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Big Sean unveiled a track titled Control (feat. Kendrick Lamar) during the pre-release promotional phase of his sophomore studio album Hall of Fame on August 12, 2013. The record never made it onto the album's final tracklist over reported "sample clearance" issues but is still regarded as being one of hip-hop's most outrightly assertive tracks.
The main reason behind Control's popularity can be found in a few lines from Kendrick Lamar's performance, where the rapper spends a significant portion of his verse taking shots at some of the biggest names in hip-hop which included artists like Drake, Mac Miller, Tyler the Creator, as well as Big Sean.
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The verse was later clarified by Kendrick Lamar as being a friendly reminder of the competitive nature that hip-hop was born out of, however, many still look back at this record as being the reason Dot and Drake eventually went head-to-head in this year's rap beef.
Bar-for-Bar: Breaking down Big Sean, Jay Electronica, and Kendrick Lamar's 2013 single 'Control'
The record clocks in at a massive 7:30 minutes, featuring hyper-aggressive bars that find Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Electron' asserting their status over the competition. Big Sean's Control was produced by No I.D., who brought thick drum sequences with an enticing sample.
The track's production as the song progressed introduced darker elements into its composition. Some of the major themes this record appears to delve into have been listed below:
- Competition
- Hip-Hop Culture
- Success
- Wealth
- Influence
- Substance Abuse
- Excess
- Rap beef
- Faith
- Religion
- Idol Worship
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
(Verse 1)
"Boy, I'm 'bout my business on business, I drink liquor on liquor / I had women on women: yeah, that's bunk-bed b---hes / I've done lived more than an 80-year-old man still kickin' / ‘Cause they live for some moments, and I live for a livin' / But this for the girls who barely let me get to first base / On some ground ball s--t"
Although the song is remembered for Kendrick's hyper-aggressive verse, Control opens with Big Sean delivering a long verse speaking on themes of success, wealth, and his status in the rap game.
He compares his life experiences to that of an 80-year-old man explaining how he's "lived" and seen more, alluding to darker themes.
"‘Cause now I run my city on some town hall s--t / They prayin' on my motherf--kin' downfall, b---h / Like a drought, but you gon' get this rain like it's May weather / G.O.O.D. Music, 'Ye weather / Champagne just tastes better / They told me I never, boy, never say never / Swear flow special like an infant's first steps / I got paid then reversed debts"
Sean proceeds to take shots at his critics explaining how they've been "praying" for downfall ever since he blew up. The rapper goes on to shout out Kanye West and his ex-label G.O.O.D. Music, before flexing his luxurious lifestyle.
"Then I finally found a girl that reverse stress / So now I'm talkin' to the reaper to reverse death / Yep, so I can kick it with my granddad, take him for a ride / Show him I made somethin' out myself and not just tried / Show him the house I bought the fam, let him tour inside / No matter how far ahead I get, I always feel behind in my mind / But f--k tryin' and not doin"
Big Sean then delivers a bar that speaks on his relationship with his grandfather, highlighting how he wishes to prove his success and the efforts he's put into securing his family.
The rapper ends this narrative by explaining how although he's achieved a lot of success in his life, he continues to feel trapped and unsuccessful inside his "mind". This line alludes to a struggle with mental health that Sean has brought up several times across his discography.
"Cause not doin' is somethin' a n---a not doin' / I said f--k tryin' and not doin' / ‘Cause not doin' is somethin' a n---a not doin' / I grew up to Em, B.I.G., and Pac, b---h, and got ruined / So until I got the same crib B.I.G. had in that 'Juicy' vid / B---h, I can't motherf--kin' stop movin' / Go against me, you won't stop losin"
Sean proceeds to shout out Eminem, The Notorious B.I.G., and Tupac Shakur, highlighting these rappers as having a major influence on his life and career.
The bar ends with the rapper explaining that he'll continue to strive toward success until he can finally rest in the house that Biggie showcased in his Juicy music video.
