GNX

DecSloan
21 hours ago
8 min read

Updated: 4 hours ago

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Released: Nov 2024 (Vinyl Feb 2025)

Length: 44m 20s

My review:

Kendrick is one of my all time favourite artists, he is currently at the top of his game, fresh after comfortably winning the largest and most public rap battles in recent history, his sweeping haul at the Grammys, surprise-releasing GNX his latest in a long list of exceptional albums, to absolutely killing the most widely anticipated and watched music event (the Super Bowl halftime show) with an awe-inspiring performance. One thing is clear, K-Dot is first and foremost for the culture; and I, along with the majority of true Hip-Hop fans, are eternally grateful for the resurgence and rejuvenation to a style of rap, centred around lyricism while also staying true to the essence of its origins, that Kendrick has been instrumental in reclaiming.

GNX sees him breaking off from long-time Label TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) to pursue his own ambitions, as stated in his own lyrics in Heart pt. 6 "Now it's about Kendrick, I wanna evolve, place my skillset as a black exec'" leaving with no love lost, onwards and upwards. This coincides with what feels like the first time he is making music without that constant and self inflicted pressure to create a super coherent and groundbreaking album like it's predecessors. That is felt throughout this album in a good way, there is a focus being put on the music first and having fun, there is a self confidence that oozes through it, suggesting that a weight has been lifted and there is a certain joy found in just making good music. That being said, there is plenty of all the complex lyricism, intricate rhyming schemes and insane flow switches that we love and have become so accustomed to hearing in his records. That's what I love about his music, even on GNX his shortest record to date and arguably his least polished album, it is full to the brim of double entendres, slick story telling, great flows and it still requires extensive listening to fully absorb the intricate messages woven into each track. Even now I am picking up on and hearing new lines or elements that have previously gone unnoticed, with each listen there is a renewed understanding, peeling back the many layers that so strategically encase the message held within. Everything has meaning and a reason for its inclusion, there is no room for chance, Kendrick is a surgical tactician and you can believe everything you hear, and see with his performances, is both important and intentional.

Opening the album is Wacced Out Murals, this statement introduction is an unflinching and honest insight into Kendricks current mind, struggles with fame two-faced people and isolation at the top, however above all is his enduring commitment to his art. Squabble Up is the first proper highlight for me, overall just a fun song with a heavy bassy beat and great sample of the 83' hit When I Hear Music by Debbie Deb but slowed down slightly. It was first heard as a snippet in the introduction to the Not Like Us video that premiered 4 months before the album eventually dropped. Luther is undoubtedly the most popular song from the album, spending 13 consecutive weeks at No.1 in the U.S, it also marks the 6th collaboration with long time friend and artist SZA. The name comes from the soulful sample that features Luther Vandross' voice and the song showcases the fluidity and chemistry that these two share, elevating this tune and guaranteeing its mass appeal. Man At The Garden is firstly a self affirmation for Kendrick and the things that he feels he deserves due to the sacrifices he has made to get there, but as we get into the 3rd verse the "I" in "I deserve it all" changes to "she", "we", "he" and "you" shifting away from the individual and to a shared view, cementing the fact that Dot is for the people and the culture. There are plenty of parallels to be drawn with One Mic by Nas, including the beat, production and cadence, not to mention the similarities surrounding the Nas/Jay Z beef and the more recent Kendrick /Drake feud. Next up, and with a feature from Dody6, we have Hey Now a dark and ominous sounding track that builds up setting the tone nicely for Reincarnated my stand out song. Flipping the record we have TV Off a big stomper that was almost definitely written specifically for the Super Bowl performance, well I am confident the 2nd half of the track was at the very least. It was the big finale to the half time show and features one of the most wordy and difficult verses to perform, which Kendrick breezes through even after a 12 minute high energy performance leading up to this moment. After performing Not Like Us (that won 5 Grammy awards) on the worlds biggest stage, this goes well beyond the final nail in the coffin and, at this point, is simply him metaphorically dancing on Drakes grave. Dodger Blue is one for the West Coast heads as can be heard as an ode to his City and his roots with collaborations from more underground locals, Wallie the Sensei, Roddy Ricch and Siete7x. The features continue with AZ Chike on Peekaboo a satirical take on the usual subjects that constitute 'Gangsta Rap' emphasised by the repetition of the line in the chorus "They ain't talkin' 'bout nothin'". Heart Pt. 6 carries on the heart series that any Kendrick fan will already be aware of, although this is the first time one of them features on an album, most likely as a symbol for reclaiming the title after Drake's attempt to disrupt the sequence with his diss track The Heart Part 6 during their beef. This song details the early days, come-up and subsequent departure from TDE, and is a highlight for sure, affirming Dot's stature as a top emcee and storyteller. GNX features a plethora of lesser known L.A rappers who come together to rap over a unique beat with noticeably reversed 808 drum track. GNX refers to the 1987 Buick Grand National muscle car which has plenty of symbolism surrounding it and a specific significance for Kendrick, firstly the year the car came out was also the year of Kendricks birth, he was even taken home from the hospital in his Dad's Buick Regal a predecessor to the GNX. He purchased his own one in 2024 and it features heavily in the album, both in photos and the name, as well as at the Super Bowl performance and acts as a perfect metaphor, an all-black powerhouse with a very limited run and very much connected to L.A where all the final upgrades were completed. Gloria just missed out on my top spot, another prime example of Kendricks sublime delivery of a concept, littered with metaphors and hidden meanings that only become apparent once you revisit the song after hearing the revelation in the last line. Again there are plenty of parallels to be drawn in Hip-Hop with Common's I Used To Love H.E.R and Tupac's Me And My Girlfriend, the former personifying the genre of Hip-Hop and the later personifying a gun, both as a woman, similar Dot and his pen. The real attention to detail comes when you do a little research and find out that Gloria is actually an expensive brand of pens that exclusively sell only two colours, red (Bloods) and blue (Crips) the infamous rival gangs from L.A. Gloria also means glory in Spanish and serves as a nod to his penmanship that won him his many fans, worldwide acclaim, the victory in the rap battle with Drake and also earned him his current title of G.O.A.T.

