I’m too high right now to be articulate, but I think Family Ties was a warning shot towards J. Cole and D to NOT drop First-Person Shooter. The Like That verse was the consequence of them doing so.
I don't know how but maybe Kendrick got a hold of a pre-recording of First-Person Shooter (probably when he was being sent the feature request) but he seems to be warning the other two GOATS that he doesn't fuck with the record, and doesn't fuck with the idea that there's three "GOATS". Lines like these from Family Ties:
Done politickin' with the competition, what's the word? (Yeah) Put that on my mama, nigga, eight in the process Niggas tryna tippy-toe through the progress Tongue-tied when the truth is an object What's the pros and the cons of this next check? And niggas wanna play both sides It's a red dot, don't get on the wrong red eye It's a headshot, Damien Kane, woo, them guys Fuck around and bury two of them guys
This one looks like its about SZA too lol
The girl of your dreams to me is a fan
and this one connects to D's future accusation of Dave being a baby daddy to one of Dot's kids
Dave Free got at least one B in the oven
And then the warning itself:
Before you get to the Father, you gotta holla at me first, bitch Smokin' on top fives Motherfuck that album, fuck that single Burn that hard drive (Burn that shit) Ain't nobody safe When I come, I'm killin' everybody that's outside
This ones the reachiest of reachest but this makes me think that maybe Cole hit up Baby Keem/Kendrick's girl (cos never will Kendrick in a million years think D is number 2, that's definitely Cole):
Smokin' on top fives Stop playin', I'm that guy Number two DM'ing my bitch That's cool, I don't ask why
Please can someone smarter and sober than me help figure this one out there's something here I sense it