Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, may have gone on to sell over one million copies after its release, but the now-classic record wasn’t created overnight. In fact, it took the kid more than one try to perfect the project. In his new cover story with Billboard, K.Dot discussed the creative process of the album and how many tries it really took until he got it right.

According to the rapper, he made not one, but multiple versions of the album. “We did good kid about three, four times before the world got to it,” he said. When asked what he changed from the earlier versions, he said: “new songs, new everything.” “I wanted to tell that story, but I had to execute it. My whole thing is about execution,” he added. “The songs can be great, the hooks can be great, but if it’s not executed well, then it’s not a great album.”

It’s a good thing that Kendrick went back to the drawing board, because who knows how fans could have made it without hits like, “Poetic Justice,” “Money Trees,” or “Swimming Pools.” Not to mention, the album went certified-Platinum with more 1.65 million units sold. Clearly, Kendrick’s debut project was an example of why you should never give up, because fourth time’s the charm!