Famous American rapper Kendrick Lamar surprised fans by releasing a new album on November 22, 2024. GNX features 12 songs and was dropped months before he was expected to headline the Super Bowl LIX in February. The album cover was inspired by 2pac and expresses West Coast pride. It is his first album since releasing his hit single “Not Like Us,” which dissed Drake.
The new album starts with the song “wacced out murals”, it begins with a clip of a Spanish poem sung by Deyra Barrera. Genius describes it as, “a bold, unfiltered statement about Kendrick’s unwavering commitment to his art, his struggles with external pressures, and his vision for his legacy. It speaks to his resilience in the face of adversity, and his role as a voice for truth and change”. In my opinion, I liked the song because I thought it was very intense and a bold way to start the album.
Moving on, “squabbled up” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart week ending on November 28. It marks Lamars fifth number-one single and his third in the year 2024. By achieving this, he became the third artist in the Hot 100 to debut three #1 singles in a year next to Ariana Grande and BTS.
Next up, “luther” featuring SZA marks Lamar’s fifth collaboration with SZA. The name originated from the sampled track, “If the World Were Mine” by Luther Vandross. Kendrick raps about a world devoid of loss and conflict and is replaced by the empowerment he gets from his lover. I consider this one of my favorite songs on the album, the instrumental gave it a very ethereal vibe, and both artist’s styles work very well together.
“man at the garden”, as described by Genius, “is a manifesto of Kendrick’s life philosophy: he’s deserved everything he’s earned because of the sacrifices he’s made, the principles he’s upheld, and the struggles he’s overcome. It challenges listeners to reflect on their own lives and consider what they’ve done to claim their success or [as the song states] ‘deserve it all’”. Overall, I thought the song was alright, not as good as some of the other songs in the album but I liked what it represented and found it inspiring.
“hey now” contains a guest verse from an underground artist Dody6, who was recently freed from incarceration on August 17, 2024, where he has served 7 years. This song advocates for individuals to avoid distractions and prioritize their goals.
“reincarnated” features the Spanish-language poem that was introduced at the beginning of the album sung by Deyra Barerra. It also contains a sample from one of 2pacs tracks. This song reveals that Kendrick is suggesting that the present-day black community can inherit artistic greatness from artists of the past while also learning from their mistakes and shortcomings.
“tv off” marks a reunion between Lamar and his previous producer DJ Mustard who had worked with him for his Hot single “Not Like Us”. Like “hey now”, the song advocates for people to avoid distractions and toxic influences and focus on their future.
“dodger blue” features Wallie the Sensai, Roddy Ricch, and Siete in the chorus of the song. Genius stated, “The song is a vibrant ode to LA culture, highlighting neighborhoods like Gardena and Compton while critiquing outsiders’ superficial perceptions of the city”.
“gnx” features Lamar flexing his power with rapping and his Buick GNX truck. The recurring hook “Tell ‘em Kendrick did it,” portrays his influence in reviving West Coast greatness.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend listening to this album. It’s available on any music-streaming platform.
