When 2024 is recorded in the annals of hip-hop history, it will be forever remembered as the year of Kendrick Lamar. Without question, this year has been one for the books for K-Dot. From his appearance on Future and Metro Bommin’s “Like That,” where he aimed his lyrical darts at Drake and J. Cole (He responded to their “First Person Shooter track), to coming out victorious in his epic rap battle with the “6 God” and not “Not Like Us” being ubiquitous across the globe, Kendrick has been racking up wins.

But on Friday, November 22, Kenrdrick upped the ante and sent social media into a global frenzy by releasing his unexpected fifth solo album, GNX. Clocking in at just over 44 minutes, production was handled by Sounwave, Mustard, Cardo Got Wings, Jack Antonoff, Roselilah, Matthew "MTech" Bernard, Scott Bridgeway & Kamasi Washington. The album is the most West Coast-sounding album of Kendrick’s career.

Kendrick's lyrical venom, impeccable songwriting, and brilliant production have already garnered critical acclaim for the project, adding to his already classic discography.

After a weekend of nonstop listening to the LP, we compiled 10 jewels that Kendrick dropped on GNX.

1. The Title Of The Album Refers To A Classic American Muscle Car

What is the meaning behind GNX?  The title references the Buick Grand National GNX, a high-performance vehicle from the 1980s that Kendrick is seen next to in the album art. According to the specs, the GNX could launch from 0-60 MPH in under five seconds and run a low 13-second quarter-mile. The car is also sentimental to Kendrick as it was the vehicle his father drove when he was a kid.

2. Kendrick Addresses Lil Wayne and the Super Bowl Controversy

The album opens with the sinister “wacced out murals,” which sets the project's tone and is a classic intro. Produced by Sounwave, it's immediately evident that Kendrick still wants all the smoke. He shared his frustration with Lil Wayne, who was disappointed that K-Dot was selected to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl. He raps. “Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proudIrony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne downWhatever, though, call me crazy, everybody questionable/Turn me to an Eskimo/I drew the line and decimals.” While not a diss, he did tell one of his rap heroes that this is his time.

3. He Brings Up Snoop Dogg For Posting “Tailor Made Freestyle” By Drake

Also, “wacced out murals” has some words for fellow West Coast legend Snoop Dogg. Although Snoop said Kendrick was the unquestioned “King of the West” on several occasions, Kendrick has a long memory. On the track, he mentioned his shock at Snoop, who played a snippet of Drake’s “Tailor Made Freestyle” on Instagram, which used A.I. to mimic Snoop and Tupac Shakur’s voices. Kendrick raps, “Snoop posted "Taylor Made," I prayed it was the edibles/I couldn't believe it, it was only right for me to let it go.” After the LP dropped, Snoop responded on X(formerly Twitter), saying that his album was fire and that he blamed the edibles for posting Drake’s song.

4. Kendrick and SZA Are Magic Together

From “Babylon” to “All the Stars,” this dynamic duo knows how to curate a banger.  K-Dot and SZA continue their hot streak with two collaborations on GNX.  On “luther” the song adroitly samples “If This World Were Mine” by Cheryl Lynn and Luther Vandross.  SZA's sensual vocal prowess brings all the vibes as she harmonizes with Kendrick about the complexities of love on the dreamy track. It is simply masterful. “gloria” is a soulful track that is divine, offering his pen as an extended metaphor for his craft of writing. 

5. Kendrick Is Not For Neutrality

From the outset, K-Dot’s issue with hip-hop's current state of affairs is much bigger than his beef with Drake. He’s taking issue with those he feels have monetized the culture but don’t love the culture. If you are not for him, you are against him. He raps on “Wacced Out Murals,” “I never peaced it up that shit don't sit well with me/Before I take a truce, I'll take 'em to Hell with me/Ni**as mad 'cause I decided not to pretend/Y'all stay politically correct, I'ma do what I did.” Many believe that those bars were for J. Cole and, most recently, Future, who said he was frustrated with Kendrick’s “Like That” verse. Unquestionably, Kendrick wants all the smoke.

