Songs Responding to Kendrick Lamar's "Control" Verse

It's never too late for Mac Miller, see what he has to say.

Songs Responding to Kendrick Lamar's "Control" Verse - Kendrick Lamar name checked his competition on Big Sean's single "Control" last year, and had nearly every MC, unsigned and signed, riled up to respond to his plea for MCs to step their game up.Better late than never, Mac Miller dropped his new mixtape, Faces, on Sunday and had a few bars for Kendrick on the track "Friends." Surprisingly, K. Dot's TDE homey ScHoolboy Q switches sides and assists Mac on the hook.All in fun, Mac spits, "In this Game of Thrones, it is known/I got the 4G, L-T-E connection boards/No 'Control,' f--k Ken Lamar (F--k you Kendrick!)"While Mac took it in jest, the song did have a few rappers caught up in their feelings via Twitter and on tracks. Read on to see who said what.  (Photos from left: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images, Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

1 / 21

Songs Responding to Kendrick Lamar's "Control" Verse - Kendrick Lamar name checked his competition on Big Sean's single "Control" last year, and had nearly every MC, unsigned and signed, riled up to respond to his plea for MCs to step their game up.Better late than never, Mac Miller dropped his new mixtape, Faces, on Sunday and had a few bars for Kendrick on the track "Friends." Surprisingly, K. Dot's TDE homey ScHoolboy Q switches sides and assists Mac on the hook.All in fun, Mac spits, "In this Game of Thrones, it is known/I got the 4G, L-T-E connection boards/No 'Control,' f--k Ken Lamar (F--k you Kendrick!)"While Mac took it in jest, the song did have a few rappers caught up in their feelings via Twitter and on tracks. Read on to see who said what.  (Photos from left: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images, Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

MVP of the Year: J. Cole - J. Cole followed up his half-million selling Cole World: The Sideline Story with the chart-topping Born Sinner. In other words, his credentials are straight. (Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images for BET)

2 / 21

J. Cole, "TKO" Remix - J. Cole stewed for a few months before he let loose on Lamar via a verse on Justin Timberlake's "TKO" remix featuring Cole, A$AP Rocky and Pusha T."I was home alone, next thing I know / That long a-- verse from a song called "Control" was on," Cole revved up.(Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images for BET)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/12/Shows/106-and-Park-12-21-12-31/123112-shows-106-meek-mill-performs-4.jpg

3 / 21

Meek Mill, "Ooh Kill 'Em" - On a warpath after dropping a Cassidy diss track called "Kendrick You Next" last year, Meek Mill was the first of those Lamar actually mentioned to lyrically respond. The Philly MC flipped a Dre beat (and a Terio on Vine vocal sample) to question how the Compton MC dare claim the NY throne."Hov gave you 24, let you have that/ Man, you claiming you the king of New York/ What the f--- wrong with you n---a? Step back." (Photo: Randy Smith / BET)

Jews and Hip Hop - Former Bad Boy superstar Shyne surprised many when he converted to Judaism during his eight-year prison bid. Since his release, he's been seen sporting Jewish garb in Israel, letting his beard and sideburns grow, and at times renouncing his gangster-rap roots in favor of his new religious path. On August 1, he unveiled a new song, "King Crown of Judah," featuring Hasidic rap-reggae singer Matisyahu, which addresses his faith and conversion head on. We're not sure why people have been that surprised though — hip hop and Judaism have been crossing paths for years now. Click on for a look at some of the most prominent Jews in rap.  (Photo: UPI/Debbie Hill /Landov)

4 / 21

Shyne, "King of NYS" - Shyne prefers not to hear from "new" rappers at all. "Lamar or Kendrick new rappers all perish!" he spit on a track he recorded for his 2012 Gangland mixtape. His beef with Lamar, specifically, stems from a 2012 tweet he wrote declaring good kid, m.A.A.d. city to be "trash." He flipped that burger into a music video he released about a week after "Control" was let loose.(Photo: UPI/Debbie Hill /Landov)

