Kendrick Lamar Speaks on "Control" Verse

Kendrick Lamar has finally opened up about his already classic verse on Big Sean‘s “Control.” The Compton rapper spoke to Power 106 LA on Big Boy’s Neighborhood earlier today and offered his perspective on the hype surround his eyebrow-raising lyrics. The full interview will be aired tomorrow morning but you can listen/read to some excerpts below.

On the verse itself:

“Honestly I didn’t know it would be so much speculation—I just wanted to rap. If anybody knows me doing music, I wanna just rap.”

On the “King of New York” lyric:

“I think that’s a case where I maybe had to dumb down my lyrics just a little bit. The irony of that line is that the people that actually understood it and got it was the actual kings of New York. We’ve been down with them this past week, and them understanding that 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.”