Review: KENDRICK LAMAR

Reviewing a Kendrick Lamar album is always an almost ritual act: a somersault that requires patience and introspection.

A first distracted listen is not enough, nor even a superficial impression. It takes time. We need to let it settle within us, let its words, its sounds, its contradictions pass through us.

Then a Lamar record, an absolute love. It's the album you've been waiting for, suddenly materializing on your computer, like a gift you didn't know you needed. A gift that can be savored slowly, transporting you into a vortex of words and sensations, images and emotions.

“GNX” is Kendrick Lamar's sixth album, a turning point in his career. Not only for the content, but also for the context: the first work published outside the Top Dawg Entertainment umbrella, the first after the ferocious feud with Drake.
A change of direction that is reflected in the album itself, full of reflections, anger and redemption.

After the preludes, the expectations, the thoughts that swirl in my head, I press play.

The title “GNX” takes inspiration from the 1987 Buick Grand National, Kendrick's dream car as a child. The album opens with the powerful choir of Los Angeles mariachi singer Deyra Barrera, whose voice, like a cry of pain, accompanies the entire musical journey. A theatrical voice that, screaming sadness and anger, guides along the twelve tracks like a red thread that unites the entire sound discourse.

Kendrick's first bar is already a manifesto:

Yesterday, someone destroyed my mural.”

It is not so much the physical destruction of a mural that interests Lamar, but the profound meaning that this image contains. It is the metaphor of a society that destroys, that lacks respect, that feeds on hatred and verbal violence. An idea that pervades the entire album, where ferocity and lack of scruples become recurring themes, but which do not stop only at denunciation: they are also the starting point for a broader reflection on the world, on music, on life .

Kendrick – as Tom Breihan writes in a beautiful and exhaustive review of the album published on Stereogum (read it!) – is in cobra mode, all tense and coiled muscles, ready to pump deadly poison into the ankle of anyone who gets too close to him. There's nothing like a focused, pissed-off Kendrick Lamar.

A mode that accompanies several songs but which, as Kendric expertly knows how to do, alternates with different, intimate and introspective moments.

From the technical point of view of the album, the twelve tracks feature collaborations not only with SZA but also with underground figures from Los Angeles: AzChike, Dody 6, YoungThreat, Hitta J3, Peysoh, Wallie The Sensei. Roddy Ricch is here, but only as a backup singer.

Each song has multiple credited producers, including some big California names: Mustard, Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin. This productive proliferation, however, does not create stylistic confusion, perhaps because those who bring order are Kendrick's long-time collaborator, Sounwave and the King Midas of current pop, namely Mr. Jack Antonoff who after the construction of Taylor Swift is now also in charge of Lamar . Great shot!

And in the end, the conclusion is inevitable: he is always the King. Undisputed, towering, hip hop is still its kingdom. His voice cannot be ignored, his throne cannot be scratched. Kendrick always wins, not only with his music, but above all with his words, with the depth of his thought.

ps. If I have to make a comparison with his previous records, perhaps I can't find the same creative brilliance of “To Pimp a Butterfly” or the absoluteness of “DAMN”. But perhaps it is too early to draw definitive conclusions. It's only the fourth time I've listened to it, after all.

TRACK BY TRACK

Wacked Out Murals

The song reflects on his identity, between successes and personal struggles, touching on themes of authenticity, betrayal and resilience. Kendrick denounces the hypocrisy of the music industry, claiming the value of hard work and being true to oneself, despite criticism and obstacles.

Squabble Up

Kendrick launches a tight and direct flow that alternates personal reflections and vents on power, authenticity and social contradictions. With an energetic style, he explores themes of identity, daily struggles and hypocrisy, mixing cultural references and criticism of the system. This piece was Kendrick's first sign of new music; in fact, in the video of his feud with Drake, Not Like Us, “Squabble Up” was briefly teased.

luther

Feelings are intertwined in Kendrick Lamar's thoughtful verses and SZA's evocative vocals. Both explore the desire for redemption, love and change. Kendrick imagines a transformed world, where pain is replaced by healing, while SZA emphasizes hope for better days. The song also contains a sample of If This World Were Mine by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn.

