After spending much of the summer dismantling Drake in one of the most high-profile rap beefs of the decade, Kendrick Lamar is closing out 2024 in commanding fashion with the surprise release of his sixth studio album, GNX. The project arrived without warning—so much so that even his label, Universal Music Group, was caught off guard by the drop.
Following the venomous barrage of singles aimed at Drake’s OVO camp earlier this year, GNX shows that Lamar has no plans to slow down. The album is a continuation of his relentless drive, showcasing his dominance over the rap game while maintaining a level of lyrical sharpness that only he can deliver.
GNX: A Sonic Victory Lap
The title GNX is a nod to the iconic 1987 Buick GNX, a muscle car that was once the fastest in the world, outrunning the likes of Lamborghinis and Ferraris. In many ways, the album serves as Lamar’s own victory lap, celebrating his 2024 dominance while racing past rivals. The album opens with Wacced Out Murals, where Lamar sets the tone with aggressive, staccato strings and raps without hesitation, taking shots not just at his rap rivals, but even at his own heroes. One notable target? Snoop Dogg, who had posted a diss track featuring an AI-generated version of Drake’s voice on Instagram earlier this year.
This subtle yet pointed calling out of anything related to Drake is a consistent theme throughout the album. In tracks like Reincarnated, Lamar directly challenges Drake’s use of artificial intelligence to generate Tupac Shakur’s voice for his Taylor Made diss track. Lamar responds by sampling Tupac’s Made N****** but contorting his own voice to mimic Shakur’s unmistakable flow.
Shifting Soundscapes and Club Anthems
Where Lamar’s previous album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), delved deep into introspective themes and complex storytelling, GNX is a more accessible project, incorporating club-ready beats and broader appeal. The album pulls elements from Lamar’s earlier works—DAMN., To Pimp a Butterfly, and Good Kid, M.A.A.D City—melding them into a fresh, genre-blending sound that balances introspection with energy.
The tracks Hey Now and TV Off, both produced by Mustard (the force behind the hit diss track Not Like Us), inject a bouncy, rhythmic vibe into the album, with these songs placed strategically in the middle of the 12-track project. Meanwhile, songs like Squabble Up and Peekaboo echo the infectious energy of Not Like Us, while still maintaining Lamar’s signature wordplay.
Throughout the album, Lamar never veers far from his roots, with tracks that vary from thoughtful and introspective to fiery rap rages like Reincarnated. It’s this blend of club anthems and thought-provoking tracks that sets GNX apart from its predecessors and makes it one of the year’s most compelling rap releases.
Star-Studded Production Team
Lamar once again taps some of the industry’s best producers for this project. Mustard, who played a key role in the production of Not Like Us and helped the track become a massive success with over 900 million streams on Spotify, returns to work his magic on GNX. Alongside him, Sounwave and Jack Antonoff, both of whom contributed to Lamar’s diss track 6:16 in LA, co-produce several tracks on the album. Antonoff, known for his work with Taylor Swift, brings a unique touch to the more atmospheric, introspective moments on the album, while Sounwave continues to provide the soulful backbone that fans of Lamar have come to expect.
Despite rumors circulating that GNX may be part one of a double album, possibly linked to an unreleased collaboration with Taylor Swift, the album as it stands is more than strong enough to stand alone. From its club-ready anthems to its introspective moments, GNX serves as a fitting capstone to what has been one of the most successful years of Lamar’s career.
The Year’s Hardest Rap Album
As Lamar prepares to headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in February 2025, GNX solidifies his place at the top of the rap game. It’s an album that combines aggressive lyrical diss tracks with vibrant club-ready beats, experimental production, and moments of deep introspection. For Lamar, GNX isn’t just a musical victory; it’s a powerful statement of his ability to evolve and dominate, making it one of the hardest-hitting rap albums of the year.
Photos By: Kendrick Lamar. Photograph: PG Lang
