4.5 out of 5.0 stars
On Nov. 22, one of hip–hop’s most beloved icons, Kendrick Lamar, released his sixth studio album “GNX” by surprise. Although there were no singles or promotions for this release, there was certainly no lack of anticipation after his feud with Canadian rapper and music superstar Drake. This beef was one of the ugliest and most vicious rap beefs, with scathing accusations made on both sides.
The battle between the two hip–hop moguls was capped off with Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us” — which does not appear on this new release — debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning over 900 million streams over just a few months. With Lamar set to headline the halftime show during Super Bowl LIX in February 2025, it seemed clear that something was coming from the Compton rapper.
Aesthetically, the album continues the energy of “Not Like Us” with West Coast-inspired beats and flows. There is a plethora of featured underground rappers from Los Angeles which amplifies the west side vibe of the record pulling influences from g-funk as well as Bay Area sounds. R&B superstar SZA makes a couple of appearances as well. This should come as no surprise as she shares Lamar’s previous label, Top Dawg Entertainment.
This record doesn’t carry much of the food for thought and the deep concepts that we’ve come to expect from a Lamar album. Lamar makes it clear on the opening track titled “wacced out murals” that this album is not for that, rapping “This is not for lyricists, I swear it’s not the sentiments.” That’s not to say that there are no contemplative or sentimental moments from the rapper on this album, but they are placed alongside catchier songs, making this album a great entry point for those who may not be used to Lamar’s more lyrical and conscious work.
The second track, “squabble up” acts as the lead single off the album, bringing some booming and bass-heavy beat paired with great charisma from Lamar’s lyrics and cadence. It’s the kind of track that exemplifies the vibe this album has to offer: hard-hitting and radiating self-assurance.
The following track, “luther,” features SZA singing with Lamar on the chorus. It has become the most popular song on the record, accumulating nearly 50 million streams on Spotify in the first week. The song takes a more soothing R&B style with melodic verse deliveries from Lamar, combined with some light hip-hop percussion. It has a very appealing sound overall with its sweet melody and catchy chorus, making it an easy recipe for a hit.
Although “Not Like Us” does not appear on this record, there are several tracks on this album that have similar atmospheres, the chief of them being “tv off,” which features Mustard, who also produced “Not Like Us.” Lamar makes this very clear by shouting Mustard’s name with an aggressive and passionate energy, making for one of the most iconic moments on the record. The beat switch halfway through is an impeccable addition, featuring some high-energy horns, more bass within the instrumental and hi-hat cymbals.
Some tracks include smooth and chill vibes — like “dodger blue,” that features some lighter synth bass and “heart pt. 6,” containing some heavenly vocals on the chorus along with a catchy beat. The latter continues a prominent series throughout the rapper’s career while giving a nugget of heartfelt perspective on Lamar’s background in the rap industry.
Another track worth highlighting is “reincarnated,” which features a sample from the late 2PAC’s discography and brings another powerful performance from Lamar, rapping about some of his influences and how he feels they continue to live through him and his music. He also gives some perspective on his motivations and what he puts out into the world with his music, making this one of the deeper parts of the record.
“GNX” quickly reached #1 on Apple Music in over 100 countries for good reason. Throughout almost every track on this album, there is a radiant aura of assertive confidence. If there is a common theme in this album, it’s that Lamar wants you to know he’s top dog. The album is very catchy and consistent, while also containing powerful and uncompromising energy on both the lyrical and the production front. While not being the most profound work from Lamar, the album is still a very enjoyable listen, and one of the best rap albums to come out of 2024.
