22 October 2012 · 15 YEARS
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Kendrick Lamar
“A short film by Kendrick Lamar”, reads the cover, and the album follows that idea through a story of his teenage years in Compton. It was his first major-label record, released through Top Dawg, Aftermath and Interscope, with Dr. Dre as executive producer.
“Compton”, featuring Dr. Dre, was the first song recorded and now closes the sequence. Along the way come “Backseat Freestyle”, “Poetic Justice” with Drake and “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst”. “Swimming Pools (Drank)” was a single before release, and the album entered the Billboard 200 at number two with 242,000 copies.
Sources
Rights-holder Apple Music metadata: release date October 22, 2012; ℗ 2012 Aftermath/Interscope Records.Independent corroboration: release history’s earliest official date October 22, 2012 (earlier leaks were unofficial); billed as a short film; Compton concept; Dr. Dre executive producer, Compton first song recorded; guests Drake, MC Eiht; Swimming Pools single July 2012; debuted No. 2 with 242,000 copies.