On Nov. 22, Kendrick Lamar released his seventh solo studio album GNX. This twelve-track project surprised fans with its drop from the now thirty-seven-year-old Compton native, capping off one of the most memorable and exciting years in rap history with an album that celebrates the rapper’s career.

Overview

Kendrick Lamar, the most critically acclaimed artist of his generation, is praised for his lyricism and profound introspection, which has redefined the barriers of conscious hip hop. All of his primary works center around one overarching concept, with embedded themes complementing a grand idea. However, though some of Kendrick’s renowned personal, sentient elements remain, GNX departs from the typical blueprint and feels more like a victory lap. Similar to Denzel Curry’s King of the Mischievous South Vol II (2024), the album is a thank-you to the culture that raised him and a reaffirmation of his place at the top of the genre.

Honoring & Reflection

Kendrick weaves numerous homages throughout the album to express his appreciation for those who paved the way for him. He samples and channels his inner Tupac on the invigorating “reincarnated,” does his best Nas impression of “One Mic” on “man at the garden,” and referencing Biggie on “turn this tv off.” The project emphasizes West Coast influence and representation, with aggressive rapping and G-funk-inspired instrumentals—staples of 90s California hip hop. Several up-and-coming LA artists are also featured to spotlight the regional significance going forward

However, when not paying tribute to others, Kendrick doesn’t forget to acknowledge himself and his own come up, resulting in some vintage storytelling. The closing track “gloria” uses metaphorical imagery to personify his passion for writing as a woman (maybe a nod to “I Used to Love H.E.R” by Common), and on “heart pt.6” he reminisces about the origin and journey with his label, something he’s able to do now understanding of his status in modern Hip Hop. This confidence in success is more directly expressed in the record’s hostility, taking shots at his peers and not shying away to let his thoughts be known, most notably on the opening “wacced out murals”. 

For the Kendrick Fan:

GNX showcases some of Kendrick’s most vocally expressive performances to date. The production shifts toward more mainstream trap but still maintains enough creativity and melodic progression to complement Kendrick’s lyrics without overshadowing them. The album’s pacing varies widely, highlighting its lack of a central idea and offering either a messy or uniquely reflective listening experience, depending on one’s expectations.

GNX lacks the substance and magic of his first three albums, but perhaps that’s not the point. Kendrick has evolved as an artist and shifted his focus toward what resonates with him now. Especially after everything that has happened this year, he has more than earned the chance to pause, reflect, and appreciate his own story. His growth is best illustrated by comparing the track “U” from To Pimp a Butterfly with “Man in the Garden” from GNX – he’s in a completely different boat now, and the album proves that genuine music stems from expression in the moment, whether that’s confronting demons or just soaking in the success.