In the wake of his rap-earth-shattering verse on Big Sean’s “Control,” Kendrick Lamar made the interview rounds this week, appearing on Power 106’s Big Boy’s Neighborhood, Hot 97’s Morning Show with Peter Rosenberg and Chelsea Lately. The always humble West Coast rap god had some ‘splaining to do. So check out a few things we learned in the process.
On recording his “Control” verse
“It was really just a feature verse. I really wanted to get on there and just rap and put my best foot forward… I ain’t think it’d be whatever people think it’s supposed to be… At the end of the day, if you listen to the line, these are cats that I feel like inspire the game. They aspire to be the best just like I feel. I aspire to be the best. They’re competitive. They respect the culture of hip-hop.” (Hot 97)
On the hype over his bars
“When you got Twitter and you got friends and you got social media putting the situation at a higher level, it maybe makes someone feel a certain way… It’s rap, man. People that I respect, they know I respect them. The whole point of the culture is to elevate the culture.” (Hot 97)
On his King of New York line
“It’s not about actually being the king of whatever coast. It’s about leaving a mark as great as Biggie, as great as Pac. It’s about how great I want to be at the end of the day.” (Big Boy’s Neighborhood)
On the multiple rapper responses
“Once all the response records started coming out, I started feeling like Hack-a-Shaq.” (Big Boy’s Neighborhood)
On deading any new East-West Coast beef
“All the ignorance behind it, you can kill that noise. It’ll never be like that again where two coasts rival. Not on my behalf. Not while I’m doing this. And I think the OGs of the game would want that anyway. They want that competitive nature and the no-bloodshed. I’m way too wise and I’m way too polished to get caught up in the hype of the media.” (Hot 97)
