Kendrick Lamar ends 2024 with courage.
The hip-hop heavyweight surprised fans when he unveiled his sixth studio album, GNXwithout any warning on Friday (November 22). The 12-track project features contributions from SZA — who appears on “Luther” and “Gloria” — Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington, Roddy Ricch and more.
GNX serves as Lamar's official sequel Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers in 2022, which topped the Billboard 200 with 295,000 total units gained in its first week. In the spring, he contributed a guest verse to the Hot 100 No. 1 single by Future and Metro Boomin “Like That,” which started a high-profile rap beef with Drake. The feud between the two eventually culminated in Lamar's anthem “Not Like Us,” which not only worked to end the feud but also became a long-running hit, topping the Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks.
It's shaping up to be an even more groundbreaking new year for Kenny, who will take the stage for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. “Rap music is still the most impressive genre to date,” he said at the time of the announcement. “And I'll be there to remind people why. They got the right one.”
The 17-time Grammy winner is also up for seven awards at the 2025 ceremony. “Not Like Us” is up for record of the year, song of the year, best music video, best rap performance and best rap song. Meanwhile, “Like That” is nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
With his release GNXfans quickly flooded social media with overwhelmingly positive reactions to the project. “Look me dead in the eye and tell me Kendrick Lamar is not the best ever,” one user wrote on X, for example, while another added, “Kendrick just opened his mouth, someone go give him a Grammy at this moment.”
See below for more fan reactions to Kendrick Lamar GNX.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kendrick-lamar-album-gnx-fan-reactions-1235836869/