Hip-hop has been utilizing the buddy system for a few years now. Lots of collaborations, with proclamations of being the best addressed for the most part to nameless, faceless “haters.” Monday night Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar threw down the gauntlet. NY DJ Funk Master Flex dropped an unreleased Big Sean track named “Control” which featured Kendrick and Jay Electronica.
On the track, Kendrick not only lyrically murders his collaborators, he proclaims himself the King of New York and tells his peers, which he names one by one, including; JCole, Wale, Drake, ASAP Rocky and more, I respect you but I’ll take you out:
“I’m usually homeboys with the same ni**as I’m rhymin wit-But this is hip hop and them ni**as should know what time it is-And that goes for Jermaine 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 ni**as-Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you ni**as-They don’t wanna hear not one more noun or verb from u ni**as-What is competition? I’m tryna raise the bar high-Who tryna jump and get it? You better off tryna skydive”
And of course, there’s a sports reference in there:
“If Phil Jackson came back, still no coaching me. I’m uncoachable”
Listen to the track here. You read some of the lyrics, so you understand there’s profanity in it right?
It feels like when Snoop and the Dogg Pound was kicking over buildings and crushing skyscrapers in the “New York, New York” video… West Coast STAND UP! Hip-Hop just turned 40 a few days ago too. Looks like it’s rediscovering it’s roots…
photo via Revolt
