Big Sean - Control (ft Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica)
When I wrote the title for this post, I almost forgot to write "& Jay Electronica" - how disrespectful but a simple absent-minded moment just about summarises the world's reaction to the content of this track.
Take two relatively new cats in the game Sean and Kendrick and throw in MIA-baby-daddy-of-Erykah-Badu emcee Jay Electronica and put them all on song and what do you get? Carnage apparently - or so the music world would have us believe.
To set the scene (as if you didn't already know), Big Sean lays down a nice verse. Nice. Lyrically sound and typical of his untidy yet endearing flow. You're thinking "cool, bro" but anticipating the usual brilliance of Kendrick on the next verse - as we've come to expect from the young(ish) Compton rapper. But what he did in reality, even for him, I don't think anyone expected.
Listen to the track above ^
Now I LOVE Kendrick, LOVE. Y'all already know but his balls are the size of the frickin' Grand Canyon right now. First, the Compton native declares himself the "King of New York" (move over A$AP mob, Fab, Joe Budden etc) and then goes on to drop some significant names - see here:
Iām usually homeboys with the same n*ggas im rhymin wit
But this is hip hop and them n*ggas should know what time it is
And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale
Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake
Big Sean, Jay electronā, Tyler, Mac Miller
I got love for you all but Iām 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 u n*ggas
What is competition? Iām tryna raise the bar high
Who tryna jump and get it? You better off tryna skydive
He didn't just bring fire to the booth, he burned the whole thing down! Arsonist. On first look - it's beef. Calling these guys out, telling them he's gonna murder them - somebody call the rap police. Beef, clearly - right? Wrong. Anyone with their musical head screwed on the right way will see this for exactly what it is. Not a diss or an attempt to throw shade (someone like Kendrick doesn't need to take cheap shots) but a no-holds barred declaration of his intention to be the best - which is what any rapper worth a dime should want to be.
Consequence called it correctly when he tweeted:
"Kdot verse is only going 2 bother whack rappers..This is the Colosseum and we can be called to engage in warfare at any moment."
For me he's pretty much taking it back to what it used to be. When rappers would battle for the crown and the right to be called the best in the game. I'm not talking about a return to Biggie & 2Pac-esque conflict (no-one wants that) but a return to the days when a rapper was respected for their craft over the amount of money, hoes and clothes they could lay claim to. I'm not even precious, I just love smart, well put together, thought-out music.
I think Mr Lamar has more than shown that he respects other cats in the game but he does not need to be a beg like Drake and shout about the fact on every other verse. Instead, a call to action. Bring your A-game because I plan to every single time. To be fair, this is nothing new for Kendrick, he's been making similar claims since '11 when Rigarmortis dropped:
"Don't ask for your favorite rapper (He dead) Yessir (Amen) Chuuch (He dead) I killed him (Amen) bish"
Those he mentioned - he obviously rates but he's clever - he didn't speak on guys like Chief Keef, Gucci Mane or Gunplay because those are some psycho mofos and he rates his life.
Fortunately, the general consensus has been that of a proverbial call to action. Guys hitting the studio left right and centre. Some replies will be utterly whack, some will be decent, but I would say the game has been given a definite adrenaline shot. There's no doubt in my mind that it's verse of the year (thus far - maybe for a few years) and it's a welcome break from the bishar*se undercover shade throwing (reminds me of this) that's the fashion today.
Let's not forget the purveyor of this moment in rap history, Mr Sean Anderson. He's getting called all kinds of dumb, all over the gaff for allowing this to happen but it is what it is. Stupid or a stroke of genius - it remains to be seen.
And Jay "missing" Electronica. Such a pretty rapper (and I mean that lyrically and not literally). Tight bars, tight flow but compared to the pyrotechnic antics of Kdot, no fire. On any other track, he would have gotten acclaim but right here right now, sorry Jay.
Anyways that's the way I see it. Controversial or not, it's certainly lit things up and got people talking.Ā Take a listen for yo'selves.
p.s. soz for the long post, there was a lot to say. -___-
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