Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” Sends Toronto Chinese Restaraunt Into A Frenzy
When we said beef, we didn’t mean an order of beef & broccoli, but here we are.
According to City News, Kendrick Lamar‘s “Euphoria” has dramatically boosted sales for a Toronto Chinese restaurant. The track finds Lamar rapping, “I be at New Ho King eatin’ fried rice with a dip sauce and a blammy, crodie,” creating a Keith Lee effect for the Canadian spot. Johnny Lu, New Ho King’s owner, spoke to the news outlet about the sudden boost in business.
“I’m trying to learn how to sing this song now!” Lu expressed. “This morning, a lot of people texted me saying that’s your restaurant? I say, ‘Yes.’ They say, ‘Look at the song,’” he began. “He said good food and fried rice—get more and more fried rice, the chef’s gonna be busy!… Kendricks a good guy, oh my God!”
The diss dropped on Tuesday (April 30), and as of Thursday (May 2), New Ho King has received hundreds of 5-star reviews, with most of them referring to K. Dot or his diss record. “I remember I was conflicted, eating fried rice, it was good. (I’ve never had it, but my goat has),” a foodie typed. “5-Star because Kendrick sent me, Fried Rice it’s the way,” another account named OG Larry typed.
“Euphoria” seems to have more replay value than critics initially thought. When the song isn’t boosting local economies, it is also being dissected for its double entendres.
Young Guru recently explained the importance of K. Dot’s diss record. The music engineer called attention to the Richard Pryor and Teddy Pendergrass samples, detailing how they elevate the song’s meaning. Guru began with Pryor’s acting career, specifically his role as The Wiz in the movie of the same name. He spoke about the song’s beginning sound bite, which features Pryor saying, “Everything they say about me is true.”
“I realize some of my young people and my students [have] never seen The Wiz. If you came up in a Black household, it was mandatory. The dance scene in Oz is incredible, but it points out that pop culture is fake. The Wiz changes the colors, and people just go along with it. Richard Pryor later admits that he is a fake and a phony,” he explained.
He then explained why Teddy Pendergrass’ “You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration” was sampled on the track. Without giving away too much, he briefly described Pendergrass’ situation. “Teddy Pendergrass got into a car accident and had to live the rest of his life paralyzed in a wheelchair,” he added.
Guru insinuates without picking a side, saying that Kendrick is comparing Drake to both of these legends. Much like Pryor, Drake is an actor playing a role in his exaggerated rap persona. Much like Pendergrass, Drizzy played a character, Jimmy Brooks, who was paralyzed in Degrassi.
Like we said—boosting economies and being dissected.
