Kendrick Lamar has dropped a new album. It’s called GNX, and it arrived without warning just minutes after the Compton rapper shared a minute-long teaser with the same title. Stream the whole thing below.
This is Lamar’s first new music since May’s ‘Not Like Us’, which topped the Billboard Hot 100, and follows his 2022 LP Mr. Morale and the High Steppers. It spans 12 tracks, none of which were previously released, though a snippet of ‘squabble up’ featured in the ‘Not Like Us’ video. There’s also ‘heart pt 6’, which marks the sixth entry in Lamar’s ‘The Heart’ series; he wouldn’t let Drake get away with that.
Jack Antonoff and Sounwave, members of the synthpop supergroup Red Hearse, primarily handled the production; Sounwave is credited on every song, and Antonoff worked on every track except ‘Peekaboo’. Red Hearse’s Sam Dew guests on ‘Luther’, which also features SZA and Ink. SZA is also on ‘Gloria’, with regional Mexican musician Deyra Barrera and Ink.
Other credited producers include Mustard, Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Dahi, M-Tech, Noah Ehler, Craig Balmoris, Tyler Mehlenbacher, Bridgeway, Rose Lilah, Sean Momberger, Tim Maxey, Tane Runo, Juju, Rascal, Kenny & Billy, Deats, and Lamar himself. Earlier this year, DJ Snake suggested that Lamar’s new project would feature a surprise Taylor Swift appearance, but this does not seem to be the case.
Next year, Lamar is set to perform the halftime show at the Super Bowl. ‘Not Like Us’ is nomiated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 2025 Grammys.