Kendrick Lamar Explains Concept Behind Album Cover

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially in Kendrick Lamar’s case. The hip-hop prodigy reveals the deeper concept behind the cover for his debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city.

On the left of the photo are his two uncles, while his grandfather is seated on the right. A young Kendrick sits in his uncle’s lap. Behind him on the wall is a photo of Kendrick and his father. On the table sits a 40-ounce and a baby bottle, while his uncle throws up a gang sign.

“It’s not just music to me. This is a story about the youth and the people that they call delinquents in my city,” Kendrick told Fuse.

The eyes of his relatives are blacked out for “personal reasons,” which he will explain on the album.

“That photo says so much about my life and how I was raised in Compton, and the things I’ve seen just through them innocent eyes,” he said. “You don’t see nobody else’s eyes, but you see my eyes of innocence and trying to figure out what is going on.”

In the interview, Kendrick also speaks about Dr. Dre’s influence, the personal story behind his single “Swimming Pools (Drank),” and the reason his album was delayed until October 22.