Joe Budden, @JoeBudden  - Tweet: "@Blueraydre it's also the same guy that FINISHED Common"Reminding people of the infamous 2012 rap feud between Drake and Common, when Drizzy fired a few crippling shots on Rozay's "Stay Schemin',"Joe Budden takes the rapper/actor's side in his fresh battle against Jay Z. #NothingWasTheSame(photo: John Ricard / BET)

5 / 21

Joe Budden - If only Lamar had paid proper homage before his snatch at the crown, says Joe in this "Lost Control" freestyle. "You're the king of New York, you might as well spit on Biggie grave," he suggested, adding later, "Outrhyming A$AP ain't showing me where your weight at."(Photo: John Ricard/BET)

ADVERTISEMENT
59785613

6 / 21

Uncle Murda - "The Response" - Seasoned Brooklyn rapper Uncle Murda decided to use Jay Z's "Somewhere In America" beat to point out the obvi on "The Response." "Tell Kendrick I ain't mad at him, this is just what the game needed," but, "Jay ain't dead, Nas alive, you the king, Kendrick? how that sound?"(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)

Lupe Fiasco vs. Spin - Lupe Fiasco is known for bringing out social justice issues in his flow, but when the Chi-town native dropped the single "Bad B---h" from his 2012 Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Part 1, it was Spin that had a few choice words for him. The magazine criticized the single in their article: "Lupe Fiasco Mansplains Misogyny on Counterproductive 'B---h Bad'," claiming that the song was "half-baked conscious hip hop," and calling out Lupe as condescending and hard to "take serious." Lupe backfired, on Twitter of course. In a series of tweets, he threatened to boycott the media outlet. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

7 / 21

Lupe Fiasco - "SLR 3" - In part 3 of Lupe Fiasco's "Super Lupe Rap," Fiasco doesn't call out Lamar directly, but ends up singing the same song Lamar is probably singing right now: "so I'm gonna ride this wave/and n----s poppin' s--t that ain't got nothin' to do with me/and just capitalize off all the free press/because my publicist charges a lot to do the same s--t."(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Joell Ortiz - "Outta Control" - Brooklyn rapper and Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz was the first MC -- name-checked or not -- to step up and reject Lamar’s bold proclamation that he was the “King of New York.” Rhyming over the same No I.D.-produced beat from “Control,” Joell minced no words on "Outta Control" when he rhymed, “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.” Yaowa!(Photo: Wendell Teodoro/WireImage)

8 / 21

Joell Ortiz - "Outta Control" - Brooklyn rapper and Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz was the first MC -- name-checked or not -- to step up and reject Lamar’s bold proclamation that he was the “King of New York.” Rhyming over the same No I.D.-produced beat from “Control,” Joell minced no words on "Outta Control" when he rhymed, “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.” Yaowa!(Photo: Wendell Teodoro/WireImage)

B.o.B - "How 2 Rap" - Though he went unmentioned in Lamar’s “Control” verse, B.o.B figured his voice should still be heard. The multi-talented Hustle Gang rapper took an unorthodox approach on his response record "How 2 Rap," where he raps at the beginning, even mimicking Kendrick’s voice, then breaks out into a guitar solo. It's different.(Photo: Randy Smith/BET)

9 / 21

B.o.B - "How 2 Rap" - Though he went unmentioned in Lamar’s “Control” verse, B.o.B figured his voice should still be heard. The multi-talented Hustle Gang rapper took an unorthodox approach on his response record "How 2 Rap," where he raps at the beginning, even mimicking Kendrick’s voice, then breaks out into a guitar solo. It's different.(Photo: Randy Smith/BET)

Fred Da Godson - "Say My Name" - Bronx spitta Fred Da Godson was clearly offended that he was not one of the rappers Lamar name-checked in “Control.” The song title, "Say My Name" says it all, and Fred’s clever snipes at K. Dot further sent the message home. “King of New York, you drunk swimming pool full of liquor, right.”(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

