Right before Thanksgiving, Kendrick Lamar, Grammy and Pulitzer prize-winning rapper, put out his sixth studio album, “GNX.” In its first week, it performed higher than Lamar’s previous masterworks “Good Kid, M.A.A.d City” and “To Pimp a Butterfly,” becoming one of four albums to have five songs in the top five of the Billboard 200 in the first week since its release, head-to-head with releases by artists like Taylor Swift, The Beatles, and Drake.
Jesse Roybal ‘27 said the album’s surprise release took the school by storm, stating, “When I first heard Kendrick dropped his album ‘GNX,’ I was in class, and then I realized everyone had headphones on.”
“GNX” differs significantly from previous Kendrick Lamar projects, but its messages stay true to Lamar’s past. The album’s production is heavily influenced by 1990’s West Coast hip-hop and present-day West Coast rap from producers like DJ Mustard and Sounwave, Kendrick’s long-time beat-makers. Lamar also worked with Grammy-winning mixers, including Jack Antonoff, who worked with artists like Taylor Swift. Unlike in previous releases, Kendrick raps over diverse, up-tempo and bouncy instrumentals. After his feud with Canadian rapper Drake, Lamar has resorted to more cynical lyrics, which are different from his motivating lyrics of the past.
“Honestly, I really loved what Lamar had to say in his album. I liked that he kept the beef going with Drake and that he also showed love for the city,” stated Sevan Keshishian ‘27.
The only A-list celebrities featured on “GNX” were SZA and Roddy Rich, with the majority of the featured artists being Los Angeles underground rappers like Walle the Sensei, Peysoh, AzChike, and Lefty Gunplay. Over his past five albums, Lamar has covered a lot of ground in his narrative and musical songwriting. In “GNX,” it was uplifting to hear Lamar bring his lyrical focus back to his hometown and rhyme about many aspects of Los Angeles culture.
After Drake had previously insulted L.A., Lamar wanted listeners to understand that the city has a wealth of new sounds and musicians. One of the most prominent lines in the album is “Don’t say you hate L.A. when you don’t travel past the Ten,” and it alludes to his pride for Los Angeles and underrepresented communities, making specific references to Los Angeles freeways. In the song “Reincarnated,” Kendrick Lamar samples a song from Tupac’s film, “Gang-Related.” While Lamar never mentions Drake by name, it is clear from the album’s lyrical content that he seeks to dispel any false narratives that the rapper began.
Overall, “GNX” was nothing short of Kendrick Lamar’s latest musical sensation, breaking thematic barriers while bringing listeners back to a younger Lamar. The project also displays Lamar’s pride of his Southern California roots, which was more apparent in his younger self. Though it has not risen to the monumental status of his previous masterpieces, one can only hope to see him continue to release this quality of music before his eventual, historic retirement.
