2024 was a hugely successful year for one of, if not the greatest rapper of all time, Kendrick Lamar.
After starting the year out hot with an appearance on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” Lamar was entangled in the most famous rap beef in history, along with rapper J. Cole and pop star Drake.
After going back and forth with the latter, Lamar dropped the meteoric “meet the grahams” and “Not Like Us” on the same day, the latter of which has been blossoming into a huge hit that will (almost certainly) be chanted by millions around the world at the upcoming Super Bowl in Louisiana.
So, what does one do after winning the greatest rap beef of all time, being announced to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show, having one of the biggest hits of his career, and cementing the status as one of the most anticipated and popular artists in the world?
Well, Lamar dropped a surprise announcement at noon on Friday, November 22, 2024, only to release the unforeseen album, sending shockwaves throughout the rap landscape.
I would argue that GNX is Kendrick’s most fun album to date, most of the songs in the same tone as “Not Like Us,” with the aforementioned “squabble up” being teased in the music video on July 4, 2025.
In just 2 years, Lamar has once again evolved.
The themes seen on GNX are immensely different from the themes shown on his prior album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, taking a less serious approach, and shifting the tone towards a fun, energetic, but occasionally introspective and personal one.
The intro to the album, “wacced out murals,” set the tone for the rest of the project.
While it is a tension-filled intro, it is probably my least favorite song on the album due to its lack of direction and progression.
The following tracks, “squabble up,” “luther,” and “man at the garden” are fantastic tracks that prove Lamar’s new career direction is an exciting and anticipated change.
“Hey now” is another good song that keeps the album moving, but it is one that I haven not really come back to due to its repetitive nature.
Following that is possibly the best song on the album, “reincarnated.” This song is absolutely incredible, seeing Lamar compare himself to famous R&B musicians John Lee Hooker and Billie Holiday, saying that he is the reincarnated form of the two.
After this is “tv off,” another insanely fun track produced by DJ Mustard, seemingly a shot at Drake, commentating on the fact that Drake won’t be able to view the Super Bowl without turning his TV off.
Following this is “peekaboo” and “dodger blue;” songs that are good, but some of the weaker ones on the album.
My favorite song on the album is next: “heart pt. 6,” obviously the sixth part in his absolutely incredible “Heart” series, which he typically released before albums and not on them. This song is my favorite for a couple of reasons.
First, this is the most personal song on the album, detailing his life with his old label, as well as his former group “Black Hippy.”
“heart pt. 6” is a gorgeous song that really proves that Kendrick hasn’t lost a step at all. He’s not trying to make another To Pimp A Butterfly or DAMN.; but he’s not declining, and it is proven on “heart pt. 6.”
It is also important to note the absolute travesty of a song that Drake dropped earlier this year, titled “THE HEART PART SIX,” a song in which he denies pedophilia accusations and ties to a relationship with a fourteen-year-old Millie Bobby Brown. Kendrick basically ignores the release of this song with “heart pt. 6.”
The next song is the title track, “GNX.” This song was seen as the worst song upon release, and I don’t entirely disagree. It’s still a fun song, especially after the personal introspective “heart pt. 6,” but it’s just okay compared to the rest of the album.
The final track, “gloria,” is a great closer to the album. It’s dedicated to Kendrick’s wife, Whitney, and how she’s stuck by him through adversity and good times. There’s another SZA feature on this song, similar to “luther,” but I believe “gloria” is a much better song, as well as a fantastic ending to GNX.
Overall, GNX is a return to form for the legendary rapper. While it’s not his greatest work, it is still an expertly performed album with an unimaginable amount of hype behind it.
My rating for GNX by Kendrick Lamar: 8.5/10
