GNX (studio album) by Kendrick Lamar

GNX is Kendrick’s most versatile album to date. While not as grand as To Pimp a Butterfly or good kid, m.A.A.d city, GNX is more similar to DAMN. in its overall structure and presentation. This similarities are seen in their mixes of melodic jams, trap bangers, and lyrical tracks. Unlike DAMN., however, GNX hits on even more fronts despite a shorter run time. For example, While the melodic songs on DAMN. (such as LOVE., YAH., and GOD.) leave much to be desired, GNX features incredible melodic songs like luther, gloria, and dodger blue. It also features infinitely replayable trap songs such as tv off and squabble up, and more lyrically focused tracks such as reincarnated and heart pt. 6. GNX features clever songwriting and witty commentary and refrains throughout making it one of the best rap albums of 2024. However, The title track has quickly become one of his worst songs to date, and it’s unpalatable “hook” is obnoxious and annoying. Furthermore, the song wacced out murals should have been much shorter, and the song dodger blue should have been much longer. dodger blue’s length particularly damages the albums structure, as the following interlude track peekaboo feels much less like an interlude as a result, even though I do enjoy peekaboo’s witty commentary on the industry. Despite these flaws, this is a great record that I think people will look back on fondly in the future.

Honestly dissapointed for now. I like the rawness and back to basic of it, almost like if an art-rock artist realeased a garage rock record. Euphoria and Not like Us were great songs, and this album definitely feels like it tries to ride on the wave of the last one, but TV Off is the only song that gets close.

From Cargusbralem 12/04/2024 21:02

My two cents on this new Kendrick album: it feels like the stakes are much lower than almost any project since Section 80 (or untitled unmastered, if we're counting that one). This feeling might be related to the fact that it just came out of nowhere. That being said, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing, as not every artist needs to craft an ultra-cerebral concept to create enjoyable and even great music.

Such is the case for around half of the tracks here. It's almost as if the album it's alternating hits and mids for me, as my favorites are wacced out murals, luther, reincarnated, dodger blue, heart pt. 6 and gloria.

Anyway that's just me after 4 or 5 listens and it has been progressively growing on me, so who knows.

Lamar does not innovate as much as he shows off with “GNX”. The instrumentals are the least ambitious of his work so far. They are minimalist with light west coast flavors. Their reserved nature puts pressure on Lamar’s flow to carry the songs, which, for the most part, he does. He pulls emotion with fantastic cadence, enthusiasm, and sprints of energy towards the ends of songs. “tv off” is saved by the raw power of him yelling mustard. At times, he can be a little too reliant on his hooks. “GNX” is a demonstration of Lamar’s fundamentals, but there is a reason he went pro.

not sure after a couple of listens if this is a masterpiece like TPAB or good kid maad city but i really like it and already prefer this to mr morale

Not quite S tier, but definitely A. Not as catchy as Good Kid or DAMN, and not as original and profound as TPAB, but more consistent and enjoyable than Mr Morale and sits on the shelf comfortably next to Section 80.

From lleon79 11/23/2024 17:31

I don't know if it's because of my current headspace, but I think this is the album I've connected with the most since Good Kid, Maad City. Pretty good and enjoyable. I'm not that much into rap or the whole scandal with Drake, I just generally judge music around melody and how it makes me feel. This is a very direct record, missing some of the more interesting things he did with Mr Morale. Still, it really hits where it counts, and features something I really look forward with albums: it's around the 40-50 minute length. I don't usually stand albums that are longer than that, so maybe that's why I've been playing this on loop. It's diverse enough to not get boring, and cohesive at the same time.

One of this year's best releases, and that's saying a lot.

From AAL2014 11/23/2024 15:39

Pretty easily Kendrick’s most fun and intentionally “messy” project. The common thought at the moment (a day after release) is it feels like a mixtape with the possibility of another, more conceptual album yet to come.

Regardless of if that’s true, this does feel like a mixtape, especially given the catalog of music GNX finds itself in. But just like Untitled Unmastered, Kenny’s first “victory lap” project, GNX is a more than worthy addition. Kendrick is able to feel free, be loose and experiment with all of the different tools in his verbal arsenal.

As great of an artist as Kendrick is, it’s taken him (by my estimation) a couple of project cycles to properly explore the more loose, fun, and pop-rap side of his artistry and of the rap game at large. I think he finally nails that pocket on this release (worth noting, the first on his own independent label).

And that should terrify every other rapper in the business.

There really isn't a low point on this album. That's a common theme with Kendrick. The last album had me worried he might have been winding down, but this has proven me, happily, wrong. Additionally, the album cover is 10/10!

My first impressions were not positive, they improved upon a second listen. This album feels inconsequential for Kendrick, which isn't necessarily bad - it proves he's human. I get the sense that this album is part of the continued victory lap in his win over Drake, but it feels a bit like a hangover with weak beats and inconsequential lyrics. Definitely some great songs - Wacced Out Murals, Reincarnated and TV Off go up there with his previous work, but for an artist from whom I've come to expect great things, this feels decidedly average.