IT'S ON! Some may have heard by now, the electrical current that has bored a hold in the hip hop musical landscape; that being MC #KendrickLamar, in what I would consider injecting one of the elements and essence of what it means to be an MC in hip hop culture. There is a lot of buzz coming from hip hop fans in social media, and hip hop artists alike surrounding Kendrick's featured verse on Big Sean's track 'Control' (HOF) which also features Jay Electronica. The track did not make it onto to Big Sean's latest album; but Hot 97 's Funkmaster Flex premiered the track yesterday and has since been all the talk. Why? KL is not only letting everyone know in his lyrics that he is the best, he telling his fellow comrades that he is stepping his game up and they need to do the same if the even want to compete! KL calls out names of other rappers on 'Control', not in a diss sense, but acknowledging the new school, naming J. Cole, Wale (who response in Rolling Out), A$AP Rocky, Drake, Meek Mill, Pusha T and others; knowing they are talented HOWEVER need to step-it-up because rapping about strip clubs - strippers and money ain't gonna cut it! Also, because the game is whacked up right now, Lamar went ahead and claimed not only the west coast, but New York City as well!
Read more and listen to 'Control' inside....
Kendrick Lamar may have breathe life back into hip-hop as it celebrates it's 40th birthday - Legendary DJ Kool Herc (Godfather of Hip Hop) held a party in 1973 that is recognized as giving birth to one of the most powerful art forms within music today, and has been a driving force from it's early beginnings. One of the most pivotal times in hip-hop culture was in the mid to late 1980's with respect to the Emcee element, were the MC represented to the fullest who he/ or she was, represented where they came from, represented what they are about 'which usually was being 'the best' at their art and letting everyone including other MC's who thought that he/ or she IS THE BEST.....and this was strictly determined not solely on record sales or which music video is on heavy rotation, it was ultimately determined by which I would simply say 'the music lovers and hip-hop heads'.
Some feedback on Kendrick Lamar's lyrics on 'Control' is noted as 'Epic', I wouldn't go that far, but I will say that he will be known for making ears stand up and making people say "Yo, did you hear that!?" very similar to when Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, and Rakim told their comrades in the late 80's in articulate form and fashion they are the best; and some will argue that Rakim is the best MC today. Wouldn't it be great to have solid valid arguments on today's artists, based on the delivery of their raw craft?
MCM STYLE is all about connecting the old and the new school, and Kendrick Lamar has definitely done that on Big Sean's track by connecting a vital part and what it means to be an MC and that is to be the very best at that, nothing less.
Hopefully this is the start of better when is comes to mainstream hip-hop music....(I'm singing Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" in my head!)
Big Sean - 'Control' (HOF) feat. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica
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