While Kendrick Lamar’s recent album, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers,” primarily explores introspective themes, fans of the rapper remember a time when he was more inclined to respond to perceived provocations (as evidenced by his notorious “Control” verse). A recent instance of this confrontational side can be found in an early version of the song “ELEMENT.” from his album “DAMN.,” which partially surfaced in 2019.
Today, a mostly complete version of the “DAMN.” demo has surfaced, and it is loaded with lyrical jabs aimed at both past and present rap luminaries. Set against a dark and brooding beat that eventually appeared on the “Black Panther” soundtrack in the form of SOBxRBE’s “Paramedic!,” Kendrick Lamar takes shots at Drake and Meek Mill and reserves direct hits for Big Sean, Jay Electronica, and French Montana. These artists had either directly or subtly referenced Lamar in their interviews and lyrics during the recording period of “DAMN.”
In the shelved verse, Lamar addresses French Montana’s comments in interviews, stating, “French Montana speaking on me in interviews, very cynical, dry hating something I don’t approve.” He then turns his attention to Jay Electronica, mentioning, “Jay Electronica threw silencers on my GRAMMY night, another dead prophet hoping the God’ll give ’em life.” The verse concludes with words for Big Sean: “I think his false confidence got him inspired, I can’t make ’em respect you, baby, it’s not my job,” and a reference to the brief but impactful Drake-Meek Mill feud.
This track has been widely circulated on social media, with some speculating that the verse may have been generated by artificial intelligence. However, for those who aren’t tech-savvy, the full song or the original leak from a few years ago can be easily found. Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar
As of the time of this article’s publication, none of the individuals mentioned in the verse have responded. Given the history of some of these figures and their penchant for pettiness, it’s entirely possible that we may witness some responses in the near future.” Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar