Killer Mike and Rapsody Thank Kendrick Lamar on Social Media
Last night, Kendrick Lamar unexpectedly dropped his sophomore album To Pimp A Butterfly a week early, blessing the hip-hop world with one of the most highly-anticipated projects in years. Before the album was officially made available, details were beginning to slowly leak out; first the cover art was revealed, then a tracklist confirmed and finally, just hours before the album was put up for sale, the album's few features became public, with Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat, George Clinton, James Fauntleroy and Ronald Isley credited and only Snoop Dogg and Rapsody sharing rapping duties with K.Dot.
Once the album hit retail late last night, Rapsody and 9th Wonder both took to Instagram to thank Kendrick Lamar for including her on the high-profile release.
"'When shit hit the fan, is U still a fan?' Show up for King Kendrick. Buy up. This is the musical million man March.....walk with the homie," Rap wrote, quoting from the lyrics to "Mortal Man," the final song on the LP (Rapsody's feature comes on the track "Complexion (A Zulu Love)").
9th Wonder, who recorded the verse in Washington, D.C. and owns Rap's record label Jamla Records, also spoke about her inclusion on the LP.
"Talking about a hard secret to hold...but now the secret is out: @rapsodymusic is on the upcoming Kendrick Lamar album "To Pimp A Butterfly". Project after project, verse after verse, remaining steadfast and true to what she believed in, paid off. 4 and a half years: 7 projects (4 mixtapes, 2 eps and 1 album), a hell of a lot of work, and we are just getting started. The crazy thing is, it took me 4 and a half years from my first beat to get to the Black Album (coincidence). So many doors shut, for this opportunity to happen. Funny how the universe works. This victory says so much and means a lot to not only her, @Jamlarecords, but the fans around the globe that have been with her since day 1...AND the new fans she will make. This is only the beginning. The beginnings of a great EMCEE, not female EMCEE....an EMCEE. Thank you King Kendrick for recognized what most won't or wouldn't. You called on her and she delivered. Please everyone....give it up for someone who deserves this moment.....yall give it up for Queen Rap."
Plenty of artists were responding on Twitter and Instagram as the album began to make the rounds and one MC in particular had a unique take. Killer Mike, who has had an incredible run of success in the past few years as a solo artist, one half of the duo Run The Jewels with El-P and as one of the brightest minds in political and social activism in music, period. Mike's unflinching, hard-hitting lyricism has not gone unnoticed by Kendrick and the Compton shouts him out on his song "Hood Politics" on TPAB. "Everybody want to talk about who this and who that/Who the realest and who whack, who white or who black/Critics want to mention that they miss when hip-hop was rappin’/Muthafucka if you did, then Killer Mike'd be platinum," Kendrick raps, possibly echoing Jay Z's "Moment Of Clarity" line, "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli/Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense/But I did five mil, I ain't been rhyming like Common since."
Mike took to his own Instagram page to acknowledge the shout out last night. "#Preach (young Dolph voice) lol. Preshate the Salutes from fellow EmCee Kendrick Lamar on his record "Hood Politics". Lemme also state @cthagod been telling folks this for years. LoL love and respect," he wrote.
Related: Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s "King Kunta"
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