping about your clothes, cars and money and drop some real bars! Yes Kendrick!
Lupe wasn’t mentioned because he hasn’t impacted Hip Hop in any way. Instead of hating, he should try to figure out how Kendrick (who has been in the game a shorter time than him) is already making bigger moves.
Just another loser trying to get buzz by going against the majority. Shut up Lupe!
Lupe stays Losin’.
Dear Lupe,
If you are what you say you are, a superstar. Then have no fear the crowd is here and the lights are on and they want a show. Like Kendrick just did.
You’re welcome
Love it.
Lupe is very annoying.
LOL at Big Sean getting relegated to DJ Khaled status on his own song.
He’s good, but he’s not great. Folks are waiting for someone with the flow and charisma of Tupac after being disappointed by whats out here now and Kendrick ain’t it. I like him, but it seems that the hype is going to his head and we all know how that can and will destroy a promising career. I can’t get excited by and nor am I impressed by so called men calling each other a bunch of niggas which does nothing to improve their lot in life; only sell records for the white man. Stop following the hype.