Kendrick Lamar Talks "Personal" Album Cover & Friendship With Dr. Dre

FUSE TV - Kendrick Lamar Talks "Personal" Album Cover & Friendship With Dr. Dre

Compton-based rapper Kendrick Lamar recently sat down with Fuse to discuss his upcoming album, good kid, m.A.A.d City. In the process, he opened up about the album’s very personal cover, his relationship with Dr. Dre and his single, "Swimming Pools."

On his album cover: It’s two uncles, my grandfather and me next to a 40 ounce next next to a gang sign. It’s not just music to me; this is a story about the youth and the people they call delinquents in my city.  If you look in the background you see a picture of me with my pops. His eyes are blacked out, but that’s for personal reasons. That photo says so much about my life and how I was raised.

On his relationship with Dr. Dre:  He came from that world where radio wasn’t playing his music so he went out and made his own sound. So he understands that. He knows I come from a place of originality.

On his song "Swimming Pools": The first verse is about people getting drunk and abusing liquor and stuff like that. The second verse is me becoming a teenager and indulging in it the way they do. And me having to make a decision at the end of the day – am I going to be a casual drinker or a drunk?

Dr. Dre: Beat by Beat

56m

Dr. Dre: Beat by Beat

Plastic Surgery Talks With Dr. Miami and Jenelle Butler

6m

Plastic Surgery Talks With Dr. Miami and Jenelle Butler

Nick Cannon Talks His Personal Opinion on Marriage

1m

Nick Cannon Talks His Personal Opinion on Marriage

Surgeon Dr. Crane Talks Breast Surgery, Focus On Trans Community

1m

Surgeon Dr. Crane Talks Breast Surgery, Focus On Trans Community

Baby Talk

23m

Baby Talk

Ayo and Teo Talk Their Evolution While Cooking With Their Father

10m

Ayo and Teo Talk Their Evolution While Cooking With Their Father

T-Pain Talks Developing His Unique Style While Cooking With His Mom

12m

T-Pain Talks Developing His Unique Style While Cooking With His Mom

LA and Xristina Talk Transitioning

1m

LA and Xristina Talk Transitioning

We Need To Talk About America

We Need To Talk About America

LGBTQIA+ Rights, Let's Talk About It

2m

LGBTQIA+ Rights, Let's Talk About It

Robert Jordan Talks Life Outside of DCI

1m

Robert Jordan Talks Life Outside of DCI

Young M.A Talks Whitney Houston & Barbershops

2m

Young M.A Talks Whitney Houston & Barbershops

We Need To Talk About America - S2 Trailer

1m

We Need To Talk About America - S2 Trailer

Issa Rae Talks 'Raedio' and Prioritizing Therapy (Extended Cut)

12m

Issa Rae Talks 'Raedio' and Prioritizing Therapy (Extended Cut)

