:Swimming Pools (Drank)

{{Infobox song

| name = Swimming Pools (Drank)

| cover = KendrickLamarSwimmingPools.jpg

| alt = In this single cover, an empty room with a man sitting on a chair with a bottle of liquor on the floor. A sign on the bottom left reads "PARENTAL ADVISORY EXPLICIT CONTENT" in a two bars of black and a bar of white in one rectangle.

| type = single

| artist = Kendrick Lamar

| album = Good Kid, M.A.A.D City

| B-side = "Remixes" {{small|(12")}}

| released = {{Start date|2012|7|31}}

| recorded = 2012

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Hip-hop

| length = {{ubl|4:07 {{small|(single version)}}|5:13 {{small|(extended version)}}}}

| label = {{hlist|TDE|Aftermath|Interscope}}

| writer = {{hlist|Kendrick Duckworth|Tyler Williams}}

| producer = T-Minus

| chronology = Kendrick Lamar

| prev_title = The Recipe

| prev_year = 2012

| next_title = Fuckin' Problems

| next_year = 2012

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|8-ejyHzz3XE|"Swimming Pools (Drank)"}} }}

{{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank).ogg

| description = A sample of the song, the line before the chorus says Kendrick takes a few sips then a very inebriated man says he needs to "Get a swimming pool full of liquor and dive in it".

}}

"Swimming Pools (Drank)" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on July 31, 2012, as the lead single (second overall) from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Aftermath and Interscope. The song was written by Lamar and Tyler "T-Minus" Williams, the latter of whom also produced the song. The song, mixed by Dr. Dre and Top Dawg's engineer Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, propelled Lamar to mainstream popularity. The song peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, in its thirteenth week of charting, after gradually climbing up the chart. It debuted on the Hot 100 at number 100 and progressed from number 55 and 32 to its peak. "Swimming Pools (Drank)" also serves as Lamar's first entry on the UK Singles Chart, where it debuted at number 63.

A music video was released to accompany the song in August 2012. It was featured in the 2013 game Saints Row IV, the 2014 re-release of the game Grand Theft Auto V, and on a 2013 episode of Grey's Anatomy. On January 26, 2013, Lamar performed the song along with the third single "Poetic Justice" on Saturday Night Live.{{cite web|title=Kendrick Lamar Performs On Saturday Night Live (Video)|url=http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2013/01/27/kendrick-lamar-performs-on-saturday-night-live-video/|work=2DopeBoyz|access-date=27 January 2013}} The music video was nominated for Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. The song was later nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

The single is an introspective regarding Lamar's family and social life, alcoholism, and the peer pressure that accompanies it amongst his friends. In the first verse, he remembers his grandfather's drinking and resulting death,{{cite web |url=http://rapgenius.com/Kendrick-lamar-swimming-pools-drank-lyrics#note-909561 |title=My Favorite Things, Part II |last=Lamar |first=Kendrick |author-link=Kendrick Lamar |date=3 October 2012 |work=RapGenius |access-date=14 January 2013 |quote= ...playing on the word swimming pool. him drowning in a pool of liquor in Chicago}} and the reasons that led Lamar himself to drinking.{{cite web |url=http://rapgenius.com/Kendrick-lamar-swimming-pools-drank-lyrics#note-908843 |title=My Favorite Things, Part II |last=Lamar |first=Kendrick |author-link=Kendrick Lamar |date=5 August 2012 |work=RapGenius |access-date=14 January 2013 |quote= This song is about me reminiscing about my years a kid witnessing a housing that indulged adults in alcohol. So much alcohol that it could fill a swimming pool.}}

Critical reception

The song garnered acclaim from music critics upon its release. Rolling Stone ranked the song the 34th best of 2012.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/kendrick-lamar-swimming-pools-drank-19691231|title=Kendrick Lamar, 'Swimming Pools (Drank)'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=5 December 2012}} XXL named it one of the top five hip hop songs of 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/01/xxl-lists-best-hip-hop-songs-albums-last-40-years-xxl-issue-152/4/|title=XXL Lists The Best Hip-Hop Songs And Albums Of The Last 40 Years – XXL Issue 152|work=XXL Mag|date=9 January 2014 }}

Live performances

Lamar performed "Swimming Pools (Drank)" at every show on The Damn Tour.{{cite web|last=Masley|first=Ed|title=Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. Tour in Glendale with triumphant one-man show of force|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/07/12/kendrick-lamar-tour-launch-concert-review/463182001/|work=AZ Central|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=October 30, 2017}}

