Back in October, before we heard much new material from Kendrick Lamar's upcoming sophomore album, To Pimp A Butterfly, we heard him spit on TDE labelmate Jay Rock's single "Pay For It," featuring Chantel. Now Beats By Dre has shared a behind-the-scenes video of Lamar and Rock in the studio, putting together what would become "Pay For It."
Lamar opens the clip, rapping a part of his verse before explaining that Serena Williams' Beats By Dre commercial triggered some inspiration for the track.
"I can't really get in the studio, you know, without being inspired by something," the Compton rapper explained. "Serena come from the same city I come from, so I know the pain that she feels. I know the loss that she has, and that was my approach on the record. You gotta pull from that. You gotta pull from everything you hate about yourself, everything you hate about where you come from, and turn it into something positive."
Rock then joins Lamar and explains his personal inspiration for the song.
"It's about overcoming them trials and tribulations, you know what I mean?" he said. "Because where I come from, man, I'm from the city of Watts, the east side, out the projects, where it's like you're a product of your environment. Basically that's what it's about, surviving and overcoming. I go off the feel of the beat. I just let the beat talk to me. I was in the streets battling with that like, 'What do I want to do. You wanna be in these streets or do you wanna do music? Whatchu wanna do?' Instead of going out and flipping burgers. I'm gunna flip these words. "
TDE producer Sounwave and engineer Mixed By Ali also make appearances in the clip and talk about their side of the song's story.
Check it out here:
Pain becomes power. That's why @SerenaWilliams, @KendrickLamar & @JayRock #DoTheWork. Watch the #BeatxBeat premiere. https://t.co/bz87OGtGRJ
— Beats By Dre (@beatsbydre) March 13, 2015
We expect that once Lamar's album drops and the buzz dies down a bit that Rock will have his time to shine.
What do you think of "Pay For It?" Are you excited to hear more music from Jay Rock? Sound off in the comments section below!
