US rapper Kendrick Lamar has stunned fans with the unexpected release of his sixth studio album, GNX. The 12-track album dropped on Lamar’s social media pages at 17:00 GMT on Friday and features collaborations with R&B star SZA and jazz musician Kamasi Washington. This marks Lamar’s first album since 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers and comes ahead of his highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime show performance in February.
An Eventful Year and Rising Tensions with Drake
Lamar’s surprise release caps off a dramatic year, including his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake. The two artists have been trading lyrical jabs in a fiery back-and-forth, culminating in Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us,” which broke Spotify records for the most streams in a single day. Despite the tension, Lamar continues to dominate the charts, with the song reaching number one in the US and number six in the UK.
Star-Studded Collaborations
While there was speculation that Taylor Swift might feature on GNX, the pop superstar does not appear in the final tracklist. Instead, SZA lends her voice to two tracks, “luther” and “gloria,” further cementing their creative partnership after a recent joint interview with Harper’s Bazaar. Other notable tracks on the album include “tv off,” “dodger blue,” and the titular “gnx.”
Critical Reception and Fan Reactions
Early reviews of GNX have been mostly positive, with critics praising Lamar’s lyrical brilliance. AP News lauded the album as “another thrilling chapter” in Lamar’s evolving artistry. However, Rating Game Music suggested that the album feels more like a “creative purge” than a monumental release, speculating that a bigger project might be on the horizon.
Super Bowl References and Rivalry Fallout
The album’s opening track, “wacced out murals,” includes references to Lamar’s upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, a gig that stirred controversy among Lil Wayne fans. In the track, Lamar reflects on his career achievements, rapping:
“I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down,
Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me.”
A Monumental Return- Kendrick Lamar
With GNX, Kendrick Lamar once again proves why he remains one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop. The surprise album, filled with introspective lyrics and standout collaborations, sets the stage for his highly anticipated Super Bowl performance and continues to solidify his legacy as a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet from Compton.