Man at the Garden

Kendrick claims the fruits of his commitment, from emotional stability to material wealth, through authentic relationships and a spiritual legacy. With a thoughtful and determined tone, he celebrates personal and family successes, while facing criticism and contradictions in the music industry.

Hey Now

Reflection and arrogance mix in this song that explores success, authenticity and resilience. With dense bars and cultural references, Lamar asserts its value. Dody6's featuring adds a gritty tone, enriching the story with strength and challenge.

Reincarnated

The song kicks off the second section of GNX with a continuation of the Spanish-language poem introduced at the beginning of the album. Led by a sample of 2Pac's Made Niggaz, the instrumental is a respectful resurrection of the West Coast legend's legacy, contrasting with Drake's use of 2Pac's AI-generated vocals during his beef with Kendrick months before.

In the song, Kendrick writes about artists he feels connected to both artistically and personally, tying his past lives to those of figures like groundbreaking guitarist John Lee Hooker and Chitlin' Circuit singer Dinah Washington. Rather than explicitly suggesting a reincarnational connection, Kendrick is likely indicating how today's black community can inherit and build on the artistic greatness of those who came before us, learning from their mistakes and shortcomings.

TV Off

Kendrick mixes incisive lyricism and social commentary, reflecting on loyalty, opportunism and leadership. Between cultural criticism and sharp metaphors, a raw vision of power and responsibility emerges, supported by a hypnotic beat and energetic interventions.

Dodger Blue

Another exploration of themes of belonging, authenticity and resilience, with a narrative that blends references to Los Angeles culture and personal challenges. The song, enriched by the voices of WallieTheSensei, Roddy Ricch and others, alternates moments of introspection and territorial pride, creating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere. The fluid rhythm fits perfectly with the emotional intensity of the verses.

Peekaboo

In Peekaboo, Kendrick plays on the dualism between ostentation and social criticism, with punchy bars and engaging rhythms. Collaborations with AzChike and Dody6 add variety and grit, while the repetitive chorus emphasizes the futility of much chatter in the modern landscape. A song that mixes irony, self-affirmation and provocative nuances.

The Heart Pt. 6

This song represents the sequel to The Heart series, a reflection on his growth within the TDE collective, on his evolution as an artist and on the value of loyalty and authenticity over appearances. SWV & Coko's chorus emphasizes the importance of introspection and emotional depth, while Kendrick's verses chronicle his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a central figure in hip-hop. It's a reflection on the sacrifices, lessons and moments that shaped his career, along with appreciation for the team and mentors who supported him along the way.

GNX

A song that reflects on street life, violence and success in rap. The protagonists celebrate their resilience, personal growth and struggles to emerge. The chorus reiterates their supremacy and determination to overcome obstacles.

Glory

Gloria is the twelfth and final track on Kendrick Lamar's sixth studio album, and for the second time on the LP, it features vocals from his longtime friend and collaborator, SZA, marking the sixth collaboration between the two.

In Gloria, Kendrick explores the complexities of love, reflecting on a tumultuous relationship that had a significant impact on his life, but was also detrimental to his personal growth. The song is probably about his current wife and mother of his children, Whitney Alford. The verses describe a bond that is both intoxicating and challenging, while SZA captures the vulnerability and, at the same time, the deep fear of an emotional attachment.

The song's deeper meaning emerges in its final phrase, suggesting that the woman Kendrick talks about could serve as an extended metaphor for his art. Gloria, meaning “glory” in Spanish, becomes a personification of the glory of rap: his “pen” and the artistic journey it represents. The relationship described symbolizes his intimate and often conflicted connection to his art, reflecting its power to elevate and consume him.

SCORE: 8.50

wacced out murals – RATING 8.00
squabble up – RATING 7.50
luther (Ft. SZA) – RATING 8.50
man at the garden RATING 8.00
hey now (Ft. Dody6) – RATING 8.00
reincarnated – RATING 8.00
tv off – RATING 8.50
dodger blue (Ft. Ink, Roddy Ricch & Sam Dew) RATING 8.00
peekaboo (Ft. AzChike & Dody6) – RATING 7.50
heart pt. 6 – RATING 8.50
gnx (Ft. Hitta J3, Peysoh & YoungThreat) RATING 8.50
Gloria (Ft. SZA) – RATING 8.50