Kendrick Lamar – GNX

Description

In 2024, we got to see Kendrick Lamar in real time. The Compton native wasn’t descending from the mountain to deliver shrouded statement pieces and orchestrated opuses — he was batteringDrakein lived hours, “put[ting] one hundred hoods on one stage,” headlining America’s most celebrated sporting event. Capping the year off with a focused set of West Coast scorchers, his surprise sixth set, GNX, sees the rapper embrace being the moment; this is lightning-in-a-bottle Kendrick. GNX‘s first order is to yank rap back to its regional roots: the album’s sound is as L.A. as “California Love” or aToddy Teecassette. The driving heart of the record is the regional bounce retooled for “Not Like Us,” which forms the anthemic trinity of “squabble up,” “hey now,” and “tv off.”

With the stamp of authenticity – “teleport to Bullets Road and dig up all my relatives” – he digs sparse, fresh tracks through the sound alongside the unlikelyJack Antonoff; “hey now” captures the ghost of a stadium roar, “gnx” upturns its off-kilter pianos and basses, and “wacced out murals” plays like the child ofYeezuswith metallic sirens and ravenous silences. Kendrick, running in tandem with a pack of L.A. up-and-comers, speaks with the chest-fire abandon of his city, firing off at will while still leaving room for the reflective “heart pt. 6” and “gloria.” IfMr. Moralepostured Kendrick in absolution — “I am not your saviour” – then GNX is a staggering rekindling of the “King Kunta” flame: “Who put the West back in front of shit? Tell ’em Kendrick did it” he spits on “gnx,” before invitingPeysohandHitta J3up to bat. He’s “prophetic” and “the greatest of all time” – a visioned torchbearer for the culture.

And he’s not the only one to feature here. On “reincarnated,” Kendrick continues his storied engagement with the figurehead ofTupac Shakur, wearing the rapper’s vocal style like a spiritual shawl over a flip of “Made N*****” as he slots his soul into the lives ofBillie HolidayandJohn Lee Hooker.Deyra Barrera’s searching vocal snippet — the project’s conceptual through-line — seats Kendrick next toAnita Baker; there are eyebrows raised atLil WayneandSnoop, harmonic connections withSZA, and memories of wanting to flow likeSoulo. And for every face named there’s another unspoken — new flows fromDrakeoandKeek, the blueprints ofNipseyandMac Dre, the spirit ofNason the “One Mic”-like “man at the garden.” It seems little coincidence that the concept of the album revolves around a black Buick GNX — itself a literally “black” icon.

Even when he’s basking in triumph, Kendrick proves as complex as the present moment. Building aDAMN.-like skeleton from the kindlings of “The Heart Pt. 5,” GNX is a pillar of reflective realness, a flag planted in the lineage of Black musical visionaries, a silhouette of the West Coast in the high beams of fame – and Kendrick’s most speaker-knocking set to date. (via AllMusic)

Kendrick Lamar has dropped a surprise new album, GNX. Its the rappers first new full-length LP since 2022s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.

GNX appeared online on November 22nd 2024, just minutes after the Compton rapper shared a music video for the title track. Its his first full-length since he left his former label Top Dawg Entertainment.

Much of Lamars 2024 has been colored by an ongoing feud with Drake, which he addresses on opening track wacced out murals. SZA features on the track luther, with Ink and Red Hearse member Sam Drew. SZA also reappears later on Gloria alongside Mexican artist Deyra Barrera and Ink. Other features include Dody6, AzChike, Sie7e, Wallie the Sensei, Hitta J3, Peysoh, and Young Threat.

Red Hearses Sounwavewho gets a shoutout in Heart Part 6 alongside TDE figures like Anthony Moosa Tiffith Jr. and Terrence Punch Hendersonworked on all 12 tracks on the album. Jack Antonoff also had a heavy hand in production, with credits on every song but Peekaboo. Mustard, Kamasi Washington, Dahi, Terrace Martin, Not the Twos Tim Maxey are among the other credited producers across the album. (via Label)

Label:pgLang, Interscope Records
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album
Released:2025
Genre:Hip Hop, Funk / Soul
Style: Conscious, Contemporary R&B, Rap

File under: Hip Hop