The first thing I did was call my grandmother when I heard this song. "Get God on the phone," made me do it. My abuela is the closest thing to God in my universe. She doesn't trip when I don't hit her up for a while, and is always happy to see me no matter how much of a piece of shit I am. Lamar's surprise tape—essentially extended play of To Pimp a Butterfly—is like a church testimonial. He's saying everything he wanted to say on untitled unmastered. that he didn't get to say on TPAB plus some. Cornrow Kenny mixed social commentary with taking shots at the game this go-round including a Jay Electronica sub, and hit us in the head with more beautiful music to have eargasms to once again.
I was initially going to go with Joey Bada$$' response to Troy Ave, but I felt like Kendrick had too many flows and stunted too much on the last verse of "untitled 02 | 06.23.2014." We first heard a variation of the verse during his performance on Jimmy Fallon back in January, but this version is a lot cleaner and more substantial. He's bigging up himself as he bigs up his brothers because that's what leaders do. He's the quarterback of one of rap's most powerful teams and he put pressure on anyone standing in their way.
Some folks feel like he was mocking Drizzy on this track with the various voice pitch switches and all that. I personally feel like that's a bit of a stretch, though, as does Sounwave. Kendrick has been switching flows from the start and has always had multiple layers to his delivery. So settle down conspiracy theorists, we're all thirsty for that battle. Press play on "untitled 02" and read along.
"Cornrow Kenny, he was born with a vision
All morning with the mixed dashboards triple digits
Parallel park like an alien, can't visit
Slideshow for the night show, 10 bitches
Find hoes with a blindfold, King Kendrick
So many plays on me I finesse
Palisade views with some sex
I lost a lot of love for missionary
This the first time I confess
Me and Top is like a Kobe and Phil
A father figure fuck with him, you get killed
Fuck with me and he'll kill you himself
TDE the mafia of the West
Move in silence, yeah, we juggin’ like that
Act of violence, yeah, we juggin’ like that
I did a lot of dumb shit in my past
Lord forgive me, hoping I don't relapse
Dave just bought a new 9-11
Almost thought I’d seen another plane crash
Q just bought a brand new McLaren
Rock-a-Lack about to buy the projects
Moosa got his son dripping in gold
Ali 'bout to let his hair down on hoes
Me, I'm about to let my hair down on hoes
Top billing that’s a million a show
Might blow the whole no whammy on Soul
Might tell Obama be more like Punch
Sounwave caught a Grammy last year
Mack Wop, bet he do what he want
Fuck you niggas, level two I'm not done
2Teez told me that I am the one
I can put a rapper on life support
Guarantee that's something none of you want
Ten homies down and they all serving life
What is like $250 a month?
What if I empty my bank out and stunt?
What if I certified all of these ones?
Bitch I get buck, I'm as real as they come
Shit is amazing, I'm feeding my cravings
You know that you want me, come here now lil' baby
I'm fuckin, I'm crazy
Serving it like I belong in the basement
Or live at the Days Inn
Yan Yan my relative, black cherry soda
Pistol and poverty, come get to know us
(Get Top on the phone)"
"Might tell Obama be more like Punch" is the line of the year, don't @ me, you're better off getting God on the phone.
All hail King Kendrick.
