Kendrick Lamar is one of the biggest artists in the nation from the Top Dawg Entertainment record label. With charting songs like Swimming Pools (Drank) to HUMBLE to Alright and even All the Stars featuring SZA, Kendrick Lamar has been a musical outlet for all people across the nation. After 17 years of being signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, Kendrick left August of 2022 after releasing his fifth studio album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers.
On Nov. 22, on a random Friday, most might say, he surprises the world with his sixth studio album GNX. The album features artists like SZA, Dody6, Lefty Gunplay, Roddy Ricch, Siete7x, Wallie the Sensei, AzChike, Hitta J3, Peysoh, and YoungThreat. Each song is going to have a deep and powerful meaning when it comes to Kendrick Lamar and his music.
Kendrick named the album GNX because in the album cover, he is leaning on a 1987 Buick GNX. Although the car is often referred to throughout the album, that’s not what it stands for in this case. GNX stands for Grand National Experiment and the car’s year make is significant because it’s the same year that Kendrick was born.
GNX also features longtime friend and Top Dawg Entertainment artist, SZA on songs such as luther and gloria. Kendrick also announced his Grand National Tour with SZA that will start April 19, 2025, in Minneapolis and end on June 18, 2025, in Washington D.C.
This album speaks about his commitment to his art, the vision for his legacy, his struggles with external pressures, his role as being the voice of truth and change, and it speaks to his resilience in the face of adversity. This album is very powerful to the ones that really listen to the words and understand it.
My favorite song on the album would have to be “heart pt. 6” or “dodger blue”. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose heart pt. 6. A real fan would know that there are five other parts to the heart series. But “heart pt. 6” is sampled from the song “Use Your Heart” by the famous R&B group SWV. As a person who grew up listening to all kinds of music and loves music especially R&B, this really hit home for me.
