Kendrick Lamar Once Considered Dumbing Down His Lyrics for His Fanbase
Rapper Kendrick Lamar is considered by many to be one of the music industry’s most lyrical rappers. But after putting out a highly controversial record, some hip-hop fans criticized the rapper for his words. Lamar felt the controversy was due to a misunderstanding between his audience and his lyrics. This led to the rapper wondering if perhaps he should dumb down his records.
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Control’ called out several rappers
As many know, 2013 saw Kendrick Lamar was featured on the song “Control.” The record generated a strong reaction from the rap community, as the Pulitzer prize winner called out several mainstream hip-hop artists on the song. The rappers he targeted and mentioned by name stemmed from Big Sean to Drake. However, Lamar asserted he was simply trying to maintain the competitive spirit of hip-hop.
“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,” Lamar once told Hot 97.
At the same time, Lamar wanted to make it clear he meant no disrespect toward any of his hip-hop peers.
“It’s rap, man. People that I respect, they know I respect them. The whole point of the culture is to elevate the culture,” he explained.
Kendrick Lamar considered dumbing down his lyrics because of his ‘Control’ verse
On the controversial record, Lamar also once claimed himself as king of New York. At the time, this line caused just as strong of a response from his fanbase. Many saw the irony in Lamar, who originated in Compton, declaring himself as New York’s king. Some saw it as a possible attempt from the rapper to reignite the East Coast-West Coast feud of the 90s.
But Lamar stated this wasn’t the case at all. The misunderstanding made Lamar wonder if he should take a different approach to his lyrics.
“I didn’t know there would be so much speculation, I just want to rap,” he once said on Power 106. “I think it’s a case of maybe I should dumb down my lyrics just a little bit.”
Lamar later went on to add that most veteran rappers understood where he was coming from and held no grudges against him.
“The irony of that line is that the people who actually understood it and got it were the actual kings of New York, you know, me sitting down with them this past week, and them understanding, it’s not actually about being the king of whatever coast, it’s about leaving a mark as great as Biggie, as great as Pac,” he continued.
Drake wanted Kendrick Lamar to go all the way with his ‘Control’ verse
At the time, Drake acknowledged Lamar’s efforts to generate interest within the music industry.
“That verse, he’s giving people moments,” Drake once told Entertainment Weekly.
However, the Toronto rapper felt that Lamar was much tamer in his verse than he could’ve been. This made the Grammy winner lose a bit of respect for the feelings behind the record.
“That verse was a moment to talk about. He didn’t come in there on some wild, ‘I’m in New York, f*** everybody.’ I almost wish he had come in there on that s*** because I kind of lost a little bit of respect for the sentiment of the verse. If it’s really ‘f*** everybody’ then it needs to be ‘f*** everybody.’ It can’t just be halfway,” he added.
