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GNX (album)

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GNX
Black-and-white photo of Lamar leaning against the back of a car
Studio album by
Kendrick Lamar
ReleasedNovember 22, 2024 (2024-11-22)
Length44:20
Language
  • English
  • Spanish
Label
Producer
Kendrick Lamar chronology
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
(2022) 		GNX
(2024)

GNX is the sixth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released as a surprise album through PGLang and Interscope Records on November 22, 2024. Titled after the Buick Regal model, and a follow-up to Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), GNX is Lamar's first album after his departure from Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment.

Jack Antonoff and Sounwave executive produced the album, which features uncredited appearances from AzChike, Deyra Barrera, Dody 6, Hitta J3, Ink, Kamasi Washington, Peysoh, Roddy Ricch, Sam Dew, Siete, SZA, Wallie The Sensei, and Young Threat.[1][2]

Background

American rapper Kendrick Lamar released his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, on May 13, 2022, to critical and commercial success.[3] It marked his fourth number-one album on the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in February 2023.[4][5] After concluding its accompanying concert tour in March 2024,[6] Lamar shared on social media that he purchased a vintage, limited-run 1987 Buick Grand National Experimental (GNX);[7] the same model that his father used to take him home from the hospital following his birth.[8][9]

Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was Lamar's last album with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), to which he had signed in 2005.[10] Before his feud with Canadian rapper Drake re-escalated,[11] he quietly departed from Aftermath Entertainment and signed a direct licensing agreement with its distributor, Interscope Records.[12] Lamar released five standalone singles during the latest installment of their conflict, including the Billboard Hot 100-toppers "Like That" and "Not Like Us".[13][14] Lamar teased a then-untitled song in the beginning of the music video for the latter. Entertainment Weekly observed its inclusion and fan speculation that it could be included in his next album, which would reveal to be "Squabble Up".[15]

Rumors surrounding Lamar's forthcoming album began to emerge; although some were denied by close affiliates.[16] After announcing that he was chosen as the headlining act for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show,[17] Lamar surprised released "Watch the Party Die" on his Instagram account. Rolling Stone said that the track bodes well for his next album–"whenever it comes."[18] Dazed, on the other hand, predicted that he was gearing up for an "astronomical" era.[19] By October, Lamar's longtime collaborators Terrace Martin, SZA and Schoolboy Q confirmed that he would be releasing new music.[20][21][22]

Promotion

During an NBA broadcast of a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 23, a snippet of the then-unreleased song "Squabble Up" was presented, a song also present in the music video for his diss track "Not Like Us".[23] On November 22, 2024 a one-minute teaser for the album premiered on YouTube and the album was surprise-released moments later.[24][25][26]

Critical reception

Ben Sisaro of The New York Times noted that the track "Heart Pt. 6" is an "implicit rejoinder" in Lamar's feud with Drake. Earlier in 2024, Drake released a diss track named "The Heart Part 6", taking its title from Lamar's "heart" song series.[27][28] Tom Breihan of Stereogum referred to the album as "the best album of 2024 and the greatest work of Kendrick Lamar’s career," praising its production and Lamar's rapping.[29]

Track listing

GNX track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Wacced Out Murals"
5:17
2."Squabble Up"Duckworth
2:37
3."Luther"
2:57
4."Man at the Garden"Duckworth
  • Sounwave
  • Antonoff
  • Balmoris
  • Mehlenbacher
  • M-Tech[a]
3:53
5."Hey Now"
  • Duckworth
  • Zarius Cunningham
3:37
6."Reincarnated"
  • Duckworth
  • Barrera
  • Lamar
  • Sounwave
  • Antonoff
  • M-Tech
  • Noah Ehler
4:35
7."TV Off"Duckworth
3:40
8."Dodger Blue"
  • Duckworth
  • Dew
  • Traquan Tyson
  • Siete
2:11
9."Peekaboo"
  • Duckworth
  • Damaria Walker
  • Sounwave
  • Momberger
  • Bridgeway
2:35
10."Heart Pt. 6"Duckworth
  • Sounwave
  • Antonoff
  • M-Tech[a]
  • Juju[a]
4:52
11."GNX"
  • Sounwave
  • Antonoff
  • Rascal
  • Kenny & Billy
  • Tim Maxey[a]
3:13
12."Gloria"
  • Duckworth
  • Rowe
  • Boggs
  • Barrera
  • Sounwave
  • Antonoff
  • Deats
4:47
Total length:44:20

