In the modern era of music journalism the rush to publish an immediate reaction often completely overshadows the actual art. We firmly believe that you cannot truly review a body of work until you have lived with it. You need to drive with the tracks playing through your speakers let the lyrics settle into your daily routine and allow the production time to breathe. That is exactly why we deliberately wanted to sit with GNX for a while. Released out of nowhere well over a year ago this surprise drop arrived at the absolute peak of cultural chaos. Now that the dust has fully settled and we have spent considerable time digesting the record we can finally examine its true enduring impact.
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Kendrick Lamar could have easily vanished into the shadows for another five years after dropping his deeply introspective previous work. Instead he spent that year doing the exact opposite of keeping a low profile. Following a historic rap beef where he proved he was willing to die for his pride Lamar dropped GNX as a massive victory lap. Arriving as his very first release under his own independent pgLang imprint listening to this sixth studio album feels exactly like riding shotgun while Lamar cruises through Los Angeles in a vintage Grand National Buick. He sounds entirely ready to purge whatever stands in his way and rebuild the hip hop landscape entirely in his own image.
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This aggressive posture is immediately apparent on the opening track Wacced Out Murals. It serves as a brutal examination of the industry and establishes his ruthless new ethos. He indirectly addresses the recent feuds making it clear that he never actually made peace and is fully prepared to drag his enemies down with him. He even takes a critical swipe at pioneering legends who failed to take his side accusing them of displaying fake loyalty when the pressure mounted. Hearing this track today it still hits with the exact same venom proving his frustration was not just a passing phase but a permanent shift in his worldview.
Despite the heavy subject matter sitting with GNX reveals just how incredibly fun it is to listen to on a daily basis. The track Squabble Up sees Lamar leaning heavily into the infectious signature West Coast sound of G funk to get listeners up and moving. That same undeniable bounce is prevalent on Hey Now where computerized percussion transports you directly to the hottest block party so you can show off your best C walk. The production truly shines on the viral standout TV Off. Backed by the massive beats of DJ Mustard the artist effortlessly swerves between being a lyrical powerhouse and an absolute melody kingpin. It cements the track as a lighthearted earworm that gave fans the radio ready anthems his previous dense album purposefully lacked.
However living with the album also highlights its few imperfections. While the highs are incredibly high the project occasionally leans so far into its aggressive posturing that it sacrifices some of the profound conceptual depth that usually defines a Kendrick Lamar masterpiece. To ensure the record remains deeply rooted in his home turf Lamar made sure to call upon plenty of local heroes to round out the rougher edges. He proudly asks the audience who put the West back in front before trading rapid fire verses with promising emerging talent like Hitter j3 YoungThreat and Peysoh. While it might not carry the exact same heavy emotional weight as a flawless classic GNX has proven its incredible staying power over the last year. We can confidently give this project a solid eight out of ten. It proves that even when he is just cruising and having fun Kendrick Lamar remains the absolute undisputed king of the coast.
