Blind Plea - Introducing: This Life of Mine with James Corden

Episode Date: October 21, 2025

This week we’re popping in your feed to tell you about This Life of Mine with James Corden. From his late-night TV show to Carpool Karaoke, James Corden has become known globally as one of the most engaging and delightful interviewers in the entertainment world -- and with his breadth of work across TV, film and stage, he has met so many incredible people whom he now gets the opportunity to spend more time with. Featuring in-depth, richly produced conversations between Corden and a variety of prominent guests on the people, places, possessions, music, and memories that made them, This Life of Mine tells the never-before-heard stories that shaped the people at the top of their fields across film and television, sports, fashion, music, theater, business, and more.  You’re about to hear a clip from the first episode from This Life of Mine, featuring Dr. Dre. After you listen, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/ThisLifeofMineJamesCordenfd to hear the full episode and follow the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lemonada. Hello, I'm James Corden, and I have a brand new podcast to tell you all about. In my show, I'm going to be talking to some of the most amazing guests on planet Earth. And we're going to talk about the people, places, possessions, music and memories that have made them who they are today. Coming up on the show, my guests include Anna Wintour, David Beckham, Cynthia Arrivo, Julianne Moore, Brian Cranston. Martin Scorsese, Kim Kardashian, Denzel Washington, to name but a few. And my first guest is extra special. It's somebody I have always wanted to interview, and it's hard because he rarely does

interviews such as these. Our first episode is with Dr. Dre. You're about to hear the first part of that show. To hear the whole episode and more, just search for this life of mine and hit that follow button. Hello and welcome to this life of mine, the show where our guests pick the places, people, possessions, music and memories that have made them who they are. My guest today is without question, one of the most important cultural icons in recent American history. He first found success, along with Ice Cube and EZE, in the genre-defining group. NWA and later experienced unparalleled success as a solo artist before going on to become one of

the most successful producers of all time working with some of the biggest artists of the last 20 years including Kendrick Lamar 50 Cent Jay Z, Mary J. Blyge, Nars, Buster Rhymes, Eve, Anderson Pack, Gwen Stefani and of course his decades-long collaborations with Eminem. He is also an entrepreneur who took his love of sound to the next level when he did something that. And no other artist had done before, and along with fellow record executive Jimmy Iovine, he created an audio company called Beats. It became a runaway success, which along with its associated streaming platform, sold to Apple for an estimated $3 billion.

After winning seven Grammys and selling over 25 million records, his focus has now moved to education and giving young people the skills to succeed in the industries that he knows best. I cannot believe that he's here I cannot wait to hear his story Are you ready? Absolutely I'm Dr. Dre And welcome to this life of mine

I'm so happy that you're here I really am so happy that you're here I'm sorry That's set up James, come on man It made me feel really happy and really proud But it's all true It made me feel older shit to be honest that wasn't the intention

That was a lot I'm just like oh okay The time was ticking As you were talking You know But it is quite the life I mean I'm so I gotta tell you

Scott Greenstein Who runs Sirius XM Said to me If you could do this show With anyone Who would it be And I said Dr. Trey

Wow But that's never gonna happen Thank you for that And I'm Because you don't do Things like I don't like coming outside I do not like leaving my house

And you know So why Why leave your house today for this? I came for you. Okay, okay, so I met you. I'm not sure where I met you the first time. I think it was at Jimmy Iving's house or something like that. And we bumped into each other and we had a really quick conversation and I felt your energy and I also watched your show as well. So I thought you were really cool. So that's a... This is it. This is too much for me. That's why I'm here. I'm so happy that you are. I mean, I don't like coming outside, James.

Why? When was the last time you left the house? Sunday you were at Grammys. Yeah, I was at the Grammys, it was really fucking great. You know, Jay-Z came and accepted the award. Your award? Yeah, you know, it's crazy that I have Grammys and now I am a Grammy, you know? That is nuts.