Chart performance

In its first week of release, the song debuted at number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained within the chart for another week then fell, but two weeks later re-entered the Hot 100 and climbed up each week, progressing from the top 90 to number 81, 71 and 61. In its tenth week, "Swimming Pools (Drank)" climbed up to number 55 and the following week, entered the top 40 of the Hot 100 at number 32, moving up to 25 and peaking at number 17. On the UK Singles Chart, the song entered at number 63, remaining in the top 100 for one week. The song is Lamar's sixth highest-charting solo single on the Billboard Hot 100 behind "DNA." which debuted and peaked at number four and "HUMBLE." which debuted at number two and peaked at number one (though his features on "Fuckin' Problems" and "Bad Blood" reached the top 10 in the United States) and on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/72292 |title=Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank) on acharts.us |publisher=acharts.us |access-date=2012-08-21}}

Music video

The music video, directed by Jerome D, premiered August 3, 2012 on 106 & Park. A review by the magazine Rolling Stone shared a summary of the video stating: "In his new video for 'Swimming Pools (Drank),' Kendrick Lamar defies gravity, floating and tumbling in suspended space as liquor bottles fly upwards and smash into the ceiling. The rapper gets introspective on a woozy beat, considering the highs and lows of alcohol consumption and the sense of confidence it bestows upon the drinker. Lamar spends most of the video rapping alone, but color-filtered shots of a booze-soaked rager poke through the more contemplative scenes."

Track listing

{{track listing

| headline = Digital single

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Swimming Pools (Drank)

| writer1 = {{hlist|Kendrick Lamar|Nikhil Seetharam|Tyler Williams}}

| extra1 = T-Minus

| length1 = 4:07

}}

{{track listing

| headline = good kid, m.A.A.d city

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title9 = Swimming Pools (Drank)

| writer9 = {{hlist|Kendrick Lamar|Nikhil Seetharam|Tyler Williams}}

| note9 = Extended Version

| extra9 = T-Minus

| length9 = 5:13

}}

{{track listing

| headline = good kid, m.A.A.d city (deluxe edition)

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title17 = Swimming Pools (Drank)

| writer17 = {{hlist|Kendrick Lamar|Nikhil Seetharam|Tyler Williams}}

| note17 = Main Version

| extra17 = T-Minus

| length17 = 4:07

| title19 = Swimming Pools (Drank)

| writer19 = {{hlist|Lamar|Williams|Herbert Stevens IV|John McKinzie|Quincy Hanley}}

| note19 = Black Hippy Remix

| extra19 = T-Minus

| length19 = 5:14

}}

Remixes

The official remix featuring his Black Hippy cohorts – Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q was included as a bonus track on the Target deluxe edition of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.2001/title.the-most-important-freestyles-of-2012/|title=The Most Important Freestyles Of 2012|author=HipHopDX|date=20 December 2012|work=HipHopDX}} On March 14, 2013, producer Dev Hynes uploaded a reinterpreted rendition of the track by British girl group, Sugababes to his official SoundCloud page. The track, entitled "Lay Down in Swimming Pools", features an interpolation of the original Lamar song. Hynes later commented saying: "Just finished recording new music with Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan, and the girls felt like having a bit of fun at the end of the last session – enjoy!!". The song was later rearranged for their 2022 album release The Lost Tapes.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a465708/mutya-keisha-siobhan-release-kendrick-lamar-cover-listen.html|title=Mutya Keisha Siobhan release Kendrick Lamar cover - listen|author=Lewis Corner|work=Digital Spy|date=14 March 2013}} In 2023, Tori Amos' cover of the track was included in Trevor Horn's album Echoes: Ancient and Modern.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2237886/tori-amos-covers-kendrick-lamars-swimming-pools-drank-on-trevor-horns-new-album/news/|title=Tori Amos Covers Kendrick Lamar's "Swimming Pools (Drank)" On Trevor Horn's New Album|author=Tom Breihan|work=Stereogum|date=3 October 2023|accessdate=3 November 2023}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2012–2013) !scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA)[https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130219032800/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20130219-1428/Issue1197.pdf ]{{cbignore\|bot=medic}} \| align="center"\| 67
scope="row"{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|19\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Swimming Pools (Drank)}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|Wallonia Tip\|43\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Swimming Pools (Drank)}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|Canada\|99\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Swimming Pools (Drank)}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|France\|59\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Swimming Pools (Drank)}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|UK\|57\|date=20130330}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|UKrandb\|11\|date=20121013}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|17\|artist=Kendrick Lamar}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|Billboardadultrandbsongs\|39\|artist=Kendrick Lamar}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|3\|artist=Kendrick Lamar}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|Billboardrapsongs\|3\|artist=Kendrick Lamar}}
scope="row"{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|4\|artist=Kendrick Lamar}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"\| Chart (2025) !scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"{{single chart\|Billboardglobal200\|186\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|access-date=February 20, 2025}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col"| Chart (2025)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|186|artist=Kendrick Lamar|access-date=February 20, 2025}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable"
scope="col"\|Chart (2012) !scope="col"\|Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs\|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 2012 Year End Charts\|publisher=Billboard.com\|access-date=2012-12-17}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|90
US Rap Songs (Billboard){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-rap-songs\|title=Rap Songs - 2012 Year End Charts\|publisher=Billboard.com\|access-date=2012-12-17}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|48
Triple J Hottest 100, 2012{{cite web\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/12/countdown/80-61.htm\|title=80-61 Hottest 100 - 2012 triple j\|date=26 January 2013\|publisher=abc.net.au\|access-date=2013-01-27}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|71
scope="col"\|Chart (2013) !scope="col"\|Position
US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-100-songs?page=7\|title=Best of 2013 - Hot 100 Songs\|date=2 January 2013\|publisher=Prometheus Global Media\|access-date=December 13, 2013}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|79
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=1\|title=2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs\|publisher=Prometheus Global Media\|access-date=December 13, 2013}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|17
US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/rhythmic-songs\|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2013\|magazine=Billboard\|date=9 December 2014\|access-date=October 1, 2019}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|27

