Kendrick Lamar surprised fans on Friday with the release of GNX, his sixth studio album. The 12-track project was announced via social media at 17:00 GMT and features collaborations with R&B star SZA and jazz musician Kamasi Washington, among others.
GNX marks Lamar’s first album since 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers and precedes his headlining performance at February’s Super Bowl halftime show.
Early reviews have been largely positive, with critics praising Lamar’s lyrical depth and artistry.
“Whatever comes next, the Pulitzer Prize winner has written another thrilling chapter in what remains the most fascinating longform story in hip-hop,” wrote AP News, hailing Lamar as a “poet from Compton working through contradictions on the biggest stage.”
While Rating Game Music lauded Lamar’s brilliance, they speculated the album might be a precursor to a larger project, describing it as “a creative purge” rather than a monumental release.
Rumors of a Taylor Swift feature proved untrue, despite their history of collaboration on Bad Blood.
Instead, SZA appears on two tracks, luther and gloria, and recently joined Lamar for a Harper’s Bazaar interview discussing spirituality and mental health.
Other standout tracks include wacced out murals, where Lamar references his upcoming Super Bowl performance, and Not Like Us, a fiery response in his ongoing feud with Drake.
The latter, powered by DJ Mustard’s production, shattered Spotify records for single-day hip-hop plays and became Lamar’s highest-charting solo hit in the U.S.
The album also hints at Lamar’s reflection on his Super Bowl booking, with lyrics expressing respect for Lil Wayne and Nas.
“I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down,” he raps, adding, “Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me.”
Fans have flooded social media with praise for the project, cementing Lamar’s status as a hip-hop powerhouse.
As GNX garners attention and anticipation builds for his Super Bowl performance, Lamar’s latest work continues to solidify his legacy as one of the genre’s greatest storytellers.
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