On Friday, November 22, 2024, Kendrick Lamar particularly stirred the hip-hop waters yet again. The difference? This time, it was not a single drop or an anticipated one but rather a full-length surprise album that has left fans amazed at what he has in store.
Kendrick released a 12-track album under the title “GNX.” The album makes history on two accounts; it marks his sixth studio album and full-length body of work since his 2022 “Mr Morale & The Big Steppers” album.
Looking at the album’s artwork, Lamar is leaning against the back of a car. A GNX is a Buick high-performance coup. For context, therefore, the album’s title heavily relies on the vehicle– a GNX, seemingly.
Kendrick Lamar's GNX Album artwork. (Photo|Courtesy)
Notably, he has not been away from the limelight as his latest official release was the chart-topping “Not Like Us” single directed at Canadian singer and rapper Drake (Aubrey Graham). Its absence in the album signals it was indeed a standalone single for beefing purposes only.
The album is simply a classic as he has included significant guest features, including American R&B star SZA, Dody6, and Sam Dew, among others. He has also worked with remarkable producers like Jack Antonoff (known for working with pop royalty like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter), Lamar’s frequent collaborator Mustard, Top Dawg Entertainment’s (TDE) Sounwave, and M-Tech.
Listening to GNX, one will quickly grasp the picture of a reclusive Lamar. Also, GNX is clearly a love letter to his native Los Angeles (L.A), as the city’s distinct G Funk infused sound, blended hard rap with operative vocals and retro R&B sounds are all over the album.
The work of art is typically a hodgepodge of opinions, ideas and creativity. And Lamar has left his fans several easter eggs for them to dichotomize in future. This is in line with the message within each track, his address on the 2025 Suber Bowl Half-Time Show, which he is set to headline in February 2025, and most importantly – his vivid affirmation that he is the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T).
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