TIA: On August 12, 2013, Big Sean released "Control" during Funk Flex's radio show
on HOT 97 and shook hip-hop to its core.
BIG SEAN: I wanted it to be a part of the album, but unfortunately weak shit happens
all the time.
It came down to you either gon have to push yo shit back to have this song tryna
figure this sample out.
So I just dropped it.
TIA: And nothing was the same.
TIA: Dot had released his debut studio album ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’ the year before
and it was unanimously praised—but his now infamous “Control” verse overshadowed
Sean and Jay Electronica and put him on the outs with plenty of east coasters.
TIA: As controversial as these lyrics are, Kendrick seems to be paying homage to two
of hip-hop's biggest icons—Tupac Shakur, who called himself Makaveli The Don,
and the Notorious B.I.G., who referred to himself as "The Black Frank White,"
based on the 1990 film, "King Of New York."
TIA: The line itself is an interpolation of Kurupt, who had his own coastal beefs on songs
like “Callin’ Out Names” and Tha Dogg Pound’s “New York, New York.”
KURUPT: I’m the King of New York.
His name was Frank White!
Since somebody from the West Coast will say they're the king of fuckin New York,
they automatically assume we’re disrespecting New York.
King of New York is a fuckin movie!
TIA: No matter what Kendrick meant, that bar coupled with him substituting Biggie’s name
for his own in this JAY-Z interpolation…
TIA: ...gave east coast rappers the ammo they needed to respond.
TIA: But not everyone was upset with Kendrick.
KENDRICK: The main heads that understood the context of the line were the actual kings of New York.
It’s not about what side we on it’s about being great.
As Biggie as Pac.
TIA: Kendrick’s “Control” verse took another turn when he competitively targeted his peers.
KENDRICK: These is cats that I feel inspire the game.
If they’re competitives and they respect the culture of hip-hop I don’t feel like
it should be any type of feel ill feel they should have towards me.
TIA: Of the rappers Kendrick did namecheck, some people did, some people didn’t.
WALE: I’d be offended if my name wasn’t in that shit. So shoutout to TDE and shoutout to Kendrick.
ROCKY: K.dot and them niggas...That’s fam, yo.
I think hip-hop need this shit, it’s niggas who's pissed off just because they wasn’t mentioned.
PUSH: First thing he says to me is like, “Yo thank you so much for understanding and not
taking the verse the wrong way.”
And I was like, Kendrick you don’t know I’m different bruh.
TIA: Mac Miller and J. Cole responded jokingly.
TIA: Meek Mill took it as a chance to spar.
MEEK: We bump into eachother and be laughing like “yeah, I’mma get you” “I’mma
get you” it’s a laughing thing, it’s like fun.
TIA: Jay Electronica eventually tweeted, and then deleted, that he thought the song’s skills lineup went:
TIA: But Drake's response seemed kinda serious.
DRAKE: I feel like he made a decision and it was a decision to make.
He was like, Man I’m either gonna go for this moment because I know it’s gonna be
a big moment, or I’m gonna like take heed to the fact that I have real relationships
and I’m gonna not do that.
I don’t know if I necessarily respect it.
TIA: The two seem to have been secretly subbing each other ever since.
TIA: And Big Sean might even still feel some type of way.
BIG SEAN: How long ago was that?
What year is this?
CHARLAMAGNE: You right, you right. You're right, you're right!
ANGELA: But you do have Eminem on the album.
BIG SEAN:And I still don’t feel like I got washed anyway, nigga.
TIA: Moments like Dot’s “Control" verse are few and far between, but when they happen,
it's hip-hop history.
I’m Tia for Genius News, bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.
PAPARAZZI: How you feelin about all the comeback from your “Control” verse?
KENDRICK: They gotta try harder!