10 / 21

Fred Da Godson - "Say My Name" - Bronx spitta Fred Da Godson was clearly offended that he was not one of the rappers Lamar name-checked in “Control.” The song title, "Say My Name" says it all, and Fred’s clever snipes at K. Dot further sent the message home. “King of New York, you drunk swimming pool full of liquor, right.”(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Bizzy Crook - "Kendrick Forgot About Me" - Our guess here is that hip hop newcomer Bizzy Crook wasn’t paying attention to everything Lamar said on "Control." The Compton MC warned new rappers "new n---- just new n----, don’t get involved." But the Miami rapper got himself all the way in it with his comeback record, "Kendrick Forgot About Me," where he questions why he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. (Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

11 / 21

Bizzy Crook - "Kendrick Forgot About Me" - Our guess here is that hip hop newcomer Bizzy Crook wasn’t paying attention to everything Lamar said on "Control." The Compton MC warned new rappers "new n---- just new n----, don’t get involved." But the Miami rapper got himself all the way in it with his comeback record, "Kendrick Forgot About Me," where he questions why he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. (Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Mickey Factz - "South Park" - Mickey's response to Lamar opens with a (sarcastic) round of applause, and immediately turns into a toungue lashing. The Bronx native is downright hungry on "South Park"  when he discredits the "King of New York" claim, rapping, "ain't no 'King of New York,' Biggie gone." It's a valid point, but who says the rap kingdom of New York can't have a new ruler?(Photo: WENN)

12 / 21

Mickey Factz - "South Park" - Mickey's response to Lamar opens with a (sarcastic) round of applause, and immediately turns into a toungue lashing. The Bronx native is downright hungry on "South Park"  when he discredits the "King of New York" claim, rapping, "ain't no 'King of New York,' Biggie gone." It's a valid point, but who says the rap kingdom of New York can't have a new ruler?(Photo: WENN)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2013/03/Music-03-16-03-31/032513-music0lupe-fiasco.jpg

13 / 21

Lupe Faisco - "SLR2" - Before Lupe Fiasco's "SLR 3," there was "SLR 2." He never names the Compton-born MC on this one either, but there's no denying his target with a line like this: "Look at the little baby/ N---- you ain't Nas, n---- you ain't Jay Z." (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

King Los - "Control (Remix)" - From the sounds of King Los's "Control" remix, he was more inspired than offended by Lamar's verse. Rather than name himself competition (like a bunch of others), the Baltimore native let his superb rhyme do the talking. Towards the end, he even declares the TDE rapper "a genius." (Photo: Instgram via IamKingLos)

14 / 21

King Los - "Control (Remix)" - From the sounds of King Los's "Control" remix, he was more inspired than offended by Lamar's verse. Rather than name himself competition (like a bunch of others), the Baltimore native let his superb rhyme do the talking. Towards the end, he even declares the TDE rapper "a genius." (Photo: Instgram via IamKingLos)

Astro - "KONY" - Don't be fooled by his age, Brooklyn native Astro dropped some "old-man wisdom" here. The teen rapper's "KONY" reaction to the"Control" verse is out of loyalty to NYC. Over a Statick Selektah beat, Astro scolds Lamar, and warns him to "be cautious" of disrespecting the "home of legends." Then he flips it, and turns on his hometown for basically letting a West Coast rapper take the rap crown. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

15 / 21

Astro - "KONY" - Don't be fooled by his age, Brooklyn native Astro dropped some "old-man wisdom" here. The teen rapper's "KONY" reaction to the"Control" verse is out of loyalty to NYC. Over a Statick Selektah beat, Astro scolds Lamar, and warns him to "be cautious" of disrespecting the "home of legends." Then he flips it, and turns on his hometown for basically letting a West Coast rapper take the rap crown. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

