What began as a surprise feature on rapper Future and producer Metro Boomin’s song “Like That,” Kendrick Lamar’s scorching run throughout 2024 culminates in his newest album, “GNX.” Lamar’s sixth studio album, which was unexpectedly released Nov. 22, embraces West Coast hip-hop and R&B sounds while taking aggressive and melodic vocal approaches.
In the wake of Lamar’s most recent conflict with fellow rap superstar Drake, “GNX” builds on a series of singles that saw Lamar dismantling Drake’s reputation in the music industry and led Drake to sue Spotify and Universal Music Group. “GNX” builds on Lamar’s ensuing victory lap, continuing from his joint concert with Amazon Music titled “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends.” The event unified several Los Angeles-based musicians and celebrities such as Tyler, The Creator and Lebron James in what was one of the most electrifying concerts of the year (which I can attest to, as I was right up at the barricade of the Kia Forum standing floor). With these successes, Lamar’s announcement as the headliner for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show caps off the road to “GNX.”
Through boisterous tracks that capture the essence and sounds of West Coast hip-hop, the same styles Lamar worked to defend in his battle with Drake, “GNX” cements Lamar’s legacy as rap’s figurehead. Lamar deviates from the themes of introspection emblematic of such past works as 2022’s “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.” Instead, he explores more boastful themes that, coupled with high-energy yet lyrically-dense tracks, lead “GNX” to be one of Lamar’s most catchy and lively works to date.
“GNX” begins with “wacced out murals,” a track on which Lamar raps over a minimalist string instrumental produced by Jack Antonoff and Sounwave about his bitter feelings regarding the rap landscape and his place in it. In one key line on the song, Lamar describes how he “used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down,” as he considers the public scrutiny around his selection as next year’s Super Bowl headliner over rapper Lil Wayne. As Wayne is from New Orleans, where the Super Bowl is set to take place, Wayne expressed dismay surrounding Lamar’s selection and even responded to the lyric. However, Lamar uses this line and others not to diss Wayne, but more so to stand up for his own legacy.
The next track, “squabble up” features a West Coast-inspired funk instrumental and samples singer Debbie Deb in a moment that continues Lamar’s uplifted confidence and follows up on his past criticisms of Drake from hit single “Not Like Us.” The third track, “luther,” deviates from the more rigid approach in the first tracks to a harmonious duet between Lamar and SZA in which the two look toward a possible future where they could take away all pain from their lovers. Meanwhile, “man at the garden” fits in line with the themes of Lamar’s previous work as he contemplates whether he is deserving of achievements but concludes with the declaration that he is “the greatest of all time.”
“hey now” turns back to more aggressive tones over dark production, which are eventually upscaled by spacey synths before fellow underground L.A. rapper Dody6 trades lines with Lamar. Lamar’s choice to embody a West Coast-centric approach to the record reaches its peak on “reincarnated” as he raps over a sampled 2Pac instrumental.
On “tv off,” Lamar reunites with Mustard, the producer of “Not Like Us,” in a highlight of the album. The rapper-producer duo presents smug lyricism and production in a horn- and bass-infused track. In the second half, Lamar ushers in the second instrumental by yelling “Mustard,” a moment that has gone viral across social media, before rapping about how there remains “no other king in this rap thing, they siblings.”
“heart pt. 6” serves as a continuation of Lamar’s “The Heart” series of songs, in which he reminisces on his memories with the Top Dawg Entertainment label over slick string and drum instrumentals. With “gloria” as the outro, once again featuring SZA, the two reconnect themes of preserving love and conclude the album by detailing a dual-sided relationship.
“GNX” ushers in a new era in Lamar’s career that sees him at new commercial peaks while maintaining past quality. While “GNX” is not as heavily thematically focused or reflective as many of Lamar’s past albums, such as 2015’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” or “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers,” he instead chooses to embrace West Coast hip-hop and highlights a variety of acts. As a whole, “GNX” remains an impressive addition to Lamar’s catalog and further propels him as arguably the most impactful rapper to come out of the 2010s.