class="wikitable"

scope="col"|Chart (2012)

!scope="col"|Position

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 2012 Year End Charts|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=2012-12-17}}

| style="text-align:center;"|90

US Rap Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/hot-rap-songs|title=Rap Songs - 2012 Year End Charts|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=2012-12-17}}

| style="text-align:center;"|48

Triple J Hottest 100, 2012{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/12/countdown/80-61.htm|title=80-61 Hottest 100 - 2012 triple j|date=26 January 2013|publisher=abc.net.au|access-date=2013-01-27}}

| style="text-align:center;"|71

scope="col"|Chart (2013)

!scope="col"|Position

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-100-songs?page=7|title=Best of 2013 - Hot 100 Songs|date=2 January 2013|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=December 13, 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"|79

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=1|title=2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=December 13, 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"|17

US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2013|magazine=Billboard|date=9 December 2014|access-date=October 1, 2019}}

| style="text-align:center;"|27

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=April 21, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date= October 25, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=February 20, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|award=Platinum|number=8|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=March 8, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2019|id=7983|access-date=February 27, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|relyear=2012|certyear=2018|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|artist=Kendrick Lamar|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=May 1, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|award=Gold|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|id=11455|access-date=October 21, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=March 8, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|artist=Kendrick Lamar|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|id=13520-3292-1|access-date=May 3, 2024|refname=UKcert}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2012|certyear=2018|title=Swimming Pools (Drank)|artist=Kendrick Lamar|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|access-date=June 13, 2018}}

Release history

class="wikitable"
Country !Date !Format !Label !{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
United States \|July 31, 2012 \|rowspan="2"\|{{hlist\|Digital download\|streaming}} \|{{hlist\|Aftermath\|Interscope}} \|[https://web.archive.org/web/20141208032843/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/swimming-pools-drank/id546531682?i=546531686&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 iTunes.com. Retrieved July 31, 2012.]
United Kingdom \|September 30, 2012 \|UMG \|

class="wikitable"

Country

!Date

!Format

!Label

!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

United States

|July 31, 2012

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Digital download|streaming}}

|{{hlist|Aftermath|Interscope}}

|[https://web.archive.org/web/20141208032843/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/swimming-pools-drank/id546531682?i=546531686&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 iTunes.com. Retrieved July 31, 2012.]

United Kingdom

|September 30, 2012

|UMG

References

External links

{{Discogs master|master=459734|name=Swimming Pools (Drank)|type=single}}

Category:2012 singles

Category:Aftermath Entertainment singles

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Kendrick Lamar songs

Category:Song recordings produced by T-Minus (record producer)

Category:Songs about alcohol

Category:Songs written by Kendrick Lamar

Category:Top Dawg Entertainment singles

Category:Songs written by T-Minus (producer)

Category:2012 songs