Birdman talks Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse and Drake’s “Nothing Was the Same” with Complex

Birdman talks Kendrick Lamar Control and Drake NWTS

Inroads have been made in the rap game and there are a lot of new rappers being discussed. Before this, Cash Money Records had taken the rap game over and they still happen to run the game. Kendrick Lamar had a strong breakout year and he is definitely the future, but Cash Money is still the current.

A lot of these rising names and crews all have ties to Cash Money Records. Birdman is always looking for new talent for the label. Under his belt already is a collaboration with Cash Money, Kendrick Lamar that is. When Kendrick Lamar went off on the new track from Big Sean, “Control,” he only mentioned one YMCMB artist.

There once was a time when Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj were considered three of the top rappers in the game. Kendrick Lamar omitting them on “Control” has led a lot of people to believe they were slighted. Complex talked to Birdman and he opened up about this and Drake’s new album, Nothing Was the Same.

Read an excerpt from the interview below:

How’d you guys respond to Kendrick Lamar naming Drake in the “Control” verse? Kendrick a friend of mine. So, I never put a label on that. His homies is my homies. So I think it’s just rap. People take what we say too far. Look at what happened with Wayne and what happened with Ross and losing they deals. You know when you’re being creative, it’s a thought, it’s a vision. So I don’t take it in no kind of way. I know at the end of the day Kendrick got nothing but love for us, and we got nothing but love for him. I don’t look at it as nothing more than that.

People take what we say too far. Look at what happened with Wayne and what happened with Ross and losing they deals. You know when you’re being creative, it’s a thought, it’s a vision.

What about the fact that he didn’t name Wayne or Nicki? That’s what I’m saying, I don’t look at it like that. I mean, he hustling and he trynna feed his family, but like I say. Kendrick? Homie. Top Dawg and us, we like brothers. Kendrick is my lil’ brother, I got nothing but love for him. So I never looked at nothing, and I don’t weigh it like that, how other people may weigh it. He still the homie, and nothing gonna change. I think people take niccas’ lyrics too far out of context. That’s just my take on it.

Can you tell us anything about Drake’s album coming up? We’re all salivating.
Man, I think Drake is one of one. There’s no duplicating him. He’s one of the most talented I ever been around in my life. I heard the majority of the album, and what he doing, no one has ever done in the business.

With this album, Drake seems primed to claim the throne and get that undisputed title. You think that’s gonna happen?
It’s his time. Ain’t no secret. When you say “claim the throne,” I don’t know what you mean by that. But when I say it’s his time, I mean he’s by far one of the most talented to date. He holds his own weight, he’s one of the most creative people I ever been around in my life, outside of my son Wayne and Nicki.

They all have been very creative, but he’s standing alone on his own. His work ethic is crazy, and I’m super excited. I just feel like this is the time, everything he been through, and the music he do. That set of tracks he just put out? That !! is incredible! And he played it for me, I’m like, “Boy, I saw this before.”

Birdman talks Kendrick Lamar Control and Drake NWTS