Kendrick Lamar has dropped a surprise new album, GNX. It’s the rapper’s first new full-length LP since 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
GNX appeared online on November 22nd, just minutes after the Compton rapper shared a music video for the title track. It’s his first full-length since he left his former label Top Dawg Entertainment.
Much of Lamar’s 2024 has been colored by an ongoing feud with Drake, which he addresses on opening track “wacced out murals.” SZA features on the track “luther,” with Ink and Red Hearse member Sam Drew. SZA also reappears later on “Gloria” alongside Mexican artist Deyra Barrera and Ink. Other features include Dody6, AzChike, Sie7e, Wallie the Sensei, Hitta J3, Peysoh, and Young Threat.
Red Hearse’s Sounwave—who gets a shoutout in “Heart Part 6” alongside TDE figures like Anthony “Moosa” Tiffith Jr. and Terrence “Punch” Henderson—worked on all 12 tracks on the album. Jack Antonoff also had a heavy hand in production, with credits on every song but “Peekaboo.” Mustard, Kamasi Washington, Dahi, Terrace Martin, Not the Twos’ Tim Maxey are among the other credited producers across the album.
The album continues a banner few months for Lamar, which have included multiple Grammy nominations for his song “Not Like Us” and the announcement that he’ll handle the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show. He’s also recently soundtracked a short film for Chanel and hosted a Los Angeles concert, The Pop Out: Ken & Friends. Lamar himself performed at the event alongside 20-plus other West Coast-based artists including DJ Hed, Mustard (who co-produced the GNX track “tv off”), Ty Dolla Sign, Dom Kennedy, Steve Lacy, Tyler, the Creator, Roddy Ricch, YG, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and Dr. Dre.