Notes

References

  1. ^ Aaron, Williams (November 22, 2024). "Who Are The Features On Kendrick Lamar's New Album, 'GNX?'". Uproxx. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Monroe, Jazz (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Releases New Album GNX: Listen and Read the Full Credits". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Reveals Why He Almost Didn't Release Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers". Rap-Up. October 11, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Caulfield, Keith (May 22, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Corcoran, Nina (February 5, 2023). "Kendrick Lamar Wins Best Rap Album for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers at 2023 Grammys". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Aswad, Jem (May 13, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar Unveils 'Big Steppers' Tour Dates". Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Woods, Aleia (March 20, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Posts a Strangely Cryptic Message on His Finsta". XXL. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  8. ^ Elibert, Mark (March 20, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Purchases Vintage Buick Regal: 'My Big Cousin Pat Dogg Smiling Down'". Complex. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (November 22, 2024). "What Is A GNX From Kendrick Lamar's New Album?". Uproxx. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Young, Alex (August 20, 2021). "Kendrick Lamar announces final album with TDE". Consequence. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Gee, Andre (March 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Declares War -- And Five Other Takeaways From We Don't Trust You". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Kermah, Jonathan (May 20, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Went No. 1 on His Own. What Does That Mean for TDE?". The Ringer. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Perry, Kevin E.G. (March 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar disses Drake and J Cole on new song: 'It's just big me'". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Strauss, Matthew (May 4, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Doesn't Wait for Drake Response, Drops Another New Diss Song "Not Like Us": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Stenzel, Wesley (July 5, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar drops music video for Drake diss track 'Not Like Us' on Fourth of July". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Gilbert, Natalee (August 26, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's new album isn't coming soon". XXL. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Ramage, Jack (September 19, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar to perform at Super Bowl 2025 halftime show". DJ Mag. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Gee, Andre (September 16, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar is over it". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  19. ^ Pace-McCarrick, Solomon (September 12, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar drops surprise release, sparking new album rumours". Dazed Digital. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  20. ^ Caraan, Sophie (June 6, 2024). "Terrace Martin Hypes up New Kendrick Lamar Album". Hypebeast. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  21. ^ Brown, Preezy (October 14, 2024). "SZA Hints New Kendrick Lamar Album Is On The Way". Vibe. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Trapp, Malcolm (October 17, 2024). "ScHoolboy Q Says All His Friends Are "Dropping Music", Fans Speculate Whether He Means Kendrick Lamar". Rap-Up. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  23. ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (October 24, 2024). "8 signs that Kendrick Lamar might be dropping his new album soon". XXL. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  24. ^ Cowen, Trace William (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Surprise-Drops GNX Project". Complex. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  25. ^ Sisario, Ben (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Surprise Releases a New Album, GNX". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  26. ^ Saponara, Michael (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Returns With Surprise Drop of New Album 'GNX': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  27. ^ Sisario, Ben (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Surprise Releases a New Album, 'GNX'". The New York Times.
  28. ^ a b Long Decter, Rosie (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Reclaims 'Heart Pt. 6' From Drake on Surprise Album 'GNX'". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  29. ^ Breihan, Tom (November 22, 2024). "Premature Evaluation: Kendrick Lamar GNX". Stereogum. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Mier, Tomás (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's Surprise New Album 'GNX' Is Here". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  31. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Drops 'GNX': New Album Features SZA, Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  32. ^ Williams, Aaron (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Officially Releases The Long-Awaited 'Squabble Up' From The 'Not Like Us' Video On His Surprise Album, 'GNX'". Uproxx. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  33. ^ Landrum Jr., Jonathan (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX'". Associated Press. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  34. ^ Renshaw, David (November 22, 2024). "6 things to know about Kendrick Lamar's GNX". The Fader. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
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