Country : United States Label : PGLang/Interscope Genres and styles : Hip Hop Year : 2024

Kendrick Lamar – GNX (Top Albums of 2024)

· by Sami Rixhon

So, as the whole hip-hop planet knows, the brilliant rapper from Compton released a surprise album at the end of November and… After a few listens, here’s my impression: not bad, not average, pretty good, but… the shortest of all albums turns out to be a bit… short. Unfinished, in my opinion, and weighed down by the climate of hatred we all know.

The title evokes the Buick Grand National Experimental, GNX , model 1987, acquired by the rapper last March. Are we in a car? GNX is not the game changer that Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, To Pimp A Butterfly, Damn were.

A mix of familiar Kendrick-style ambiences and unfinished quests. A transitional album, or perhaps an album released too quickly. Even if a bunch of renown producers/beatmakers have been involved – Jack Antonoff, Craig Balmoris, Bridgeway, Dahi, Deats, Noah Ehler, Frano, Juju, Kenny & Billy, Rose Lilah, Tim Maxey, Sean Momberger, M-Tech, Mustard, Rascal, Sounwave, Tane Runo, Kamasi Washington.

Kendrick highlights the orchestral Hispanic jazz-groove of reincarnated, the jazzy-soul hip-hop of heart pt.6, or the soul-pop duet of luther (with SZA), or the fictitious, choral self-proclamation of man in the garden on a G-funk background, as in tv off highlighting the talent of rapper lefty gunplay.., the choral Spanishades of wacced out murals – spotted on her performance at a Dodgers game, Mexico’s Deyra Barrera sings on the album’s introduction and conclusion, not to mention reincarnated. The album’s title track brings together a handpicked group of Los Angeles rappers: Peysoh, Hitta J3 and YoungThreat take up most of the space, except for a tirade by the employer: who put the West back in front of shit?

The virulence of the tone of these conversations with himself is dominant on GNX, nevertheless excluding any allusion to his public conflict with Drake. We won’t complain, but the interest is now altered. Has the power of influence and its maintenance perverted Kendrik Lamar’s greatness? Let’s talk after the SB intermission.

Latest 360 Content

A party with post-punk Brooklynites TVOD

A party with post-punk Brooklynites TVOD

FIRE! Orchestra at FIMAV: Power Trio Meets Canadian Community of Avant-Garde Players

FIRE! Orchestra at FIMAV: Power Trio Meets Canadian Community of Avant-Garde Players

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

LMNL – Rainbow

LMNL – Rainbow

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Galan Trio – Embrace

Galan Trio – Embrace

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Hypercube – The Force for Good

Hypercube – The Force for Good

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

Duo AYA – Cycles

Duo AYA – Cycles

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Subscribe to our newsletter