Debuted by Young Guru at a SXSW DJ set, this revamped track utilizes the beat that initially catapulted rapper Kendrick Lamar to hip-hop stardom. The verse by Jay-Z starts off slightly lazy and reserved, but quickly picks up pace after Hov drops some classic one-liners. In the wake of the rap legend’s mediocrity, however, Kendrick spews an eloquent, syncopated strain of impassioned rhymes. It’s a proper take-two for the still maturing artist, whose shown obvious growth since albums like Overly Dedicated and Section.80. The four-minute track fades out in sophisticated, orchestral instrumentation, somehow reaffirming the remix as a legitimate piece of art.
