After Monday's late night release of "Control" by Big Sean featuring Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica 3, rappers have come out with musical responses to Lamar's demolishing verse which goes like this:
"I'm usually homeboys with the same niggas I'm rhymin with, but this is hip hop and them niggas should know what time it is. And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big K.R.I.T, 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 niggas. Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you niggas. They don't wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you niggas."
A few seconds before Lamar references some people he's comparable to in the rap game such as Nas, Andre 3000, Hov, and Eminem.
The first to respond to this was New York rapper Joell Ortiz and he surely didn't take Lamar claiming to be the King of New York lightly. He starts off the "Control" freestyle with, "I ain’t even gotta give this too much thought/Joell Ortiz won every war that he ever fought/This ain’t no different, I’m listening, you the king of New York?/ Lil homie you ain’t the king of New York, you the next thing on my fork.” Apparently, Joell Ortiz can stomach him. Ortiz then goes on to diss "rich rappers" and their accolades, "fashion rappers" and their jeans that can barely zip. Then Ortiz shows Lamar why he could claim to be King Cali but prefers to be New York all day. Listen to the monsters he spits below.
Next to the plate with a Kendrick Lamar response was Hustle Gang rapper B.o.B. with "How 2 Rap." B.o.B starts off spitting over Lamar's "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" beat where he attempts to emulate the sound Kendrick had on the joint. Shortly after that he goes back to being B.o.B he raps, "I know that I'm shining I know that I'm shining don't worry cause you can find shade in my shadow. From my point of view there's so many dead rappers, shit we need a memorial banner. " B.o.B then raps about criticism he's received about his image throughout the years and then says, "Matter of the fact I find this rap shit boring man I'm over it. Gimme my guitar pick Imma show you shit," and ironically concludes "How 2 Rap" with a guitar solo. Listen below.
Soon after "How 2 Rap" Baltimore rapper King Los dropped his version of "Control." Los starts off with a play on words with this:
"You are now havin' your sandwich made.
With extra mayonnaise, 808's, and a hand grenade
Cause any man could get played in my all in phase
I mean my flow passwords like the log in page -ugh
See how my last words do?
I put my log in your girl cause we past words too
Your bm just sent me a dm and you be chasin that hooker
You steady stalkin her twitter she gave me face when I booked her
She treat me like the face book logo, thats a true slut
In other words, she f'in blew me cuz I f'in blew up,"
Although this right here is clever enough Los goes even further to differentiate himself from all the rest, after showing listeners why he's in control, he gives props to Kendrick, Big Sean, and everyone that Lamar mentioned in the above verse:
"Kendrick I think you genius, J. Cole got these niggas worried
Big K.R.I.T is a southern killer, Wale is a Visionary
Pusha been pushin so long he truly defines a hustler
Meek did his time like a G, came back home and shined on them suckas
A$AP mastered the facets of fashion, snatchin the essence of his whole fam and a no man demanding a presence
This nigga Drake nice on the mic and act,
So many hits he fucked around and brought light skin back
And Big Sean you did it, you really did it, no bullshitiin,"
Fred The Godson who shared the XXL 2011 Freshman Class cover responded most recently with "Say My Name" He responds to the King of New York comment with this "You got Snopp, we got Jay, we got Nas, you got Dre. But you the king of everything? That's how you wanna play. Fred doesn't stop there he demands Lamar shows some respect as speaks about Biggie Smalls, Big Pun, and others. He also takes multiple shots at Lamar's "Swimming Pools (Drank)".
Some people are curious to see who else will respond? Will there be a collabo response? Will anybody be mentioned in that verse respond or will the they just let the friendly fire go out on its own?
If you’re a hip-hop fan, chances are you’ve heard about Kendrick Lamar’s infamous ‘Control’ verse. In 2013, the Compton rapper shook up the industry with his guest feature on Big Sean’s track, where he called out several of his fellow rappers by name and declared himself the ‘King of New York.’
The verse caused a stir among fans and artists alike, sparking responses from all corners of the rap world.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at four notable responses to Kendrick’s ‘Control’ verse: those from Joell Ortiz, B.o.B, King Los, and Fred The Godson. Each artist brought their own unique style and approach to their response track, adding their own voice to the ongoing conversation about who truly reigns supreme in the rap game.
So sit back and get ready to dive into some of the most memorable moments in hip-hop history.
Analyzing Joell Ortiz, B.o.B, King Los, and Fred The Godson’s Responses to Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Control’ Verse
Don’t miss out on Joell Ortiz, B.o.B, King Los, and Fred The Godson’s fire responses to Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Control’ verse. These four artists were quick to respond to Kendrick’s call for competition in his verse.
Joell Ortiz was one of the first to release a response track titled ‘Outta Control,’ where he references Kendrick’s line about being the king of New York and claims that he himself is the king of Brooklyn.
B.o.B also released a response titled ‘How 2 Rap,’ where he brags about his skills as a rapper and challenges Kendrick to a battle.
King Los released a track called ‘Control (Freestyle),’ where he not only responds to Kendrick but also takes shots at other rappers in the industry. He shows off his lyrical ability with clever wordplay and metaphors throughout the entire song.
Finally, Fred The Godson released ‘Say My Name’ as his response to Kendrick’s verse. He calls out other rappers who claim they are better than him and states that he deserves more recognition for his talent.
Overall, these four responses show that there is still passion and competitiveness in hip hop. Each artist brings their own unique style and perspective while also acknowledging Kendrick’s impact on the game. It’ll be interesting to see if any more responses come out in the future or if this will be the end of this particular rap beef.
Examining the Unique Styles and Approaches of Each Artist in Their Responses
Each artist’s unique style and approach in their response provoked a range of emotions from listeners. Joell Ortiz, for example, chose to address Kendrick directly in his response, stating that he was tired of the comparisons and asserting his own skills as a lyricist.
B.o.B, on the other hand, took a more lighthearted approach with his track ‘How 2 Rap,’ which poked fun at Kendrick’s verse while still showcasing his own abilities.
King Los’ response stood out for its intricate wordplay and technical skill. In ‘Control (Remix),’ he weaved together complex rhyme schemes and metaphors to create a truly impressive display of lyrical prowess.
Fred The Godson also showcased his ability to manipulate language in his response, utilizing clever punchlines and similes to prove that he too was worthy of being considered one of the best rappers in the game.
Overall, each artist brought their own unique flavor to their response to Kendrick’s verse on ‘Control.’ Whether it was through direct challenges or playful jabs, intricate wordplay or clever punchlines, they all proved that they were capable of holding their own against one of hip-hop’s biggest names. It’s this diversity of styles that makes hip-hop such an exciting genre to follow.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a breakdown of the responses to Kendrick Lamar’s infamous ‘Control’ verse from Joell Ortiz, B.o.B, King Los, and Fred The Godson.
Each artist brought their own unique style and approach to their response, showcasing their individuality and talent as MCs. It’s clear that Kendrick’s verse sparked a fire in these artists, pushing them to step up their game and prove themselves worthy of the title of ‘King of New York.’
And while opinions may vary on who truly holds that crown, one thing is for sure: these four rappers are not ones to be slept on.