Out With The Old, In With The New

20m

Out With The Old, In With The New

Gabriel Iglesias Talks Favorite Comedians and Large Penises: Ask Fluffy

4m

Gabriel Iglesias Talks Favorite Comedians and Large Penises: Ask Fluffy

G Fella Delivers More Grilling Tips and Talks New Music

4m

G Fella Delivers More Grilling Tips and Talks New Music

Bilal

10m

Bilal

Edibles Gone Wrong With Krewella

2m

Edibles Gone Wrong With Krewella

Tough Times With Becky G

1m

Tough Times With Becky G

Dance Along With Alfred Robles

1m

Dance Along With Alfred Robles

Tech With A Higher Purpose

20m

Tech With A Higher Purpose

Does Finance Talk Stress You Out? Amara La Negra & Sharelle Rosado Tell All

5m

Does Finance Talk Stress You Out? Amara La Negra & Sharelle Rosado Tell All

A Stolen Tour Bus With Blackbear

2m

A Stolen Tour Bus With Blackbear

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

48s

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

Sprint, Sweat & Pain with The Cadets

52s

Sprint, Sweat & Pain with The Cadets

RiRi Teases 'R9' With New Merchandise

2m

RiRi Teases 'R9' With New Merchandise

Fila Returns with 96s and Ninja Turtles

6m

Fila Returns with 96s and Ninja Turtles

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

Amanda Cerny Drunkenly Runs With The Bulls

8m

Amanda Cerny Drunkenly Runs With The Bulls

Nya Rehearses With Luis and Leilani: Deleted Scene

52s

Nya Rehearses With Luis and Leilani: Deleted Scene

Jimmy Eat World Does Magic Backstage With Smoothini

2m

Jimmy Eat World Does Magic Backstage With Smoothini

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

2m

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

THEY. Does Magic With Smoothini At Firefly 2018

3m

THEY. Does Magic With Smoothini At Firefly 2018

Don't Cancel Me With Amara La Negra

Don't Cancel Me With Amara La Negra

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 3

3m

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 3

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 2

3m

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 2

The Fat Jewish Gets Lucky With Anna Nicole Smith

2m

The Fat Jewish Gets Lucky With Anna Nicole Smith

Former Cadet Bonds With Blue Devils Friends At Picnic

1m

Former Cadet Bonds With Blue Devils Friends At Picnic

First Gen Comedians Break Down America's Obsession with Bacon

2m

First Gen Comedians Break Down America's Obsession with Bacon

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep 1

3m

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep 1

Lil Xan Does Magic Backstage With Smoothini At Firefly 2018

2m

Lil Xan Does Magic Backstage With Smoothini At Firefly 2018

Cardboard Box Trick With Fat Joe: Hip-Hop Houdini Extra

3m

Cardboard Box Trick With Fat Joe: Hip-Hop Houdini Extra

Young M.A takes Shots with Kid Fury and Crissle

12m

Young M.A takes Shots with Kid Fury and Crissle

Take An Exclusive Tour of San Antonio With Rick Gutierrez

3m

Take An Exclusive Tour of San Antonio With Rick Gutierrez

Should You Ever Sleep With A Trump Supporter: Dear Bambiana

1m

Should You Ever Sleep With A Trump Supporter: Dear Bambiana

"Fluffy Breaks Even" Hits AsiaSF With The "Transcendent" Ladies

3m

"Fluffy Breaks Even" Hits AsiaSF With The "Transcendent" Ladies

San Holo Does Magic Backstage With Smoothini At Firefly 2018

3m

San Holo Does Magic Backstage With Smoothini At Firefly 2018

Jesse Serves Up Serious R&B Vibes with "Never Know"

3m

Jesse Serves Up Serious R&B Vibes with "Never Know"

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow: Amanda Cerny's Run-in With the Bulls

3m

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow: Amanda Cerny's Run-in With the Bulls

Alfred and G Reilly Enter Deep Fry Heaven With Chicken Charlie

4m

Alfred and G Reilly Enter Deep Fry Heaven With Chicken Charlie

Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

16m

Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

Ian Sings His Heart Out in "Starts With You Baby" Music Video

3m

Ian Sings His Heart Out in "Starts With You Baby" Music Video

Get A Taste of G Fella's Style with His Gangster Music Video

4m

Get A Taste of G Fella's Style with His Gangster Music Video

How Much Is too Much When It Comes to Sex with Weezy

6m

How Much Is too Much When It Comes to Sex with Weezy

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

2m

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

Fluffy At Home Ep. 3: Gabriel Iglesias Hooks a Fan Up With Fluffy Merch

2m

Fluffy At Home Ep. 3: Gabriel Iglesias Hooks a Fan Up With Fluffy Merch

Aminé

20m

Aminé

The Exchange

1h 27m

The Exchange

Forthcoming

20m

Forthcoming

Tucked

1h 15m

Tucked

Toe to Toe - Trailer

2m

Toe to Toe - Trailer

Toe to Toe

1h 43m

Toe to Toe

Will Bambiana's Anger Issues Lead to Termination: First Look

37s

Will Bambiana's Anger Issues Lead to Termination: First Look

No Place Like Home

21m

No Place Like Home

Carlos Niño Shares His All-Time Favorite Record

2m

Carlos Niño Shares His All-Time Favorite Record

Varsity Punks - Trailer

1m

Varsity Punks - Trailer

Gloria and Emilio Estefan

22m

Gloria and Emilio Estefan

Evidence's Vinyl Collection

11m

Evidence's Vinyl Collection

Into The Woods

21m

Into The Woods

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

Three Kings: Meet the Cast

2m

Three Kings: Meet the Cast

Dan the Automator's Vinyl Collection

15m

Dan the Automator's Vinyl Collection

Adele: Homecoming

58m

Adele: Homecoming

Vanessa Exposes Herself

45m

Vanessa Exposes Herself

Tony Touch's Vinyl Collection

9m

Tony Touch's Vinyl Collection

DJ Eclipse's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

13m

DJ Eclipse's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

Ed Sheeran

20m

Ed Sheeran

Body Image

21m

Body Image

Becky G

20m

Becky G

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

Dorian

15m

Dorian

Transcendent

Transcendent

Get Your First Taste of 'Transcendent'

1m

Get Your First Taste of 'Transcendent'

Divide and Conquer

44m

Divide and Conquer

Lucha Libre

20m

Lucha Libre

The Women/Beverly Hills Chihuahua

22m

The Women/Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Mark Ronson's Vinyl Collection

22m

Mark Ronson's Vinyl Collection

The Cast Answers Rapid-Fire Questions

1m

The Cast Answers Rapid-Fire Questions

The Hollywood Puppet Show S2: First Look

1m

The Hollywood Puppet Show S2: First Look

Transcendent - Trailer

1m

Transcendent - Trailer

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

1m

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

14m

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

Bebe Rexha

20m

Bebe Rexha

DeRay Mckesson Addresses Shaun King Controversy (Extended Cut)

13m

DeRay Mckesson Addresses Shaun King Controversy (Extended Cut)

Meet DeAnna

1m

Meet DeAnna

Curvy Girls - Season 1 Fuse+ Trailer

55s

Curvy Girls - Season 1 Fuse+ Trailer

Curvy Girls - Trailer

55s

Curvy Girls - Trailer

Recap: "Fluffy Breaks Even" Season 1, Episode 4

1m

Recap: "Fluffy Breaks Even" Season 1, Episode 4

Fluffy At Home Ep. 2: Gabriel Iglesias Shows Off His Vintage VW Bus Collection

2m

Fluffy At Home Ep. 2: Gabriel Iglesias Shows Off His Vintage VW Bus Collection