August 13, 2013. If you were on Twitter that night, you remember the digital equivalent of a nuclear blast. Big Sean dropped a leftover track. A "throwaway." But it wasn't just any song. It was Control, and it effectively ended the "friendly" era of 2010s hip-hop in about seven minutes.
Honestly, it’s one of the weirdest moments in music history. The song belongs to Big Sean. It features a legendary, rare appearance from Jay Electronica. Yet, when people talk about control by big sean, they aren't usually talking about Sean or Jay. They’re talking about the "King of New York" from Compton who decided to name-drop his entire Christmas card list and then tell them he was trying to "murder" them.
Ten years later, the dust has settled, but the impact is still vibrating.
The Song That Wasn't Supposed to Be a Ghost
There is a massive misconception that control by big sean was a diss track. It wasn't. At least, not in the traditional sense.
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The song was originally intended for Big Sean's sophomore album, Hall of Fame. Produced by the legendary No I.D., it’s a soulful, booming masterpiece. But there was a problem: a sample clearance issue. Specifically, the song samples "Where I'm From" by Jay-Z and "El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido" by Quilapayún. Because they couldn't clear the bits in time for the album release, the track was cut.
Sean, being Sean, didn't want to waste the heat. He gave it to Funkmaster Flex to premiere on Hot 97.
The rest is history.
It’s kind of ironic, really. Sean’s verse is actually quite good. He’s hungry, he’s technical, and he’s holding his own. But he made the "mistake" of letting Kendrick Lamar go second. Kendrick didn't just rap; he issued a manifesto. He called out J. Cole, Drake, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Wale, Pusha T, Big K.R.I.T., Tyler, the Creator, and Mac Miller. Oh, and he called out the two guys on the song with him, too.
Why the "King of New York" Line Broke the Internet
The most controversial part of control by big sean wasn't even the name-dropping. It was Kendrick—a kid from California—proclaiming, "I'm the King of New York / King of the Coast / One hand I juggle them both."
New York rappers took it personally.
Papoose, Joell Ortiz, and even Lupe Fiasco (who wasn't even from NY) felt the need to respond. It was a chaotic week. You’ve got to understand the climate of 2013. Hip-hop had become very "buddy-buddy." Rappers were more worried about being invited to the same fashion shows than they were about being the best lyricist.
Kendrick saw a void. He basically walked into a room full of his friends and said, "I love you guys, but I’m going to make sure your fans never want to hear another noun or verb from you again."
The Drake Fallout and the Long Game
While most rappers took the challenge in stride—Pusha T famously tweeted "I hear u loud and clear my ni**a"—one person was notably saltier than the rest.
Drake.
In interviews following the release of control by big sean, Drake dismissed the verse as a "moment" that wouldn't last. He called it an "ambitious thought." But looking back from 2026, it’s clear that this was the official start of the cold war between Kendrick and Drake that eventually boiled over into the massive beef of 2024.
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The song changed the trajectory of everyone involved:
- Big Sean: It cemented his reputation as a "good sport" but also someone who occasionally gets outshined on his own records.
- Jay Electronica: It reminded people he existed, even if we had to wait another seven years for his actual album.
- Kendrick Lamar: It turned him from a "rising star" into the definitive leader of the new school.
Where Can You Even Listen to It?
This is the part that frustrates new fans. Because of those pesky sample issues mentioned earlier, control by big sean is not on Spotify. It’s not on Apple Music. It’s a "lost" classic that exists primarily on YouTube and SoundCloud.
It’s basically a digital artifact.
If you want to understand the competitive spirit of hip-hop, you have to go back and listen to this. It’s seven minutes of pure, unadulterated lyricism. No hooks. No radio-friendly melodies. Just bars.
Actionable Insights for Music Heads
If you're looking to dive deeper into the era that control by big sean defined, don't just stop at the song.
First, go listen to Big K.R.I.T.’s response track, "Mount Olympus." Most critics agree it was the only response that actually rivaled Kendrick’s energy. Second, track the "Control" lineage through Kendrick’s later work like "The Heart Part 4." You can see the seeds of his aggressive competitive streak being planted right here in 2013.
Finally, if you're a creator or artist, take the "Control" lesson to heart: sometimes your "throwaways" are actually your legacy. Sean didn't have to release this song. It wasn't on the album. But by putting it out for the culture, he created a moment that defined a decade.
Don't sit on your best work just because it doesn't fit the "official" plan. Put it out. Let the world react. Even if someone else tries to take the crown on your own track, you’re still the one who built the stage.