Kendrick even had time to send shots to white comics who tell jokes at the expense of Black women. Aiming to make Katt Williams proud by exposing the truth in hip-hop, he has no time for defamation by white comics. He raps, “Don’t let no white comedian talk about no Black woman, that’s law.” Many have speculated that he’s talking about Andrew Schulz, who came under fire on an episode of Flagrant podcast. Speaking with British podcasters James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu from ShxtsNGigs, he described the “Black girlfriend effect,” when non-Black men date Black women.  “They grow their beard because they need a cushion when they get slapped,” Schulz joked. “I think the ‘Black girlfriend effect,’ it might be a protective instinct.” Whoever Kendrick is talking about, he is not standing for any disrespect of Black women. In other words, pick a side.

6. He Pays Homage To Nas and Tupac Shakur

As a hip-hop aficionado, Kendrick is well-versed in the legends who paved the way for him. On “Wacced Out Murals,” he shouts Nas out rapping, “Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me/All these ni**as agitated, I'm just glad they showin' they faces.” Kendrick’s “man at the garden” is a stunning take on Nas’s classic 2001 hit “One Mic.” On Instagram, Nas showed love to Kendrick following the release of GNX. Also, he honored the late great Tupac Shakur. Without using A.I., Kendrick embodied the essence of Pac’s flow and rage on the thrilling “reincarnated.” By sampling Shaukur’s “Made Ni**a,” Kendrick rightly takes his place in the pantheon of all-time rap greats.

7. He Reclaims “Heart Pt. 6”

In Drake’s last track in the battle, he took Kendrick’s biographical series and time stamp on “Heart Pt. 6.”  The song was almost a de facto white flag as he bowed out of the duel. Continuing to inherit the beef, Kendrick reclaims “heart pt. 6” without mentioning Drake. He takes back the title, and it’s almost like Drake’s version never existed. Drake is currently at odds with Pharell, who produced SWV’s  “Use Your Heart,” which was sampled in the song. Kendrick is so intentional that it’s scary.

8. He Takes The Blame For Black Hippy Not Making An Album

Black Hippy, a collective featuring Kendrick, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q, was formed in 2008 under the Top Dawg umbrella. Each artist would go on to have success in their own right, but an entire album with each member never materialized. When Kendrick departed from TDE, the group essentially ended. The group reunited on June 19, 2024, at Lamar's The Pop Out: Ken & Friends concert. Kendrick takes responsibility for the super group’s demise. He raps on the reflective “heart Pt. 6”, “I guess my motivation was the yearnin' for independence/Poured everything I had left in the family business/Now it's about Kendrick, I wanna evolve, place my skillset as a Black exec'/I jog my memory, knowin' Black Hippy didn't work 'cause of me/Creatively, I moved on with new concepts in reach.”

9. Kendrick and Mustard Link Up For Another West Coast Anthem

While most of GNX is produced mainly by Sounwave, along with contributions from Jack Antonoff, Sean Momberger, and Kamasi Washington, Kendrick and Mustard created another West Coast banger with “tv off.” The way Kendrick screamsMustard’s name made it an instant classic. The energy and pure California vibes of the “tv off” continue their chemistry discovered on “Not Like Us.” Mustard spoke to Billboard about his new producer tag, which was gifted to him by K-Dot. “That sh*t was elite. So fire. Like, is that a new tag? I can’t wait to perform that song and just hear people just saying that, ‘cause everybody’s going to say that like crazy,” Mustard said.

10. Kendrick Gave Opportunities To Artist On The Rise

Some of the most notable producers in the game handle the production on GNX. But when it comes to guest appearances from rappers, he chose some emerging, hungry MCs who take full advantage of this golden opportunity. Mariachi singer Deyra Barrera appears on “wacced out murals,” “reincarnated,” and “gloria.” Underground artists AzChike, Wallie the Sensei, and Dody 6 gave phenomenal performances throughout the album.