Album Review: GNX by Kendrick Lamar

Marcus Cortez

Rap/Hip-Hop Journalist

Following one of the most insane summers for hip-hop kicking off an unforgettable moment in history with Kendrick and Drake going head-to-head. Many, including myself, started to get excited for what the future could hold. What was Kendrick planning? Following the monster hit “Not Like Us” and then getting picked to perform for the 2025 Superbowl halftime show. Kendrick was on a roll to start an amazing album rollout, as we waited for what he had coming. Though while we waited for more teasers, singles, or even an album cover or name. Kendrick decided to surprise us all by choosing a random Friday morning to drop his new 6^th studio album GNX.

GNX sees Kendrick’s return following his latest double album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers(2022). And while like the title suggests, Mr. Morale saw Kendrick take on a new path of growth and inner peace, claiming he was no longer the “Savior” that people wanted. Fast forward 2 and a half years later, Kendrick seems to now take on the role as the villain of hip-hop. Our first teaser for his new album was a song released exclusively on Kendrick’s Instagram with the presumptive title “Watch the Party Die” with Kendrick opening the track with “I think it’s time to watch the party die. This s**t done got too wicked to apologize.” Setting a new tone for Kendrick, a tone of destruction to follow, though with the release of GNX we didn’t really get that. GNX itself feels like for the first time since his 2010 mixtape Overly Dedicated it’s just a project for Kendrick to show off his rapping and song writing skills. No concept, no hero’s journey, no double-triple-quadruple entendres, just an album filled to the brim with amazing and reflective songs.

Starting with the opening “wacced out murals” it does follow similar to “Watch the Party Die” with Kendrick going in on his new “f**k everybody” attitude. We see big names being called out like Snoop Dogg with Kendrick expressing his disappointment for Snoop’s support of Drake’s diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle” with his line “Snoop posted Taylor Made, I prayed it was the edibles”. An funny ironic line as Kendrick recruited Jack Antonoff for the production on not only this track but for others on the album. As well as calling out Lil Wayne in the same verse, giving his thoughts on the Superbowl controversy of Wayne being passed over to perform in his hometown New Orleans with the lines “Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud. Irony I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down”. This whole track feels like Kendrick is finally able to not care anymore and do what he wants on his own terms, creating his own mural as the album continues. Another big standout track for me follows right after with “squabble up”, the full track to the opening teaser song from the “Not Like Us” music video. The whole track has a very infectious high energy to it. A very G-Funk influenced sound giving it a very danceable feel to it, in which its sample of Debbie Deb’s “When I Hear Music” elevating it even more. It’s such a fun track and I’m so happy it got a full release as Kendrick in the past gave us great teaser songs in which he never dropped like “Dead Homies” from the “Alright” music video.

Two other big standouts from this album for me are “reincarnated” and “heart pt. 6”. Starting with “reincarnated” the song is homage to 2Pac with the main sample being from 2Pac’s track “Made N****zs”, a song Pac made for the 1997 film Gang Related. And right off the bat Kendrick jumps in rapping in that aggressive fast flow that any fan of 2Pac would recognize instantly. This track offers another look deeper into Kendrick, with his struggles with fame and his own self. Throughout he talks about his struggle with addictions from women, drugs, power, etc. With the last verse of the track sees Kendrick arguing with a higher power asking how to kill his own pride, going back and forth if he is a good and peace loving person deep down. It’s another track that really shows the growth of Kendrick and what separates him from most rappers, as he doesn’t shy away from his sins, and his struggle for improvement. It’s very deep and blunt in which it offers the listener a chance to look into Kendrick’s internal battles, making it both introspective and relatable. The raw honesty of it invites us to reflect on our own flaws and aspirations for growth, aiming for a better “reincarnated” version of our own selves.

The other track and my personal favorite from the album “heart pt. 6” sees Kendrick continuing his heart song series, though surprisingly it breaks tradition as this part both dropped the “The” and was the first part to be released within an album. As Kendrick previously always dropped a new “The Heart” part before a big album release. While reasons may be unknown, there is a feeling that this change was made due to Drake stealing the title of “The Heart Part 6” back during the summer beef for a diss track. But it feels that Kendrick is still getting the last laugh, not giving in to adding the “The” to further distance himself from Drake and his failed petty attempt. The “heart pt. 6” is absolutely beautiful with sampling “Use Your Heart” by SWV produced by The Neptunes and has already become my second favorite part right behind The Heart Part IV (2017) as part 6 sees Kendrick reflecting on his rise in TDE and providing the flowers for his fellow circle of Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q in which they rightfully deserve. A standout line from this track was Kendrick admitting “I jog my memory, knowing Black Hippy didn’t work cause of me.” As finally having the closure from Kendrick himself on the failed supergroup really felt like the closing of a chapter for Kendrick’s time at TDE. The track offers a raw and reflective look into Kendrick’s humble beginnings and showcases the immense growth that he had that brought him to his current position. It highlights that, despite his strengths, flaws, and everything in between, Kendrick remains deeply human, just like the rest of us. The song is a really inspiring track as it inspires us to strive for own growth and success, crafting our own path and story to hopefully one day tell it straight from our own heart.

Overall, GNX is a very solid project that will only continue to grow on me more with time. Don’t jump into it like me, expecting Kendrick to shake the industry with callouts or reigniting controversies, it’s not that, but it’s rather another testament to Kendrick’s artistry and his ability to share his personal growth and reflection into his music. It’s another reminder of why he’s rightfully regarded as one of the greatest in hip-hop.

Recommended Tracks:

• wacced out murals
• squabble up
• luther
• reincarnated
• dodger blue
• heart pt.6