Kendrick Lamar’s had an interesting, hectic year. From his public feud with Drake (including the viral ‘Not Like Us’) to announcing he’s playing the Super Bowl, there’s no doubt that he’s been booked and busy. However, he’s just levelled that one up with the drop of surprise album GNX. Fans are already lapping it up – and if there’s one thing sure to delight audiences, it’s a surprise album.
Kendrick’s unimpeachable victory in the recent beef seems to power GNX to new heights. While it’s one of the album’s primary themes, it’s not the sole focus. He traverses everything from romance (the result of dueting with SZA, primarily) to reinforcing his legacy across the 12 tracks. Lamar knows how to play it up for someone who has already become iconic.
There’s a distinct lack of well-known names on GNX, besides fellow TDE signee SZA. It says something about Lamar that the other artists on his level potentially aren’t worthy of sharing his spotlight, instead giving the mic to upcoming West Coast artists like dody6, AzChike and Peysoh.
Despite its various themes, the main message behind the album seems to be ‘Who else wants some heat’ but it’s delivered so smoothly that it doesn’t even seem like a dig in places. Lamar challenges the industry in the fiery opening track ‘wacced out the mural.’ As he raps that he’s glad the people who oppose him are ‘showing their faces’ it’s almost like a threat, but also a covert reminder that he’s aware of who is in his circle – and who isn’t.
Reinforcing his ability to be at the top of his game is ‘squabble up.’ If ‘wacced out mural’ is anything to go by, some of his potential future targets include Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne – but Lamar emphasises their status as ‘sitting ducks.’ With his position being firmly at the top, it’s clear that Lamar considers himself – and only himself – to be the king, and he’s more than capable of swiftly removing the competition.
SZA shakes things up with her first appearance, titled ‘Luther.’ The tempo change is immediate, with a melting pot of flirty instrumentals combined with romantic lyrics. Kendrick’s part about wanting a world free from pain for his lover is moving, whereas SZA adds her trademark ethereal sound while she sings about wanting deep connection. Their voices are an ideal balance as their well-known chemistry is fully displayed. With an album that has the intensity of GNZ, SZA is a welcome addition.
‘Man at the Garden’ is also slower than the first two tracks. With the repetitive lyric throughout ‘I deserve it all,’ Lamar once again challenges people to say he’s not worthy of success. He lists many desires – ‘twice emotional stability’, diamonds, and spending ‘2.5 million on an average day.’ Lamar has risen to the top, but he reminds listeners that he harnesses an unshakeable ambition.
It’s followed by ‘Hey Now’ (ft. dody6) and ‘Reincarnated’ to round out the album’s first section. ‘Reincarnated’ is one of the most powerful songs on the album, intertwining poetic narrative with historical reflection. He considers his ‘past lives’ within the song’s context, paying homage to artists he finds particularly inspiring and important, including John Lee Hooker and what seems to be Billie Holiday.
Rather than explicitly suggesting that his soul inhabited these other artists, Lamar is likely implying that his communities can inherit and build upon the artistic greatness of those who came before.
‘TV Off’ starts the second half, and since release it has immediately emerged as one of the standout tracks. It’s sonically similar to ‘Not Like Us’ and according to Mustard, who provided production on the album, the similarities were intentional (the two were most likely recorded around the same time.) Lamar once again asserts his dominance over his peers, rapping that there ‘ain’t no other king in this rap thing / only siblings.’
‘Dodger Blue’ is an incredibly smooth track. Featuring Roddy Ricch, Wallie the Sensei and Siete7 and with additional contributions from Ink and Sam Dew, to say it’s highly stacked is an understatement. As a vibrant ode to the culture of L.A., the verses are sharp and assertive, while the more playful side of Lamar comes out in the later verses. Ricch, Wallie and Siete feature together in the choruses, resulting in a blend that is undeniably nailed across the board.
‘Peekaboo’ and the on-the-nose ‘Heart Pt. 6’ fit nicely back to back, but one of the primary standouts from the second half is the title track, ‘GNX.’ It’s a high-energy anthem, with unapologetic pride and hustle which radiates through every lyric. If there’s one theme on GNX, it’s Kendrick continuing to reinforce his place at the top of the hierarchy – and this continues to be no exception. With a recurring hook including the lines ‘x did it’, Lamar pays homage to the artists whose achievements have paved the way for his career. It solidifies their legacies in a way that isn’t necessarily humble, but celebratory as their shared experiences are emphasised.
GNX rounds out with another emotional SZA collaboration, ‘Gloria.’ The woman in the song serves as an important metaphor, serving as a personification of the relationship with his craft. He emphasises his art as something which he has conflicting feelings about, as it has the power to both uplift and consume him.
With this sixth powerhouse of an album, Lamar has once again proven that his fiery, intense art continues to work wonders on his audience and continues to elevate his star even higher. If this is what he puts together and then drops as a surprise – we will be eagerly watching to receive his next masterpiece sometime in the future.
