.png){kind=small}
Kendrick Lamar’s sudden release of ‘GNX’ took us all by surprise. Released just moments after a cryptic teaser, the album dropped, gently reminding us of his unpredictability. Following his highly publicised feuds, the Juneteenth ‘Pop out’ Concert, and the announcement of his upcoming Super Bowl half time performance, ‘GNX’ arrives as a calculated powerplay. While Kendrick foreshadowed in ‘Mr Morale and the Big Steppers’ with the ominous line “Stop playin' with me 'fore I turn you to a song.”, his warnings fully manifested two years later as the world witnessed the rapper crip walk circles around his peer, Drake. ‘GNX” feels almost like a justification as to why he didn’t shy away from going to war with his opponents. Though Kendrick is no stranger to introspection, there’s a deeper unfurling of his soul as he expresses his frustrations at the hip-hop industry. ‘GNX’ is a declaration of his dominance on the genre, a defense as to why he deserves it all.
Crazy, scary, spooky, hilarious, are just a few ways of describing his latest project; A love letter to the west coast, he uses his platform to uplift emerging West Coast rappers: AzChike, Dody 6, Lefty Gunplay, Hitta J3, Wallie the Sensei, Siete7x, YoungThreat and Peysoh. The album is a love letter to the West Coast, oscillating between introspective explorations ("man of the garden," "reincarnated") and playful tracks ("squabble up," "tv off"), incorporating the hard hitting synths and laid-back funk beats that define West Coast hip-hop.
The album opens with the chilling ‘wacced out murals’, setting the theme as Kendrick grapples with duality, both lyrically disempowering those that misuse their authority, and empowering those that fail to see theirs (“know you a god even when they say you ain’t”). Lamar sets the stage as he explores his love and, equally, his frustrations at the state of Hip-Hop. He doubles down on his position as a challenger in the genre as he proceeds to call out Rap legends, Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg, critiquing their lack of support and perceived duplicity.
“man at the garden” is one of his most reflective pieces as he recounts his journey to success and the personal transformation he has undergone to get to where he is now (“i’m wakin up at 6.00am/ Six miles a day, conditioning my wind”), defending his case as to why he deserves it all. The intensity crescendos as he questions his artistic identity ("do you want the famous me or the shameless me?"), culminating in a powerful closing demand: "tell me why you deserve the greatest of all time motherfucker." an indirect to those who assumed they were in competition with Kendrick.
With ongoing debates on which artist can make a club hit, or who’s doing the biggest sales, Kendrick addresses the corporate influences that permeate the industry – critiquing artists who are “seekin’ validation just for the aesthetics”. The entire body of work is an extension of “shameless” Kendrick, as he demands substance and authenticity, not just in his own music, but from his peers. This theme carries over to the powerful "reincarnated," arguably the album's most impactful track. Here, Lamar explores past life regression, weaving narratives that delve into past incarnations and their connection to his current existence. He masterfully samples Tupac's "Made N****z," a subtle but not unnoticed rebuttal to Drake's controversial use of AI mimicry.
Similar to Mr. Morale, GNX explores the tension between artistic responsibility and the hedonistic lifestyle that often accompanies global success. Through stories inspired by figures like John Lee Hooker and Dinah Washington, Kendrick explores the pitfalls of materialism and the destructive nature of the music industry, recognising himself as an extension, or incarnation of these figures, and feels a duty to break the cycles that have kept artists in bondage.
The closing verse of "reincarnated" reaches a symbolic peak. In a conversation with God, Kendrick desires peace in LA, yet is met with a chilling truth: "But you love war." This reflects the inherent struggle between art that inspires and the inherent self-serving nature of the artistic process. He acknowledges the hypocrisy of his anger towards inauthenticity while simultaneously participating within that system. This powerful exchange between Kendrick and God, and subsequently, Lucifer and God, underscores the album's central theme of duality and redemption. Kendrick's willingness to confront the darker aspects of the music industry and his commitment to using his platform for positive change make "GNX" a truly thought-provoking and impactful project as he vows to use his gifts in the way God intended (“I promise that I'll use my gifts to bring understanding”) and to rewrite the script of Lucifer’s fate (“I rewrote the devil's story just to take our power back.”)
GNX signifies a pivotal moment in Kendrick Lamar's career. While his previous works have been introspective and socially conscious, this project delves deeper into his artistic evolution, providing us a prophetic vision of his future. It's a bold statement, a reinvention of sorts, ready to redeem the lessons of his past and reshape the hip-hop landscape.
It's important to note that Kendrick, despite his influence, does not claim to be a savior (as he humbly acknowledged in "Mr. Morale"). However, as rumors swirl about potential follow-up projects, it's clear that Kendrick is just getting started. No doubt, 2025 will see him taking the reins and flipping the proverbial tables of Hip-Hop.
Comments