Feb. 12, 2025
By Mariah Allen
Staff Writer
Only six months after premiering his “Not Like Us” diss track against Drake during their rap feud, Kendrick Lamar surprised fans with his sixth studio album, “GNX,” released on Nov. 22, 2024.
On its first day, “GNX” earned over 44 million streams on the global Spotify chart. The album also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The album is a tribute to Lamar’s West Coast roots, and its cover reveals a key symbol in Lamar’s life. It shows him leaning against a GNX, a Buick model released in 1987. Lamar shares a deep connection with the vehicle because, after his birth in Compton, California in 1987, his father drove him home from the hospital in the parent model of the GNX.
According to ABC News, Lamar features Los Angeles Mariachi singer Deyra Barrera in three of his songs because he was impressed by her vocals during her live performance in Game 1 of the World Series on Oct. 25, 2024.
Lamar is determined to steer hip-hop away from its dark messages and restore its insight and solidarity.
“GNX” also includes Los Angeles rappers AzChike, Dody6, Hitta J3, Lefty Gunplay, Peysoh, Roddy Ricch, Siete7x, SZA, Wallie the Sensei and YoungThreat.
One of the most captivating tracks on the album is “man at the garden,” featuring a sample from rapper Nas’ 2001 hit “One Mic.” The title is a biblical reference to the Garden of Eden, a place of honor and tranquility. Throughout this song, Lamar raps about the actions that earned him a place in the garden.
Rapping, “Twice emotional stability / Of sound body and tranquility, I deserve it all,” Lamar emphasizes his success through hard work and his right to be recognized for it.
Another narrative song is “reincarnated,” which features a sample from rapper Tupac Shakur’s 1996 track “Made N—.” While rapping his own lyrics, Lamar keeps Shakur’s flow from the original track.
In the first verse, Lamar manifests himself as John Lee Hooker, an important figure in the history of blues. In the second verse, he embodies Dinah Washington, known as the queen of blues. In the third verse, Lamar returns to the present to address the violence permeating the hip-hop industry.
In the final verse, he takes on the persona of the Devil and speaks to God. Lamar closes the track when he raps, “I rewrote the devil’s story just to take our power back, ‘carnated.’”
Lamar is determined to steer hip-hop away from its dark messages and restore its insight and solidarity. He recognizes that some contemporary artists use music to manipulate rather than offer guidance, and he vows to mend the genre.
In “the heart pt. 6,” which shares the same title as Drake’s diss track against Lamar, he addresses gratitude and unity. Lamar’s version features vocal trio SWV’s “Use Your Heart” and chronicles his journey of self-discovery as he developed his artistic style.
In the final verse, Lamar raps, “Don’t let the socials gas you up or let emotions be your crutch / Pick up the phone and bust it up before the history is lost.”
Keeping a steady flow over the R&B beat, Lamar encourages listeners not to let social media or intense emotions control their actions. He wants them to build strong, heartfelt relationships rather than accept superficial interactions.
With “GNX,” Lamar masterfully weaves narrative and emotional depth to reshape hip-hop. He reflects on his past and present, encouraging listeners to embrace authenticity and understanding. This album is more than music—it makes a powerful statement about what hip-hop can be.