"From the city where every month is May-Day at home, spray your dome / N---as get sprayed up like A.K. was cologne for a paycheck or loan / Yeah, I know that s--t ain't fair / They say Detroit ain't got a chance, we ain't even got a mayor / You write your name with a Sharpie, I write mine in stone / I knew the world was for the taking and wouldn't take long"
Big Sean then begins to speak about his hometown Detroit, recounting instances of gun violence, gambling, and political instability.
The rapper goes on to explain why the city's lack of a Mayor led him to believe he would be the one to guide his peers, citing how he always knew the "world" was set for his taking.
"We on, tryna be better than everybody that's better than everybody / Rep Detroit, everybody, Detroit vers' everybody / I'm so f--kin' first class I could spit up on every pilot / The city's my Metropolis, feel it, it's metabolic / And I'm over n---as sayin' they're the hottest n---as / Then run to the hottest n---as just to stay hot / I'm one of the hottest because I flame drop"
Sean continues to represent Detroit, even exclaiming that sees the world as his city vs everybody else. This line alludes to his appreciation for rappers and hip-hop stars, like Eminem, who continue to represent the city in their music.
An interesting line on this bar finds Big Sean comparing himself to other rappers by explaining that unlike his competition, who try too hard to stay relevant, he continues to make impactful music by simply being himself.
"Drop fire, and not because I'm namedroppin', Hall of Fame droppin' / And I ain't takin' s--t from nobody unless they're OGs / ‘Cause that ain't the way of a OG / So I G-O collect mo' Gs, every dollar / Never changed though, I'm just the new version of old me / Forever hot-headed but never got cold feet"
The bars and cadence get more aggressive as the verse comes to an end, with the rapper highlighting his ego and perseverance as some of his core qualities.
Big Sean even cites refusing to take advice or criticism from anybody below his status, explaining he would only listen to the "OG's" he looks up to.
"Got up in the game, won't look back at my old seats / Clique so deep we take up the whole street / I need a b---h so bad that she take up my whole week / Sean Don"
The verse ends with Sean highlighting his rise to success, hoping to never look back to his early days as he continues to grow and evolve as an artist.
Listeners are then introduced to Kendrick Lamar's bridge before the rapper opens on Control's second verse.
(Bridge)
"Miscellaneous minds are never explainin' their minds / Devilish grin for my alias aliens to respond / Peddlin' sin, thinkin' maybe when you get old you realize / I'm not gonna fold or demise / I don't smoke crack, motherf--ker, I sell it! / B---h, everything I rap is a quarter piece to your melon"
Kendrick Lamar's Bridge opens with him highlighting how people with a lot of "miscellaneous" thoughts usually keep to themselves and don't intend to explain the deeper meanings behind certain things they say.
This ties into the final line where he exclaims that similar to a .25 caliber gun or "quarter piece" of crack-cocaine, the rapper's bars and entendres will metaphorically "blow" listeners' minds when the true meaning behind his verses are explained.
"So if you have a relapse, just relax and pop in my disc / Don't you pop me no f--kin' pill / I'ma pop you, then give you this"
The bridge ends with Kendrick Lamar citing his wish for addicts and abusers to stray away from drugs, and instead cope with their addiction by popping in a "disc" and listening to his music.
(Verse 2)
"Tell Flex to drop a bomb on this s--t / So many bombs, ring the alarm, like Vietnam on this s--t / So many bombs, make Farrakhan think that Saddam in this b---h / One at a time, I line them up / And bomb on they mom while she watchin' the kids / I'm in a destruction mode if the gold exists / I'm important like the Pope"
Kendrick Lamar begins his verse by shouting out Funkmaster Flex who hosts the New York-based popular Hot 97 radio station. The dropping "bombs" bar is a reference to the DJ's use of a bomb sound that he uses before previewing hot new singles live.
This line could be Kendrick explaining that Flex should use his signature sound when playing Control at Hot 97, which very likely happened given the aggressive bars dropped on this verse.
"I'm Makaveli's offspring, I'm the King of New York / King of the Coast; one hand, I juggle 'em both / The juggernaut's all in your jugular, you take me for jokes / Live in the basement, church pews, and funeral faces / Cartier bracelets for my women friends, I'm in Vegas / Who the f--k y'all thought it's supposed to be?"
