A$AP Rocky Understands Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Control’ Backlash: “Everything’s Going To Be Blown Out Of Proportion” [Video]

Written By S. Samuel

New York rapper A$AP Rocky has offered his take on the backlash Kendrick Lamar received in light of his name-dropping "Control" anthem and why he is not surprised at the controversy it sparked.

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In A$AP’s opinion, the competitive nature of hip-hop and artists’ personal feelings played in to who struck back with response tracks.

“I feel like everything’s going to be blown out of proportion,” Rocky said in an interview regarding Lamar’s lyrics. “Of course it is. It’s hip-hop. He did what he did and I think people who had a problem with it said something. People who didn’t have a problem with it didn’t.” (Revolt TV)

Last month, Rocky gave his take on K. Dot’s lyrics in reference to a “King of New York” line.

“He named a lot of n*ggas,” A$AP said in an interview. “I feel like, I mean, that ‘King of New York’ sh*t, you smoking crack, you’re crazy, you know what I mean? Honestly though, K. Dot and them n*ggas, that’s fam. I think hip-hop needs this sh*t. It’s n*ggas who’s pissed off just because they wasn’t mentioned. … I’m not justifiying sh*t, rap is rap, my n*gga. N*gga didn’t say nothing about nobody mother — he didn’t say he want problems. He said, ‘These are my n*ggas and I’m letting y’all know it’s competition.’ What’s the problem? That man know I’m where he at. I feel like all the rappers making disses and responses — I’ma keep it a buck, it’s not even about being relevant because hip-hop ain’t about relevance, man. It’s all about the sport, it’s all about the culture.” (Hot 97)

In a new Billboard cover story, rap star Drake downplays Lamar’s line about murdering him lyrically.

“It just sounded like an ambitious thought to me. That’s all it was. I know good and well that Kendrick’s not murdering me, at all, in any platform. So when that day presents itself, I guess we can revisit the topic.” (Billboard)

Kendrick denied wanting to spark a West Coast versus East Coast rivalry from the track earlier this week.

“I feel as though there are certain cats that are going to take it to the next level and make it a rivalry thing. That’s old school homie. Nobody’s trying to do that. We’re black men out here trying to uplift the culture. My first sold-out show was in New York. I always looked at that place as a place that respected my lyrics and respected the culture and the birthplace of it. I think the ones that really took it out of context was the people we know want to grab an opportunity just off the fact of the hype of the record, rapping — a lot of people think it’s about talent. That’s where they get it wrong, I’m saying I’m the most hungry. I respect the legends of the game. I respect people that have done it before me, people that lost their lives over this. Because of what they laid down, I’m going to try to go that much harder and embrace it and live it. That’s the point of the whole verse and what I was trying to convey behind that verse. All the ignorance behind it, kill that noise. It’ll never be like that again, with two coasts rivals. Not on my behalf.” (Hot 97)

Check out A$AP Rocky’s interview:

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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