Album Review: GNX

Rating: 4/5

By: Hudson Pitcock

GNX, released on November 22, was American rapper Kendrick Lamar’s sixth studio album. Following his last album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, this is Lamar’s first official album release since his departure from working with record label Top Dawg Entertainment. 

With J. Cole re-releasing his project The Warm Up, on the same day, many music fans pinned the two albums against each other, arguing over which one was better. According to simply the number of streams, GNX clears J. Cole’s work. But Lamar’s album was typically seen to be held in higher regard due to his remarkable story telling and the average quality of each of his tracks.

One aspect of GNX which had been surprising to the majority of listeners was that Lamar didn’t really have much to say directly to the Canadian rapper Drake. Considering this is his first release since the widely debated feud between the two artists, expectations had been high for more drama. But Lamar generally steered clear from the fire, continuing his series which had been taunted by Drake with the 10th track on the album, “heart pt. 6,” a continued string of songs where he raps straight from the heart. All in all, the album was very well put together with multiple great hits.