Kendrick Lamar praises Tupac, referring to himself as the late rapper's son before exclaiming himself to be the "King of New York".
This line refers to famed East Coast vs West Coast beef, with the Compton rapper humorously claiming to have also conquered the East. Kendrick continues by highlighting his excessive and luxurious lifestyle, simultaneously suggesting himself to be hip-hop's "unstoppable force".
"If Phil Jackson came back, still no coachin' me / I'm uncoachable, I'm unsociable, f--k y'all clubs! F--k y'all pictures! Your Instagram can gobble these n-ts! / Gobble d--k up 'til you hiccup, my big homie Kurupt / This the same flow that put the rap game on a crutch (West, West, West, West, West, West)"
Kendrick then claims to be an "uncoachable" and "unsociable" player in rap, before delivering aggressive bars against critics and people with seemingly materialistic morals.
The "Phil Jackson" line was an interesting name drop, given it finds Kendrick Lamar claiming that even Phil, regarded as one of greatest NBA coaches in history for eleven championship wins and over a thousand regular season wins, wouldn't be able to train him.
"I've seen n----s transform like villain Decepticons / Mollies probably turn these n----s to f--kin' Lindsay Lohan / A bunch of rich a-- white girls lookin' for parties / Playin' with Barbies / Wreck the Porsche before you give them the car key / Judgement to the monarchy, blessings to Paul McCartney / You called me a black Beatle, I'm either that or a Marley"
Kendrick Lamar then takes shots at people indulging in an excessive lifestyle, using a "Transformers" movie reference to claim they transform like Decepticons and turn into "Lindsay Lohan" every time they take Molly.
Kendrick ends the bars by citing how people claim him to be a "Black Beatle," claiming he's either that or Bob Marley, alluding to the impactful nature of his own music.
"I don't smoke crack, motherf--ker, I sell it! I'm dressed in all black, this is not for the fan of Elvis / I'm aimin' straight for your pelvis / You can't stomach me? You plan on stumpin' me? B---h, I’ve been jumped before you put a gun on me / B---h, I put one on yours, I'm Sean Connery / James Bonding with none of you n----s"
Kendrick Lamar then delivers bar after bar asserting himself and his artistic independence, name-dropping "Sean Connery" before explaining why nobody should expect him to "James Bond" with any of his peers or colleagues.
"Climbin' 100 mil in front of me / And I'm gonna get it even if you're in the way / And if you're in it, better run for Pete's sake / I heard the barbershops be in great debates all the time / 'Bout who's the best MC: Kendrick, Jigga, and Nas / Eminem, André 3000; the rest of y'all / New n----s just new n----s, don't get involved"
Kendrick Lamar cites how nobody can stop him from achieving the success he's sought to achieve.
Kendrick proceeds to cite that he's heard about the "Barbershop discussions" where fans discuss who is hip-hop's greatest MC, highlighting that besides Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, André 3000, and himself, the rest of the rap game should remain "uninvolved".
"And I ain't rockin' no more designer s--t / White T’s and Nike Cortez, this red Corvette's anonymous / I'm usually homeboys with the same n----s I'm rhymin' with / But this is hip-hop, and them n----s should know what time it is / And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale / Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake / Big Sean, Jay Electron', Tyler, Mac Miller"
Kendrick Lamar then disregards living a luxurious lifestyle, choosing to be more anonymous. This line is delivered before K-Dot calls out some of hip-hop's biggest names, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Tyler, and Mac Miller.
Kendrick also calls out Big Sean and Jay Electron', who feature alongside him on Control, which adds an element of playful competitiveness to the track's lyricism.
"I got love for you all, but I'm tryna murder you n----s / Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you n----s / They don't wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you n----s / What is competition? I'm tryna raise the bar high"
Kendrick Lamar highlights his intent to dissolve these rappers' careers by attacking their artistry in a manner that their "core fanbase" would begin to avoid listening to them, eventually hating the music they make.