That is going to be given out every year, which is really weird because when they called me and told me, Harvey Mason Jr. is the one that called me and told me about this thing. And I'm like, wait a minute, they usually give this out the dead people. Do they know something I don't know? Maybe a little bit paranoid, to be honest. Like, wait a

minute okay so but it's um it's a fantastic honor and especially the fact that j z came up and accepted the award that just like i call jay and i call harvey i'm like listen man that makes it like really official to me you know the fact that j z accepted is somebody that i really respect and appreciate and i think he's one of my favorite artists of all times right now so the fact that he accepted the award makes it everything for me today we ask you to pick a person a place a possession memory we're also going to talk about some music up until last night you you still was saying I'm still thinking about it I'm still thinking about my selections are you someone who naturally is good at looking back at your life or no I'm not you're predominantly looking forward I'm not

I don't look back I don't live my life with a rearview mirror I only look forward I don't even listen to my old music and I don't allow anybody around me to play my music not my kids or anything like that. I love recording music and I love the process of recording music and when it comes out it's just business. I like looking forward because it's the process that you

enjoy. Yes. It's the climb. That's it and I think that 70% of the music that I've made is just tucked and left in the vault I like making music for just me and my friends. You mean there's 70% of the music you've made

that we have never even heard. It's just Just there. No. Yes, that's what I do. I record all the time, and it's just for me and my friends and family. Some of it is to be sold, you know, but I just love recording. We're going to start with your place. Now, we asked you to choose a place that was significant to you in your life.

What's the place that you've chosen? I love being out on the boat on the water. That is a place where I can get completely off the grid and just put my feet up and not think about anything that has to do with music or business or anything back home. Try and describe the boat to me. I don't, yeah, I don't want it to feel like I'm bragging. It's a yacht. You don't need to worry.

We all know that you've done very well. That place, and there's another place that I've been going to almost every year called Musha Key in the Bahamas. Right. Musha Key, I love going there with my family. And, again, it's just a place to get off the grid and just chill. no phones or anything like that when you go on the boat is it just you in the family

do you ever take friends snooping on the boat I tried to get snooking on the boat I've been trying to get Snoop to go on vacation with me for 30 years stop why doesn't he go I think Snoop went on his first vacation

his very first vacation just a couple of years ago are you serious yes he doesn't do that I don't know because he's working all the time probably should we call him and ask him I don't know shit I mean, so you're out on the boat. Is there something about being on the water that gives you an element of? I imagine so much of your life feels like.

It just feels like I'm away and it makes, it's peaceful for me. You know, I can just relax and just not think about anything. Just everything goes away. All the problems or anything like that, it just goes away. And I'm completely relaxed. And I usually do it for just 10 days. So for those 10 days, I'm in half. You grew up in Compton, which is roughly 10 miles from the beach.

Was that ever a trip that you would make when you were growing up? I would always go to the beach. Usually it was Player Del Rey when I was young. Okay. You know, my mother would take me to play Adel Ray, me and my siblings, and we would have fun going there. Now I own a place on the beach, so that, again, is a place that I go to every now and in just to relax my mind and get away from everything.

I think there's something about the water and the beach, particularly if you're on a boat, and it doesn't really matter what boat you're on. You can be on a pedalo. You can be in a canoe. There's something about being able to see a horizon that you can basically see further than you can see within yourself.

Absolutely. Which is why you have that feeling of going. There's nothing better than waking up, opening the drapes and just seeing nothing but water. Yeah. There's something freeing up. about that. Are you aware in those moments of the distance that you've traveled in your life? Usually, like I said, I don't live with a rearview mirror. Usually I'm thinking forward.

I'm thinking about what's happening now, always living in now, or thinking about what I'm supposed to do tomorrow and so on. Talk to me about your upbringing. What was it like growing up in Compton, what the environment was like in your family? Of course, I mean, of course it was dangerous. It was dangerous, but it was fun at the same time. You know, I mean, anybody from any ghetto would have the same thing to say, you know, it has its dangers, it has its fun moments, and it builds character, and it built a certain character in me. I can't imagine growing up North of Wilshire, because if I did that, I wouldn't be able to dictate what I do with my music, and I don't think I would be as creative, because there's something about that that grabs you

and teaches you certain things that you can put into your art or whatever you're trying to do with art. There's something about that. Your mom was 16 when she felt pregnant with you. No, my mother was 15. I was born two weeks after my mother's 16th birthday. Is this true that your mom was told if she had you

that she would never amount to anything and gnawed you? Yes, that's the fact. That's what everybody was saying around that time. You have to remember, this is around 1964, 1960s. five in the hood so you know a 15 year old being pregnant you can imagine what kind of scrutiny and like all kind of bullshit that was being said to her but she made it through and here i am i mean she must have an extraordinary amount of pride in what you've achieved well i hope so yes yes i think so you know my mom is incredible

especially for everything she had to endure to raise me and what have you but I had to become an adult at a very young age go on talk to me about that like how old would you say that you felt that you

had to take on perhaps more adult responsibilities well I you know a lot of people don't notice and this is probably the first time that I've actually said this or in an interview but I was on public transportation on my own

when I was six years old I was moving around like an adult adult when I was six years old. Wow. Yeah. So imagine that. My daughter's six. I can't imagine.

