Kendrick Lamar - “GNX” (2024)
To begin this review, I have something to admit. It has to do with the rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, my most listened-to artist on Spotify, that has lasted since March 2024. From the start of this heated feud, I had sided with Drake based on hit value, and for whatever reason I had not paid too much attention to the diss tracks that both artists were firing back at each other.
But man, I should probably think twice about my decision after Lamar’s latest project, GNX.
An ode to Lamar’s “spirit car” of sorts, the album’s name and cover art are centered around the 1987 Buick GNX. Not only is 1987 the rapper’s birth year, but this specific model had the NASCAR crown in the quarter mile at the time. Very fitting for a rapper that has had 3 singles (“Like That”, “Not Like Us” and now “Squabble Up”) all reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 within the same year (Billboard).
Throughout his career, Lamar’s music has combined conscious rapping with personal stories tied to themes of street violence and substance abuse from his time growing up in Compton, California. So much more than rhymes and a beat, Lamar’s music serves as a light of truth to the world, challenging boundaries within hip-hop and the society that it responds to.
This time around, Lamar is less concerned with all the politics. “GNX” is a chance for him to defend his legacy and cement his place as the “greatest of all time”. Undoubtedly so, he feels as if it is “Kendrick against the world” on this album, past all the rap beef and into a new era of his career. Given all the outside pressure and attention that has been placed on him during this year alone, Lamar provides a flawless response with this release.
So let’s get into it…
From the jump, “wacced out murals” opens with eerie vocals that set an ominous stage for the lyrical slaughtering that is to come. Before the beat even drops, Lamar makes the attitude he is coming with for the rest of the album explicitly known: the legacy he has built for himself is not getting the respect it deserves, and if you stand in his way on his quest for the rap throne, no mercy will be shown. With an opening verse like this, Lamar has proven yet again that no one else in the game can top him when it comes to vocal delivery. The conviction behind each syllable, subtle voice inflections, and a diverse portrayal of emotions gives listeners clear insight into Lamar’s lyrical intentions.
“man at the garden” follows a similar delivery style as the album’s opener, which I imagine was recited with a hushed tone and furrowed brow. The sound of background rain with a lowkey rhythm invites Lamar to reflect deeply on the impact he has made, leading him to believe that “(He) deserves it all”. Based on the mood it sets and the message it sends, I consider this to be the most underrated song on the album.
Ramping up the intensity, Lamar comes through with a tandem of G-Funk (“gangster funk”) BANGERS called “squabble up” and “tv off”. After hearing these soon-to-be west coast anthems, I could already picture lowriders cruising through the streets of LA, bumping to these songs like it's the ‘90s again. Lamar was definitely feeling the funk on these tracks, rapping with a playful and wacky style that made it evident how much fun he was having. In contrast, Lamar sprinkles in some soft tracks where he shows his versatility, though these are equally as good as the upbeat hits mentioned before.
“dodger blue” features a soothing groove that Lamar and guest feature Roddy Ricch float on, as they both pay homage to their beloved city of Los Angeles. Ricch makes up 1 of the 10 features that Lamar has on the album, along with a plethora of other up and coming LA rappers that the hometown hero is putting on the map. One feature that needs no introduction, however, is SZA, who has collaborated with Lamar once again to produce two beautiful tracks: “luther” and “gloria”. Just recently, the two have announced their joint “Grand National Tour”, set to visit stadiums across the country starting this spring.
Two tracks that slip through the cracks for me on this project are “heart pt. 6” and “reincarnated”. Both songs are unique in their own way, tough to categorize, and reveal plenty about what Lamar thinks of his past.
“heart pt 6” adds to an ongoing series that Lamar started back in 2010, with each new edition acting as a snapshot of Lamar’s artistic development throughout various points in his career (Sleeping on Gems). Lamar speaks to his beginnings as a rapper on the track, shouting out artists like Ab-Soul and Jay Rock who helped him on his rise to fame.On another note, “reincarnated” entails a more negative reflection of Lamar’s past, as he opens up about some of the obstacles attached to his growing popularity and rapping from multiple different perspectives to do so.
Considering the circumstances at this point in Lamar’s career and the message that “GNX” puts forward, I believe that this project will rank towards the top of Lamar’s discography when it is all said and done. I would also not be surprised if some of these songs made their way into Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance on February 9. Until then, the music world should realize just how massive of a year this has been for Kendrick Lamar, and give the man the respect he deserves because of it.
