On November 22, 2024, Kendrick Lamar released his sixth studio album, GNX. Fans were shocked at this due to the lack of promotion and advertisement leading up to its release. Earlier this year, he released three singles, “euphoria”, “meet the grahams”, and “Not Like Us” in response to Drake due to drama. However, there are no clear signs of an album.
As of December 7th of 2024, it was ranked number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It hit the top three of the year’s most streamed activity in a week with 379.72 million streams.It hit the top three of the year’s most streamed activity in a week with 379.72 million streams. Number one and two were both from Taylor Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets Department, with 891.37 and 428.54 million. GNX is Lamar’s fifth “chart-topper, all earned consecutively” out of his albums.
The title GNX refers to the car, the 1987 Buick Grand National GNX. The album cover is in black and white, and it’s Lamar leaning against the trunk of the car. 1987 also has the importance that it is the same year that Lamar was born. In an interview with Complex in 2012, Lamar said that his father drove him home from hospital in the parent model of the GNX, a Buick Regal. A Grand National GNX is known for its horsepower, speed, and overall improvement from other models. It’s speculated that Lamar is comparing himself to this car in the rap industry.
Throughout this album, Lamar references the rap industry many times. This is not the first time he’s addressed the problems within the industry. At the beginning of 2024, Lamar and Drake were having a public feud and releasing songs within hours of each other. Before Lamar started releasing those songs against Drake, his last release was in 2022 of the album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. This new album is seen as his new refreshed state of mind and sticking with personal growth.
Once again, listeners of GNX can deeply feel what Lamar was feeling for each track. The way he presents his voice, and the beats behind each song tells a story.
The first two tracks, “wacced out murals” and “squabble up” display his anger then a sense of clarity. Each of these songs may be related to the drama between him and Drake. Throughout that, Lamar conveys his confidence and trust in his own choices and beliefs.
The third track, “luther”, features SZA. This is not the first time these two have collabed and created a masterpiece. This song has a romantic and a feminine tone with SZA.
Lamar used this album to show the growth and development that he has made and continues to make in his life. There’s a juxtaposition of him reflecting, but also boasting. Listeners can feel this throughout the track, “man at the garden”. He goes back to the harsher rap in “hey now” featuring Dody6. Lamar is juggling the idea that he might be the “villain” in some people’s eyes, but feels like he did what was right for inner peace.
Track six, “reincarnated”, goes back to some personal challenges that he’s faced in his childhood with his father and culture. Lamar has been very open with what his father has done and how he’s struggled in the Black community growing up in Compton, CA.
Similarly to “luther (with sza)”, the song “dodger blue” is more 90s R&B compared to the rest of the album. There are several features on this song, Wallie the Sensei, Seite7x, and Roddy Ricch. This is one of the handful of times that he mentions growing up on the westside.
The last four tracks on GNX go back and forth between a more ethereal and aggressive atmosphere. The last few features include: Lefty Gunplay, Azchike, Hitta J3, Youngthreat, Peysoh, Sza, and Dody6 appear again. The album ends with “gloria (with sza)”. This was a clean wrap up of the album, “gloria” reflected over romantic relationships and touched over mistakes that he’s made. The song shows how despite the wrongs and hardcomings that’s come from his life, Lamar will love deeply.
This album has many varying musical compositions, setting each song apart from each other. With similar themes and imagery, each track still tells a different story. He once again met the standard he created for himself of his lyrical artistry that he’s expressed since he started making music.
If this album isn’t someone’s cup of tea, he has many other albums and singles to dabble into, there’s something for everyone. Examples of this are: R&B, slow and raw, and fast-paced rap. It has been announced that he will be performing the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, for those who want some new media to listen to.
Kendrick Lamar is one of the most popular rappers of the century and arguably the best. All of his music has something for all different types of people to relate to while telling his story and truths about the world.
