The rapper’s new surprise album combines brazen unforgivingness, West Coast bangers, and stellar writing.
Just when it seemed like we had watched the party die, Kendrick Lamar reignited the flame. GNX, his sixth studio album, was released suddenly on Nov. 22 with no promotion.
Released in the wake of his highly-publicized feud with fellow hip-hop superstar Drake, this new record feels like an extension of his victory lap. GNX offers up bangers without letting up on the anger.
The intro track “wacced out murals” is filled with warning blips as the Los Angeles rapper sounds the alarm for his return. His tone is disgruntled, as he still has more to get off his chest outside the beef: “Ain’t no sympathy here, this s**t’s hilarious.”
He points out the irony of receiving backlash for an achievement, directly addressing the widespread support for rapper Lil Wayne when Lamar was announced as the Super Bowl headliner for the forthcoming event in New Orleans, Wayne’s hometown. Snoop Dogg is also name-dropped for reposting Drake’s AI-generated “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss track, with Lamar comically claiming that he “prayed it was the edibles.”
The following “squabble up” is one of many smooth cuts characterized by an unapologetically West Coast sound in the form of Bay Area hyphy-style beats. “hey now” is similar in tone, with fat sub-bass and breathy vocals, creating an airy soundscape.
The standout “tv off” recaptures the essence of Lamar’s viral, chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us,” with its quick string melody hits and West Coast bounce courtesy of producer Mustard. The producer even gets a nod in the form of a yelled shoutout from the Los Angeles rapper that coincides with an intensity-driving beat switch, immediately becoming one of the album’s viral online moments.
The album is Lamar’s most West Coast-sounding effort to date, due in part to the numerous local California artists featured as guests. “dodger blue” is a slow and smooth cut that rallies different vocalists over groovy synth bass. “gnx” is a hip-hop posse cut with HittaJ3, YoungThreat, and Peysoh that sounds like an informal group studio session with effortless trade-offs.
Even with a focus on bangers, the brilliance of Lamar’s pen still takes centre stage.
“reincarnated” is a lyrical standout that samples 2Pac’s “Made N****z.” Lamar approaches it with a hungry delivery that recalls the late rapper while recounting the lives of musicians who he claims to have been in a past life. The final verse emulates a conversation with God (as Lucifer) in which the rapper analyzes his own career, dissecting his good side and bad side, divorcing them from his musical practice.
“heart pt. 6” is another storytelling track, recounting the initial open-eyed awe and hope the rapper experienced in his early days working as part of the Black Hippy collective and TDE label. The rapper chronicles the way his intentions changed over the years, leading him to eventually go independent in 2022.
Lamar is also joined by R&B singer SZA on two tracks. “luther” is a soft-spoken melodic rap cut where Lamar’s mostly monotone pairs beautifully with SZA’s singing. Its glistening strings and guitars set a lush atmosphere, complete with a Luther Vandross sample that pops in routinely, allowing the song to breathe momentarily before its beat comes back in.
She returns for “gloria,” written from the first-person perspective of a romantic relationship as an extended metaphor for the rapper’s relationship with his pen and writing process.
GNX successfully pays homage to Lamar’s Californian heritage with its production, delivering upbeat anthems without sparing clever, philosophical tracks. His rapping and storytelling are as razor-sharp as ever, and even in his angrier moments, he gets his point across in a thoughtful and thought-provoking manner.
Score: 8.5/10
Trial Track: “reincarnated”
