Kendrick Lamar’s Scrapped ‘The Recipe’ Video Revealed on Podcast

A newly released podcast has revealed why Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre’s music video for “The Recipe” was shelved ahead of the release of Lamar’s 2012 debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city — a project that remains on the Billboard 200 more than a decade later.

On the first episode of The 3rd Verse Podcast, hosts Stat Quo, DJ Mormile, and Justin Hunte discussed the unreleased video, which was originally intended to lead the album’s rollout. The video was filmed before the album’s release but ultimately replaced by the single “Swimming Pools (Drank).”

DJ Mormile, who worked at Interscope Records during that period, explained that he and Top Dawg Entertainment founder Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith were leaning toward “Swimming Pools” as the stronger lead single. However, the label had already invested in a full-scale production and rollout for “The Recipe.”

Images shared at the time by ScHoolboy Q — showing a set with Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, bikini-clad women, and a swimming pool — remain the only public evidence of the scrapped video.

The shift in strategy proved successful. “Swimming Pools” became a major hit and helped propel Kendrick Lamar to global recognition. Thirteen years after its release, good kid, m.A.A.d city continues to chart, currently sitting at No. 73 on the Billboard 200.