Kendrick Lamar Brings Surprise Album ‘GNX‘
LOS ANGELES — Kendrick Lamar is giving the music world a holiday surprise. The rapper on Friday dropped his sixth studio album, GNX, without announcing it beforehand. The 12 tracks were laid down on Friday and do not constitute a formal follow-up to his 2022 album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
Through GNX, Lamar celebrates his growth as an artist while reminding listeners why he remains one of the most influential figures in modern music. The album is full of bold themes, daring collaborations, and nods to his storied career, making it a must-listen for loyal fans and newcomers alike.
Star Power in the Production Line
The star-studded production lineup does this distinct sound through GNX. Multi-instrumentalist Jack Antonoff co-produces virtually every song on the album, which bears his stamp. Yet one of the standout tracks is “Peekaboo,” which is handed over to DJ Mustard to produce and give his signature West Coast feel. It works, too, with longtime collaborator Sounwave on the production of, particularly on the buzzworthy diss track “Not Like Us,” which directly references Kendrick Lamar recent feud with Drake. —
It’s not as if the impact of GNX wasn’t enormous, but Kendrick Lamar teaming with former labelmate on Top Dawg Entertainment SZA on “Gloria” and “Luther” takes it to another level altogether. The latter features sensational sampling of Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s classic “If This World Were Mine.” Chemistry between Lamar and SZA shines here, offering that kind of chemistry that made those earlier projects iconic.
Lamar paints vivid imagery in the opening track “Wacced Out Murals,” cruising around in his Buick GNX, listening to Anita Baker as he weaves in sharp commentary about Snoop Dogg sharing Drake’s AI-assisted “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss track on social media. He also throws in some praise he gets from Nas for landing the coveted role of headlining the 2024 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans.
Themes and Best of GNX With Ganxsta, the theme is, at the same time, very egocentric and confrontational; it speaks in Lamar’s capacity for putting personal narrative while also making social commentary. Some of those lines can be seen in “Man at the Garden” and “Reincarnated,” which speak about growth, faith, and resilience.
- “Wacced Out Murals”: The tone starts off in this overlap of nostalgia and defiance, where Lamar addresses his critics and celebrates his own milestones.
- “Luther” (feat. SZA): A soulful tribute to music legends, with a contemporary rap inflection soaked in time-warping R&B influences.
- “Heart Pt. 6 Sixth installation in the series of *Heart* from Lamar, and yet this can be applied within the plain, direct lyrical storytelling theme.
Not Like Us”: The diss track to Drake has become arguably the most talked-about cut on the album, the exercise of which proves that Lamar is one hell of a wordsmith and isn’t afraid to put himself against just about anyone: — A Career Retrospective
37-year-old Kendrick Lamar has solidified his position among one of the greats in music history. Since the release of the landmark debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, in 2012, Kendrick Lamar won an impressive 17 Grammys and broke history when he became the first non-classical, non-jazz artist to ever win a Pulitzer Prize for his polarizing masterpiece, DAMN., published in 2017. This year has been monumental for Lamar.
He was featured on the triple-platinum single “Like That,” with Future and Metro Boomin, which ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. Added to that, he got seven nominations for 2024 Grammys, including record of the year and song of the year for “Not Like Us.” He’s also the first ever rapper to earn two simultaneous Best Rap Performance nods – his cuts “Not Like Us” and “Like That” were nominated.
GNX Tracklist
- Wacced Out Murals
- Squabble Up
- Luther (feat. SZA)
- Man in the Garden
- Hey Now
- Reincarnated
- TV Off
- Dodger Blue
- Peekaboo
- Heart Pt. 6
- GNX
- Gloria (feat. SZA)
The Hype on GNX
Almost overnight, it went viral in the social media and in music forums with the surprise release of GNX. Everyone is trying to dissect the lyrics, the production choices, and the deeper implications. With sample classics that seem to be totally unexpected collaborations and very personal lyrics, GNX is rich and layered.
The album also comes on the heels of Kendrick Lamar public rap feud with Drake, adding an extra layer of intrigue to tracks like “Not Like Us.” The diss track has already been lauded for its clever wordplay and boldness, solidifying Lamar’s reputation as a fearless artist unafraid to speak his mind.
Looking Ahead: Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
With what quickly has turned into the year of the moment, Kendrick Lamar is scheduled to perform at the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in February 2024. Performing in New Orleans, the performance promises to be one of the most important moments of his life as everyone waits to see how he will manage to mesh GNX into the halftime event.
Interestingly, Lamar also talks about a slight dissatisfaction of Lil Wayne over being excluded as the headliner of the halftime show in his hometown, to which he came out and admitted. This was a gesture of respect to the gurus of the trade while he carved out his space.
Conclusion
Of course, as seen in Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, for example, this ‘lurking’ dperilous emcee has increased the ante of artistry and dug himself deeper into the very fabric of being a dominant music industry brand. Innovation fuses with tradition in an album that has something for everyone, from heavyweight diss tracks to soulful collaborations or introspective musings.
As listeners dive into the album, GNX will forever be remembered as one of those definiing moments in the discography of Kendrick Lamar: a statement of growth, aesthetically, and continued inexplicable ability to surprise and inspire.