Format Digital download Genre West Coast hip hop | Recorded 2012 Length 5:53 | |
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Released April 3, 2012 (2012-04-03) Label Top Dawg
Aftermath
Interscope | ||
"The Recipe" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar. It was released on April 3, 2012, as his commercial debut single and the first single from his major label second studio album good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012). The song, produced by West Coast record producer Scoop DeVille, features a guest appearance from Lamar's mentor, renowned record producer and fellow rapper Dr. Dre, who also mixed the record alongside TDE's engineer MixedByAli.
Contents
Background
On March 30, 2012, after speaking on his newly signed joint venture deal, which brought Top Dawg Entertainment under Interscope Records, Lamar announced on Big Boy's Neighborhood that he would premier his debut single “The Recipe”, to the morning radio show on April 2. The song heavily samples "Meet the Frownies" as performed by Twin Sister.
Composition
The song's production was handled by Scoop DeVille, who has produced a number of songs for West Coast rappers, including Snoop Dogg's "I Wanna Rock"; a slow, West Coast hip hop inspired tune with heavy vocal samples. "The Recipe" features a constant, looping sample from the song "Meet the Frownies" by Twin Sister. The sample is backed up by various drums - most of them are very heavy and follow a medium-tempo pattern. The other drums are more miscellaneous and less apparent. The first verse is performed by Dr. Dre, with Lamar following him by singing the chorus (with minor aid by Dre) and rapping the second verse. After his verse, Lamar performs the chorus once more and Dr. Dre returns, with another verse. This time, Lamar picks up rapping immediately after Dre finishes his verse, without a chorus. The vocal portion of the song finishes with the last chorus and then proceeds into an instrumental section with minor scratching and a switch in the drum pattern.
Reception
The song has been well received by fans and critics alike, Carrie Battan of Pitchfork Media summarized the song as an "anthemic Californian pride cut". Nick Catucci of Rolling Stone jokingly wrote "You might get a contact high from this" and went on to write "Lamar’s wafting number has rolling boulders for a beat, lines about sunlight slanting through shades and Dre explaining, "How many ways am I killin' 'em? Shit, right around a billion."
Music video
On May 30, 2012, Schoolboy Q released behind-the-scenes photos of the song's music video, via his Instagram. However the music video was never released. Another music video was released showing the duo performing the song at Coachella.
Remix
The song was later remixed, featuring verses from Lamar's Black Hippy cohorts - Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q. The remix was included as a bonus track on the Spotify Deluxe edition of the album. Chicago rapper Twista also made his own remix.