Kendrick Lamar is on an unstoppable streak in 2024. After decisively outmatching Drake in their much-publicized lyrical war, headlining next year’s Super Bowl halftime show, and now surprise-dropping his new album, 'GNX' , it’s even more clear now: Kendrick is in a league of his own and cemented as a legend.
GNX, the follow-up to 2022’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, features 12 tracks. A 12 record tracklist is a moderately short project for Kendrick, but the track count is irrelevant in comparison to impact because with just 12 tracks, he get his points across. With production credits including Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Mustard, Kamasi Washington, and Terrace Martin, among others, the album delivers both depth and dynamism. Notably, Kendrick continues his “Heart” series with “Heart Pt. 6”, a powerful addition that subtly nods to Drake’s similarly titled “THE HEART PART 6”, which dropped earlier this year amidst their feud.
The album rollout began unexpectedly, with Kendrick posting a teaser on his alternate Instagram account, @jojoruski. The video featured a sleek 1987 Buick GNX, the inspiration behind the album’s name. Known for its iconic status, the GNX epitomizes speed and performance, once outpacing the Ferrari F40—a symbolic choice that mirrors Kendrick’s dominance in the rap game. Kendrick uses 'GNX' to reply to the nay sayers & critiques. He directly addresses various narratives surrounding the biggest rap beef of the last 20+ years. along with the selection of being selected for the Super Bowl halftime performance.
For Kendrick fans, 'GNX ' is a triumph that exceeded expectations. The album starts off strong with a song titled 'wacced out murals' where Kendrick acknowledges the current state of the music industry and their knee jerk reaction to his actions this year. He directly name drops artists like Lil Wayne who criticized the Super Bowl decision given its New Orleans venue, while icons like Nas applauded Kendrick’s achievement. The second track 'squabble up' builds on the buzz surrounding “Not Like Us”, finally unveiling the full version of the snippet that was previewed in the music video. It cleverly samples Debbie Deb’s classic hit “When I Hear Music”.
A brief breakdown of The Buick Grand National:
The Grand National is a legendary sports car that cemented Buick’s reputation by outpacing the Ferrari F40 in performance. The Buick GNX achieved 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, outpacing the Ferrari F40 by 0.4 seconds. It also surpassed the Ferrari in the quarter-mile by 0.3 seconds. With Kendrick's love for his extremely rare GNX variation of the Grand National, he was able to use this imagery and symbolism to convey his message to an industry completely immersed in vanity. Throughout the album, Kendrick uses the GNX as a metaphor for his place in the industry—powerful, rare, and built to surpass expectations. On “man at the garden,” he reflects on his success and the temptations of excess:
"Stock investments, more entities
Put my homes on the beachfront
Flyin' private, what you eat for lunch?
I deserve it all
I deserve it all"
Despite the opulence, Kendrick wrestles with his morality, refusing to lose himself to materialism. This theme continues in “Reincarnated,” where he pays homage to Tupac Shakur. Over the beat of “Made N*az,” Kendrick alternates perspectives in the first two verses before speaking from his own in the third. His introspection shines:
I'm tryna push peace in L.A.
But you love war
No, I don't
Oh, yes, you do
Okay, then tell me the truth
Every individual is only a version of you"
More than an album, GNX is a statement. Kendrick’s ability to pair his lyrical genius with sharp and relevant cultural commentary reaffirms his standing as one of hip-hop’s most transformative figures. In a year marked by both accolades and controversies, Kendrick Lamar doesn’t just survive the storm—he thrives in it, leaving an indelible mark once again.
