BY MAHDIN EKRAM
Kendrick Lamar is often synonymous with a wise musical guru. A generational talent and the “Crowned King” of the West Coast after Tupac and Snoop Dogg. He was one of the most trending topics of last year. To everyone’s surprise, Lamar shocked the world by dropping his latest album, “GNX,” on November 22, 2024. He did so without ANY prior marketing, yet it did not even take a week for “GNX” to reach No.1 on the Billboard 200. That showcases how influential Kendrick Lamar is to our generation and also why he is the talk of the town.
As a fan of Lamar’s music, I was surprised during my first glance at the album. Compared to his other albums, this would be his shortest one with 12 tracks and a total of 44 minutes and 20 seconds. The blended fusion of the G-funk element alongside contemporary hip-hop sound makes you feel like moving your head and singing alongside him, yet, his rap sounds so mellow.
This release was exciting news for everyone because this was just after his blockbuster feud against another big-shot artist, Drake. And boy oh boy, did he deliver. The beef between Lamar and Drake came to an all-time high when both artists were dissing each other, but most would say Kendrick Lamar clearly came out on top. I believe so too. Drake seemed demolished after that because Lamar’s diss was just SO GOOD. Lamar had music critics from around the world
talking and by many it was a victory lap for him. They also have acclaimed his tremendous ability to mix up all these different elements into one cohesive record. In his first track “wacced out murals” he starts off with this mysterious yet intense beat playing in the background with a very high-pitched opera featuring Mexican and mariachi artist Deyra
Barrera making the song all the more beautiful. Barrera features again in “reincarnation” and was also in the last track “gloria” which might just be the most beautiful track on the album. It features the elegant and ethereal voice of SZA and listening to it makes you feel like you are floating. It is the perfect amount of sweet melody that you crave after a tiresome day to get you back to your zone. Works every time for me.
Kendrick Lamar popped off in his other tracks like a party monster. His tracks “squabble up,” “tv off,” “peekaboo,” and “gnx” were all straight up bangers. They are all hype songs which make you want to sing word for word alongside him. He raps about the West Coast culture, his lifestory and also his philosophies in the album and yet makes his tracks sound so hyped withmostly his traditional soundtrack and beats.
Yet, not all reviews were just as positive. Some reviews talked about how this self-depiction of Lamar can be interpreted as a driving cultural force in hip-hop. The Guardian even noted how “GNX” finds Lamar at his most confrontational, “deferring only to God.” Similar to that, The Line of Best Fit also described it as “a concise statement of regional pride, braggadocio, and nonconformity,” giving the audience an album that makes them feel “lush and expensive.”
The main themes that “GNX” boasts are that of regional pride, stirred up by the journey of personal reflection and the hurdles that fame brings you. One of his most noteworthy songs in the album would be “Heart Part 6,” which gives us a glimpse back to his time with Top Dog Entertainment and the supergroup Black Hippy, where he accepts and understands his role behind the dissolution of the group due to creative differences.
I believe “GNX” offers us, the viewers, a scripture of Lamar’s roots, what influences him and the current state of hip-hop itself. This album only depicts how massive Kendrick’s influence on the modern music industry is and how versatile he is in his craft. I believe every music lover awaits brilliant works of art like this album dearly and we can only hope Kendrick Lamar comes back with more music like this in the future.
Featured Image: GNX Album cover; spotify
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