GNX probably isn't my favourite Kendrick album and I feel like I have struggled to get into a few of his other records (some of the more popular ones too). I feel like he has touched on so many different topics and styles that there is a Kendrick album out there for everyone, you just need to discover it, hence why this week I have decided to include 3 more of his albums for my related records. My in came with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City but I have been revisiting Section 80 a lot recently and Mr. Morale will always be an introspective masterpiece; each album represents a different moment along life's journey and so it is only natural that we gravitate towards sounds and words that resonate with our current experiences. Flicking through Dot's back catalogue I firmly believe that there is something there for everyone, so go and find your in (if you haven't already!).

Stand out song: Reincarnated

All of Kendricks work is drenched in the rich history of Hip-Hop, from the more obvious form of sampling to rehashing lyrics, ideas, themes, symbolism and even cinematography styles from the huge tapestry of work that came before him. It is never simply a carbon copy and usually is chosen specifically to accentuate a message or to drive a point home, both acknowledging and paying homage to the past greats, while simultaneously weaving in his own personal experiences and narrative. Reincarnated is no different as he draws on inspiration from fellow California based rapper and fan favourite 2Pac, taking the original beat from track Made Niggas from 2Pac feat. Outlaws (1996) as well as leaning on Pac's raw emotional raping style, his stripped-down lyrics as well as his captivating storytelling and delivery. The resemblances that can be made with Pac continue with the powerful imagery that they conjure and the deep spirituality they share, solidifying the essence and embodiment of Tupac on this track. It is also another jab at Drake while confirming that Kendrick is authentic and for the culture, in direct opposition to Drake who took down the song that featured AI vocals from 2Pac and Snoop Dogg after receiving the (fully justified) backlash for the disingenuous and totally unauthorised inclusions in his tune. In the song Dot describes the lives of John Lee Hooker (verse 1) and most likely Billie Holiday (verse 2) before touching on his own upbringing, where the final conversation can be interpreted both as Kendrick (or Lucifer) and his father (or God), in his own words "I rewrote the devils story just to take are power back". As with most of his back catalogue there are double (often triple) entendres, alternative meanings and correlations to be made, making his work super versatile and able to be interpreted in many different ways. I love the way Dot switches up his flows flitting between multiple personas in a single song with ease and this is a perfect example of that in action. A brilliant song and one of my all time favourites from Kendrick.

When to listen:

This album has it all and for me and feels like a tribute to both the craft and the West Coast, it can be played anytime but make sure the speakers are turned up and you have the subs engaged for the full experience.

Spotify: Listen here

Vinyl:

I was originally hunting the white vinyl version due to the great audio reviews it received, however I ended up with the standard black European pressing which sounds incredible, as do my other Kendrick albums. The greyscale colour scheme is more muted than previous cover designs but this idea is certainly not continued into the music, punchy bass and flawless mastering make this album a joy to listen to. You can follow the link to find the pressing I own here - Discogs link

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GNX

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A.D.R.E.W.

A Different Record Every Week