ADVERTISEMENT
Cassidy - Rather than spitting over the regular "Drunk in Love" beat, Cassidy took a vocal sample of Beyoncé from the song and used it as the chorus for his remix, "Surfboard." (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

16 / 21

Cassidy - "Control" (freestyle) - Cassidy almost took on the entire 7:30 himself in a 5 minute-plus freestyle he laid because, "I got hyped when I heard that Kendrick Lamar rap," he said. Over the same No I.D. beat, he namechecks legends ("you'd think Big, Big Pun and Big L ghostwrite for me"), took a moment to re-hash a jab at Meek Mill and concluded that Lamar wouldn't be able to shine on a track with him on it.(Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Kevin Hart responding to Mike Epps’ diss-fest:  - “I Googled Mike Epps just now and my computer said ‘Not relevant anymore.’”  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

17 / 21

Kevin Hart a.k.a. Chocolate Droppa - [Untitled] - Droppa! Kevin Hart's rapper alter ego posted a 16-second response to Lamar on his Instagram. No background music neccessary. As is his M.O., he got real close to the camera and started raging, sending this warning shot: "Come into my place, that mean you wanna chase me!"(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Iman Sumpert - "Dear Kendrick" - Iman Shumpert wants us to know he's serious about dabbling in rap. The Knicks player dropped "Dear Kendrick," shifting his focus from getting a ring from New York to getting the crown. He shouts out Lamar for the platform because, "It's about time everyone knew that I existed," he said. Also, he insists, Pete Rock vouched for him. (Photo: Jennifer Graylock/Getty Images for EPIX)

18 / 21

Iman Sumpert - "Dear Kendrick" - Iman Shumpert wants us to know he's serious about dabbling in rap. The Knicks player dropped "Dear Kendrick," shifting his focus from getting a ring from New York to getting the crown. He shouts out Lamar for the platform because, "It's about time everyone knew that I existed," he said. Also, he insists, Pete Rock vouched for him. (Photo: Jennifer Graylock/Getty Images for EPIX)

Ransom - "Control (Kendrick Lamar Response)" - Still buzzing from the limelight of the wrath of Nicki Minaj, Ransom decided to go at Lamar, who is merely "juggling coasts" while the NJ rapper is "juggling planets." He spends the two minutes, explaining how he likes to bring the pain (he's also known for battling Joe Budden).(Photo: Twitter via 201Ransom)

19 / 21

Ransom - "Control (Kendrick Lamar Response)" - Still buzzing from the limelight of the wrath of Nicki Minaj, Ransom decided to go at Lamar, who is merely "juggling coasts" while the NJ rapper is "juggling planets." He spends the two minutes, explaining how he likes to bring the pain (he's also known for battling Joe Budden).(Photo: Twitter via 201Ransom)

Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie - Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, the so-called Madd Rapper, headed up his own interlude and produced three songs on Harlem World. Three years later, he released an entire album under the Madd Rapper name and continued to land credits with 50, Mary J. Blige and others. In recent years, he worked as a consultant to the 2009 Biggie biopic Notorious, and has been working with Freeway and Fred Da Godson. 

20 / 21

Mad Rapper - "Mad Rapper Freestyle" - Mad Rapper is mad, but not at Lamar. He went in for a freestyle and got at everyone who bothered responding, including Cassidy for his lackluster effort, Fred Da Godson for not having a deal, and even Joell Ortiz (you got to listen to it, we won't repeat that here). (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

10285965

21 / 21

Papoose - "Control (Freestyle)" - Probably the most surprising of responses came from Papoose, who Lamar snuck onstage after his set at Summer Jam XX. Pap acknowledges that from jump, "Hey, yo Kendrick, good look on that Summer Jam move, but you ain't the king of s--t," he exclaimed. Then he proceeded to go in, even bringing up Biggie's "Who Shot Ya." Uh oh. Blasphemy?(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)