“If I’m gonna tell a real story, I’m gonna start with my name.” – Kenrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is a 37 year old American rapper and songwriter from Compton, California. Recognized for his lyrical excellence and authenticity, his songs embody testimonies from a rapper’s raw observations of his birthplace, others, and even himself.
Lamar rose to prominence through his highly popular studio album, ‘good kid, m.A.A.d City’, which earned him the BET Hip Hop Award for Album of the Year in 2013. ‘m.A.A.d City’ was so influential that it has held a spot in the Billboard 200 for 12 consecutive years since its 2012 appearance, highlighting the timeless appeal and running impact of the album on hip hop culture.
Since then, he has released many successful projects, each album being significant and timeless in their own respective rights. Lamar has worked tirelessly to cement his place in rap history, and this is evident through his accolades. In his career, he’s received 17 Grammy Awards and 37 BET Hip Hop Awards. If accolades weren’t enough, his name was projected even further through his recent rap feud with Drake that spanned across nine tracks between both artists.
On Nov. 22, Kendrick released his sixth studio album ‘GNX’ as a surprise. It contains 12 songs that cover topics and concepts such as ambition, growth, legacy and societal issues. Some noteworthy tracks include “‘wacced out murals,” “squabble up,” “luther,” and “tv off.” These songs are what I believe make the backbone of ‘GNX’.
“wacced out murals” was the opening track on the album, and it’s nothing short of a strong start. The track begins with the voice of Deyra Barrera, an accomplished mariachi singer who has since gained recognition for her performance on the album. The bravado in her voice accompanied with the slow and grand buildup of the beat pairs for a lovely opening, before sending us off into a more grim and intimidating setting. It’s low and has a pulse-like beat that’s firm, but not too harsh and backs Kendrick’s aggressive and assertive tone really well. The song is a narrative that critiques industry norms, talking about disappointment in the foundations of the culture he cherishes. Overall, it’s an exceptional song with quality lyricism, backed by a rhythm that had me hooked for the rest of the album.
“squabble up” was a delightful song that displayed Kendrick’s lyrical ability, and how he blended concepts like personal reflection and cultural observations. It contained the popular snippet that was leaked before the album’s release. “I am reincarnated, I was stargazin’ Life goes on, I need all my babies.” The song had a way more upbeat feel than “wacced out murals.” It gave off this workout mix feel, and was somewhat intense at times, but the beat is extremely catchy. The best addition to the song was the Debbie Deb sample of “When I Hear Music,” adding a nice sound to the background of the track. In K-Dot fashion, his tracks bring this energy to the listener. The lyrics are chock full of references to media culture and catchy bits that keep the listener awake through the track.
A personal favorite on the album, “luther,” was a display of another successful collaboration between SZA and Kendrick. The song is mellow and romantic, and it stands apart from other songs on the album, with a peaceful and serene vibe. The song has a beautiful opening that contains a smooth guitar lick. The song sounds reflective, like a person speaking their mind. SZA’s gentle vocals in the background make the listening experience ethereal. I really enjoyed how SZA takes center stage later on in the track, which was icing on the cake, and amplified the listening experience.
The last song I considered noteworthy was “tv off.” It has a rich beat that follows his sharp storytelling with a commanding tone, commenting on the scarcity of people who are dependable and have the resolve to take action whenever necessary. In the song, he speaks about stepping up when others fall short, and emphasizes character, substance, and action over empty words. This powerful delivery acts as a statement that emboldens Kendrick’s idea of being the best.
‘GNX’ didn’t disappoint and it makes a beautiful addition to Kendrick’s discography. It was nice to see SZA and Kendrick partner up for more songs, and I definitely think Kendrick did a remarkable job on this album. The level of excitement with this album doesn’t surmount the Drake and Kendrick back and forth scuffle, but it was nothing short of a surprise for fans. ‘GNX’ made it clear he was sincere with his lyrics. A mosaic of references.
