Kendrick Lamar says that he will only apologize to one person he named in his verse on Big Sean’s “Control.

“I still gotta speak my peace to Phil,” Kendrick Lamar says during an interview with Vibe, referring to New York Knicks president Phil Jackson. “It’s a beautiful thing, first of all. Second of all, I have to go back and say how big of a fan I was, and still am, of Phil. [I’ve been a fan of his] since the Bulls and Lakers, so for him to actually acknowledge me in the light of music was something unexpected. I thought it was dope. But I don’t want to be on Phil’s bad side, so he’s the only person I will apologize to (both laugh) about the line.”

On “Control,” Kendrick Lamar rapped, “Phil Jackson came back, still no coaching me. I’m uncoachable.” 

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

Jackson coached both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

In August 2013, Jackson responded to Lamar on Twitter. A screen shot of the tweet is as follows: 

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

When “Control” was released in August 2013, Kendrick Lamar drew attention by naming several rappers in his verse.

“I’m usually homeboys with the same niggas I’m rhymin’ with,” Kendrick Lamar raps on the song. “But this is Hip Hop and them niggas should know what time it is. That goes for Jermaine ColeBig K.R.I.T.WalePusha T, Meek MillA$AP RockyDrake, Big Sean, Jay Electron[ica], Tyler[, the Creator]Mac Miller. I got love for you all but I’m tryin’ to murder you niggas. Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you niggas [and that] they don’t want to hear not one more noun or verb from you niggas. What is competition? I’m trying to raise the bar high.” 

Elsewhere in the Vibe interview, Kendrick Lamar named artists who are not rappers he would like to work with.

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

“I always wanted to work with Sade,” he says. “I know [Sade] is the group, but I always wanted to work with her. She has a very, very nice voice. Since day one, Anita Baker and Patti LaBelle, too. Those are the only people I can think of straight off the top of the head.”

RELATED:Kendrick Lamar Compares New Album To “good kid, m.A.A.d city”