(AllHipHop News) Chris Paul and Kendrick Lamar are two of the most the influential entertainers out of California so it is only expected that these two cross paths. For ESPN The Magazine’s recent The Music Issue, the two had a joint interview where they discuss Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse, branding tips from Jay Z and more.
Ever since Lamar’s “Control” verse called out his peers to engage in competition it has been the topic of discussion of everyone from hip hop blogs to mainstream news outlets. Paul explained what his immediate reaction was to hearing the verse and even compared it to his own approach to basketball:
When I heard that verse, I immediately texted him and told him how crazy it was.[Laughs] But like he said, competition is what keeps you going. When I played against Steve Nash the first time, the night before, I couldn’t sleep. He’d just won MVP, and I couldn’t wait to compete against him. Now, it’s funny, I’m nine years into the league, and there are so many great young point guards in our league. They’re coming for me like I was going for Nash. It’s competition — it’s why we do this.
Lamar later stated that Top Dawg Entertainment was molded after Jay Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records in 2004, the year Dame Dash and Jay Z split. Paul explained later how his relationship with Jay Z changed his own views on branding:
Well, I have a real relationship with Jay. I know him very well; we talk all the time. I know how smart and how knowledgeable he is. He educates me on various things. This is bigger than him just being Jay Z, the music artist. His mind is brilliant.
Check out the full joint interview here