Highlights
- Kendrick Lamar unexpectedly released his sixth studio album ‘GNX’ on Friday.
- The 12-track album features collaborations with SZA and notable producers.
- The release comes ahead of his Super Bowl halftime show performance.
In a surprise move that sent waves through the music industry, Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar released his sixth studio album, “GNX,” on Friday.
This was his first release since 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' has now surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify. pic.twitter.com/ZuNfYS6wr8
— chart data (@chartdata) November 24, 2024
Surprise-dropping is not a new concept in music, but with Kendrick having such a busy year and with much anticipation for his new music and his future plans, this literally took everyone by surprise.
King Kenny Blessed Us An Album
Even though I can’t vouch for everyone, it sure did shock me. I was scrolling Twitter and saw a post when it read, “Kendrick Lamar dropped album GNX.”
I thought it was a new track, but upon reading it the second time, I saw the word “album,” and I couldn’t trust what my eyes read.
Kendrick Lamar’s 'GNX' currently occupies ALL top 12 spots on the US Apple Music Top 100 charts 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PFTYVqhiwS
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) November 23, 2024
It made me swiftly open Spotify and verify it. With enough time to process, I listened to the whole album.
The album showcases impressive collaborations and production credits.
SZA appears on “Gloria” and “Luther,” while Jack Antonoff co-produces all but one track.
Similarly, Sounwave and DJ Mustard were major collaborators, and Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s vocals were sampled on “Luther.”
Notable Themes And References
The opening track, “Wacced Out Murals,” sets the tone with personal references and industry commentary.
Lamar also addresses several current events, including his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, the ongoing Drake feud, Lil Wayne’s reaction to the Super Bowl selection, and a nod to Nas’s congratulations.
Early reviews have been largely positive, with AP News praising the rapper as “an ambitious and searingly talented poet from Compton.”
Rating Game Music suggests this might be a prelude to an even bigger project, noting that while impressive, “this album doesn’t feel like a monumental release – it’s more like a creative purge.”
GNX Seems Like A Portal To The New Kendrick Album
After hearing the whole album more than three times, I can finally form an opinion. As expected from Kdot, he delivered!
Expect a few joints; I loved the album. The 12 tracks contain back-to-back West Coast bangers, giving us a taste of the region and showing how the sound has stayed the same throughout the years.
Nas shows love to Kendrick Lamar’s new album 'GNX' 🔥
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) November 23, 2024
“Always inspired by my brother KL. Keeping the essence of this sh*t alive and at the forefront. Salute King!” pic.twitter.com/YAGGajX3F0
Although this seems like a crazy theory, I think GNX is just the beginning of a new album.
Yeah, I said that! But before you judge me, let me explain my reasoning.
Kendrick is really clever in his songs and cohesively strings tunes together, which only hints that each song is different from the rest.
If you re-listen to the album, you can see that “Heart Part 6” was the only song without a West Coast beat.
Similarly, the “Heart Part” series comes right before an album, which didn’t happen for this drop.
One can argue that this was a surprise album, which is why he avoided releasing it as a single, but what if it was just an invitation to a new era?
Likewise, before GNX was released, a snippet of a song came out on Kenny’s burner Instagram account, which was not available on the latest album.
You know, Lamar’s album always has a theme and message to it. Compared to his past work, GNX feels like a victory parade, which feels hollow.
I’m not complaining, but I have to come clean about my thoughts, and this album was not as meaningful as his past works.
Bangers, but I expect more from Kenny! (Regardless, he doesn’t own anyone anything! )
Just So You Know
- Lamar has accumulated 17 Grammy wins throughout his career.
- He is the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize.
- His debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city” was released in 2012.
- The artist is 37 years old and continues breaking new ground in hip-hop.
