PHOTO VIA Interscope Records

The Buick GNX, a symbol of power, serves as the perfect metaphor for Kendrick Lamar’s latest album. Released out of nowhere, “GNX” immediately captured attention with intensity. Kendrick, being “big me,” has always been one of the biggest in the rap industry, meaning that I had high anticipation for this album.

Kendrick’s previous albums “DAMN” and “Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers” are two of my favorite albums of all time. With this comes great excitement and anticipation along with expectations. It was interesting to see Lamar deliver a project that feels fresh and unexpected, with sharp lyricism and bold production that he has done many times before.

The album starts off with “wacced out murals,” kicking things off with great production and sharp contrasting beats. This is followed by the song that was leaked weeks before the album release, prompting the anxiousness of fans. “Squabble up” didn’t miss, it provided one of the more memorable songs of the album with its upbeat, hype bass along with Lamar’s unmatched flow. This is followed by the song which is the highlight of the album for many listeners. SZA makes a return with Lamar on “luther.” The track features some of the best vocals on the album, with SZA’s soulful delivery through the rich chorus, creating a striking contrast with Lamar’s sharp, introspective adlibs, immediately becoming a highlight for me as well as many others around the world. Prior to this, “All The Stars,” which features her, has consistently been in Lamar’s top five streamed songs since its release, highlighting how well SZA’s vocals mesh with Lamar’s flow. So, when I saw them pairing up again, I was excited, and the song did not disappoint.

The rest of the album continues this pace, with my favorite moment coming at “hey now” which really has everything, especially the sudden shifts in dynamics. Not shortly, the infamous “tv off” comes around with its famous “MUSTARD” line, which has since been used on TikTok and as an advertisement for multiple companies and organizations such as Heinz. It also seems like a continuation of “Not Like Us,” which dropped earlier last year. The production on “tv off” carries over some of the hard-hitting bass found in “Not Like Us.” Both tracks share a gritty sound with sharp rhythms and intense layers, but “tv off” feels more aggressive.

The album creates a great atmosphere, continuing with “dodger blue.” However, it falters towards the end as tracks like “peekaboo,” “heart pt. 6“ and “gnx” struggle to maintain the powerful momentum that had been built earlier in the album. My anticipation increased when I noticed Lamar and SZA teamed up again on “gloria,” only to fail to meet the high expectations set by their previous collaborations “Luther” and “All The Stars.” 

Overall, this album remains a great listen, showcasing Lamar’s signature ability to blend complex themes with compelling production. “GNX” combines many of the qualities that I enjoyed in “DAMN” and “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers,” from the introspective lyricism in songs like “man in the garden” and “reincarnated” to the bold beats in songs like “tv off” and “hey now”. It embodies the powerful nature of the Buick GNX and deserves all the authority associated with it. I am excited to see what he has in store next!