The sixth studio album for Kendrick Lamar is unexpected and unabashed.
Controversial take: Kendrick Lamar still hasn’t released an album that’s lived up to Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. Sure, To Pimp A Butterfly came damn close, and the next three still consistently slapped–no doubt. It’s Kendrick Lamar, arguably one of, if not the best lyricists of the last 15 years; he’s not going to be dropping anything subpar.
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
- Label: Universal Music
- Release: Out Now
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
But Kendrick has always stood out for his natural ability as a storyteller, and his recent albums just haven’t matched the same narrative depth as his breakout release. That being said, Good Kid came long before he was juggling rigorous touring schedules, mainstream notoriety, and feuds with some of the pop industries biggest stars. So, naturally given everything that’s gone down over the past year, it comes as no surprise that GNX isn’t a concept album–it’s a statement.
We had our chance to weigh in online, now it’s Kendrick’s time to set the record straight–and for the first time ever, he’s not asking you to read between the lines. As proudly asserted on ‘Wacced Out Mural’, “fuck a double entendre, I want y’all to feel this shit.”
It’s hard not to. Whether he’s confronting his fallout with Drake on ‘Hey Now’, responding to critics of his Super Bowl halftime show selection in ‘Wacced Out Mural’, or paying homage to LA’s musical roots on ‘Reincarnated’, Kendrick’s message is sharper, clearer and more authentic than ever.
View this post on Instagram
As an album, it’s much darker than Kendrick’s usual work, yet much clearer in its message, presenting Lamar at his most unfiltered yet. This time around, he’s holding absolutely no bars–while still delivering all the bars, of course.
Give GNX from Kendrick Lamar a listen here.