You can't imagine even letting your kid out of the house by themselves and shit. So yeah, that's what I was doing. I was moving around like an adult when I was that age. So I had to become really mature at a very young age. Do you think that's why you've always seemingly from an outsider looking in at your life and your career, a career which I'm constantly blown away by? You always seem to be a person within your group or your peers. who has taken on the responsibility?

I think so. I think that had a lot to do with it, just the fact that I was so young and I had to mature at such a young age. I think it did help me with a leadership type of role, to say, you know. But I was still a kid that made, you know, mistakes. Fortunately, I never made a big mistake that had any, like, thing to do with stopping me, you know?

I made plenty of mistakes. but I wouldn't change any of it I think everything that I experienced the good and the bad just made me the person that I am right now and not only that I'm just from the time that I was in my 20s I become, I'm 59 now

but I think I've become two or three different people since I was in my 20s and more importantly I'm so excited about the man that I'm going to become I'm excited about the discovery of that let's move on to your next selection and we asked you to choose a film for us.

Tell us the film that you've chosen as significant in your life. Okay, the film that I chose is the Godfather. I mean, I could ask why, but I know why, but you tell us why. The Godfather, because, you know, first of all, is Marlon Brando. It's like one of the best actors ever.

Now you come to me and you say, Don't caught away on and give me justice. It's your last one with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather. the writing and there's a show about the making of the godfather the offer yeah it's brilliant watched that several times and in everything that they had to go through to make this movie and make it happen dealing with the mafia and like the real fucking mafia for sure so i just think

the writing was so incredible from the first word i believe in america i believe in america America has made my fortune You know, the way The first Dialogue and the first words Start out is amazing And of course Marlon Brando

Al Pacino James Khan Robert Duvall All of these guys And everybody were on their thing right there That is almost the perfect movie And the reason why I say almost Because there's one scene in the movie

Oh go on There's one scene in the movie that was off when James Kahn's character, Sonny, he's getting ready to beat the shit out of the brother-in-law, right? For beating up his sister or what I have you. What I heard is they didn't have enough time to finish shooting that scene. So you can absolutely see in the scene that James Kahn isn't really hitting the brother-in-law. That's the only thing, in my opinion, that didn't make the movie perfect.

I'm a movie buff, you know. I love movies. I love anything that has to do with art, you know. So I just think that the Godfather, in my opinion, like I said, is almost a perfect film. Obviously, straight out of Comptoms from is a huge success. But have you ever wanted to be more involved in it or involved in any capacity with film? I do. I, you know, I tried acting.

I'm okay with that, I guess, you know. You're fantastic at it. Thank you. I've seen you. That's true. Yeah. But I think my role when it comes to film is more about being behind the camera and producing and writing. I just have to get used to the film process because it's so slow.

Yeah. You know, I'm used to being in an area where everything is moving fast, being in the studio and writing and making music comes fast. Sure. I equated to this, it's like making music is basketball and making film is watching soccer. Sure. No disrespect to the football players and soccer. But, you know, it's just my analogy. How much of your time do you spend in a studio?

Before I was always in the studio every day, even when I didn't feel inspired or if I didn't have an idea or anything like that, I would go in the studio and play around. But now I just work when I want. So it's really just when I feel it. So if I had to break it down to numbers, I would say two or three times a week. Right.

Yeah. Before it was seven days a week, all day, all night. Really? Yeah. You were not waiting for inspiration to strike. You would go and just... It was a job for me. I would just go.

Certain time I'd have to be there. I would just go whether I had an idea or not and do it like that. Now, you know, my life is different. Where does that discipline come from, do you think? The necessity to be successful. Where would you consider in your life that you were at your most ambitious? Well, it was a couple of times that are equivalent. I would say 1996, when I decided to separate myself from death row, I just got married, had my son, and just started Aftermath Records, and I had to be a success, you know?

Fortunately, I met M&M right around that time, and he came in, and everything changed, and everything just went to the moon. The other time was when I separated myself from Roofless Records, and that was right around 1991. I decided to record my first solo album, which I never thought I was going to do. A friend of mine talked me into it, DOC. He talked me into doing that. And so those are the two pivotal moments in my life

where I thought that these things are going to make me a break me. And these are the only two times in my life where I thought about quitting what I was doing.