When Kendrick Lamar dropped GNX on November 22, 2024, the internet basically had a collective heart attack. No rollout. No cryptic "ivory" tweets months in advance. Just a sleek photo of a 1987 Buick Grand National Experimental and twelve tracks that felt like a bucket of ice water to the face.
Most people saw it as a victory lap after the Drake beef. They heard "Squabble Up" and thought, "Oh, he's just back in his West Coast bag." But honestly? If you think the Kendrick Lamar GNX songs are just about the battle, you’re missing the forest for the trees. This album is a complex, loud, and sometimes messy "love letter" to Los Angeles, his own legacy, and the ghosts of rappers past.
It's not To Pimp a Butterfly. It’s not even DAMN. It’s something faster, more aggressive, and surprisingly vulnerable.
The Sound of the GNX: More Than Just "Not Like Us"
If Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was a therapy session on a theater stage, GNX is a midnight drive through Compton with the bass turned up so high the rearview mirror vibrates. The production is a wild mix. You’ve got Mustard bringing that "Not Like Us" energy on tracks like "TV Off," but then you have Jack Antonoff—yeah, the Taylor Swift guy—weaving in these lush, cinematic textures.
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It sounds like a contradiction. It shouldn't work. But it does because Kendrick isn't trying to be "the savior" here. He’s being a driver.
Breaking Down the Tracklist
The Kendrick Lamar GNX songs follow a loose narrative of a man returning home to see what’s changed while he was away being a global superstar.
- wacced out murals. - This intro is haunting. It starts with Spanish vocals from Deyra Barrera, setting a cinematic tone before Kendrick jumps in. He touches on the fallout from his Super Bowl halftime show announcement and, yeah, the Drake stuff. He mentions seeing his own murals defaced. It's a "welcome home" that feels a bit cold.
- squabble up. - This is the anthem. If you were at "The Pop Out" or watched the "Not Like Us" video, you heard the snippet. It samples Debbie Deb’s "When I Hear Music." It’s pure L.A. energy.
- luther (with SZA). - A standout. It’s the most "radio-friendly" thing he’s done in years. Samples Luther Vandross. SZA and Kendrick have this chemistry that’s basically undefeated at this point.
- man at the garden. - This one is meditative. He repeats "I deserve it all." It feels like he's trying to convince himself that the wealth and the fame are okay to enjoy. It interpolates Nas’ "One Mic," which is a huge nod to the legends.
- hey now (feat. Dody6). - Mustard on the beat. It’s menacing. Kendrick raps about "strangling a GOAT," which... well, you can do the math on who he’s talking about.
- reincarnated. - This is the soul of the album. He uses a 2Pac "Made Niggaz" sample and literally channels Pac’s flow. He’s talking to God. He’s talking about past lives. It’s deep, weird, and brilliant.
- tv off (feat. Lefty Gunplay). - High energy. It’s about authenticity. "Turn the TV off" is basically him telling everyone to stop living through screens and fake narratives.
- dodger blue (feat. Wallie the Sensei, Siete7x & Roddy Ricch). - A pure West Coast tribute. Roddy Ricch fits perfectly here. It’s bouncy and sunny.
- peekaboo (feat. AzChike). - This track is a masterclass in flow. It’s short, punchy, and reminds you that Kendrick can out-rap anyone on a whim.
- heart pt. 6. - This caused some confusion because Drake had a song with the same name during the beef. Kendrick reclaimed it. He reflects on his TDE days, why Black Hippy didn't work out, and his need for independence.
- gnx (feat. Hitta J3, YoungThreat & Peysoh). - The title track. Surprisingly, Kendrick takes a backseat here to let younger L.A. artists shine. It proves he's serious about uplifting the next generation.
- gloria (with SZA). - The closer. "Gloria" is a metaphor for his muse, his pen, and his relationship with hip-hop. It brings back the mariachi-style vocals from the beginning, closing the loop.
The "Grand National Experimental" Symbolism
Why a 1987 Buick GNX? It’s a specific choice. Back in the day, the GNX was faster than the Corvette, but General Motors kind of downplayed it because it wasn't the "poster car." It was the underdog that could smoke anyone on the street.
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That’s Kendrick. He’s not the flashy, corporate-friendly "Corvette" of rap. He’s the stealthy, blacked-out GNX that shows up out of nowhere and leaves everyone in the dust. The car represents a period of L.A. culture that feels both nostalgic and dangerous.
What Most People Get Wrong About GNX
A lot of critics tried to say this album was "rushed" because it came so soon after the beef. I disagree. Honestly, I think he’s been sitting on some of these ideas for a while. The inclusion of "The Heart Pt. 6" shows a level of premeditation. He knew exactly what he was doing when he took that title back.
Another misconception? That he's still obsessed with Drake. While there are jabs, the Kendrick Lamar GNX songs are far more interested in Kendrick’s own evolution. He’s looking in the mirror more than he’s looking across the border. He’s grappling with the fact that he’s now an "exec," a Super Bowl headliner, and a Pulitzer winner. How do you stay "Compton" when you're that big?
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The "Mixtape" Feel
Some fans were put off by the lack of a tight, linear concept like Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. But that’s the point. This isn't a movie; it’s a tape. It’s the music you play while you’re actually in the car. It’s supposed to feel a bit loose.
How to Truly Experience the Album
If you're just listening to this on laptop speakers while working, you're doing it wrong. Kendrick and Sounwave mixed this specifically for car systems. The low end on "TV Off" and "Squabble Up" needs air to move.
- Listen in a car. Seriously. The album is named after a car. It’s built for the road.
- Pay attention to the features. Kendrick purposely didn't list them on the initial release. He wanted you to hear the voices of L.A. (like AzChike and Dody6) without the bias of a name tag.
- Look up the samples. From Luther Vandross to 2Pac, the DNA of this album is a history lesson.
Where Does This Leave Kendrick?
After the Grammys and the Super Bowl, GNX feels like the end of an era and the start of something new. He’s no longer just a "rapper." He’s a curator. By sharing his platform with Hitta J3 and Peysoh, he’s ensuring that the West Coast sound doesn't die with his generation.
It’s a bold move. Most rappers at his level are too worried about their own numbers to let a "nobody" take over the title track of their album. Kendrick isn't most rappers.
Your Next Steps for GNX Exploration
- Compare "Heart Pt. 6" versions: Listen to Kendrick's version immediately after his "Not Like Us" video to see the thematic bridge he's building.
- Dig into the 2Pac parallels: Play "Made Niggaz" by 2Pac and then "Reincarnated" back-to-back. Notice the cadence. It’s not a bite; it’s a possession.
- Watch the "Squabble Up" video: It’s packed with visual cues about the GNX car culture and the specific L.A. neighborhoods he’s shouting out.