Kenny cites how he wishes for these rapper's fans to eventually not want to "hear one more noun or verb," alienating their favorite artist to instead support Kendrick Lamar.
"Who tryna jump and get it? You're better off tryna skydive / Out the exit window of five G5's with five grand / With your granddad as the pilot, he drunk as f--k, tryna land / With the hand full of arthritis and poppin' prosthetic leg"
Kendrick Lamar begins to metaphorically explain the skill difference between himself and other rappers by using the example of a drunk pilot.
K-Dot highlights that rappers who wish to go against him are passengers in a plane, piloted by a drunk, who may potentially crash the flight given his heavy intoxication. Kendrick explains how his competition has a better chance of "sky diving" out of the plane, and surviving, than going up against him.
"Bumpin' Pac in the cockpit so the s--t that pops in his head / Is an option of violence, someone heard the stewardess said / That your parachute is a latex condom hooked to a dread / West Coast"
Kendrick Lamar ends his verse by highlighting how rappers will fail when going up against him because they're not equipped with matching skills.
Kendrick calls back to the previous line, metaphorically explaining how they have no parachute to save them from their free fall. Listeners then transition into Control's final verse delivered by Jay Electronica.
(Verse 3)
"You could check my name on the books / I Earth Wind & Fire’d the verse, then reigned on the hook / The legend of Dorothy Flowers proclaimed from the roof / The tale of a magnificent king who came from the nooks / Of the wild magnolia, mother of many soldiers / We live by every single word she ever told us"
Where Kendrick was asserting himself over his competition by highlighting a difference in skill and abilities, Jac Electron's verse opens with biblical references that identify himself as being one of hip-hop's "God" figures. Jay explains why history will remember his influence citing how his name's been written down in the books (i.e. Hall of Fame).
The rest of the bar appears to be dedicated to the rapper's grandmother Dorothy Flowers, who he's discussed at several points across his discography for having a profound impact on the way he lives his life.
"Watch over your shoulders / And keep a tin of beans for when the weather turn the coldest / The Lord is our shepherd, so our cup runneth over / Put your trust in the Lord, but tether your Chevy Nova / I’m spittin' this s--t for closure / And God is my witness, so you could get it from Hova"
Jay recounts the various lessons he's learned over the years alluding to instances of betrayal and financial struggles, citing that having faith is a determining factor for those who wish to make it out of these issues stronger.
"To all you magicians that’s fidgetin' with the cobra / I’m solid as a rock, ‘cause I came from a rock / That’s why I came with the rock / Then signed my name on the Roc / Draw a line around some Earth, then put my name on the plot / ‘Cause I endured a lot of pain for everythang that I got / The eyelashes like umbrellas when it rain from the heart"
Given the biblical comparisons between snakes and Satan, Jay proceeds to take a stance against anybody engaging in activities that go against Christ.
He asserts himself over his competition citing his intention to stake claim to the rap game, highlighting how his "enduring" pain and suffering throughout his career is what led to him making music that resonates with people.
"And the tissue is like an angel kissin' you in the dark / You go from blind sight to hindsight / Passion of the Christ, right, to baskin' in the limelight / It take time to get your mind right / Jay Electricity, PBS Mysteries / In a lofty place tanglin' with Satan over history / You can’t say s--t to me, الحمد لله / It’s strictly by faith that we made it this far"
Jay Electronica's final few bars find him explaining that having faith will help one go from "blindsight" to "hindsight," citing how God helps people move forward in their lives.
The verse ends with Jay stating that "faith" is the only reason he made it this far into his career. The instrumental plays out for another 30 seconds before the song closes out.
Although Kendrick Lamar calling out Drake, more than a decade ago, was seemingly intended to ignite hip-hop's competitive spirit, his recent diss tracks stray far from those emotions with Dot aggressively attempting to dismantle Drizzy's career.
During their iconic beef, Kendrick Lamar dropped diss tracks like Euphoria, 6:16 in LA, Meet The Grahams, and Not Like Us, the last of which went to No.1 on Billboard's Hot 100 charts.
