Kendrick Lamar released a new album, GNX, in silence without promotion or marketing, on Nov. 22, 2024.

Lamar is well-known in the hip-hop music industry for his groundbreaking lyrics. In 2018 he won a Pulitzer Prize for his album DAMN., becoming the first rapper ever to do so. In the spring of 2024, he garnered significant media attention due to his feud with Canadian rapper, Drake. Although Lamar’s feud with Drake dates back to 2013, the release of Lamar’s exposé songs, “Meet The Grahams,” “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us” in the spring of 2024 landed him in the top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 for months on end. In typical Lamar fashion, he kept his profile low following the release of his spring songs, avoiding social media and interviews, which is why his release of GNX came out of the blue for many listeners.

I, for one, am a big fan of Kendrick Lamar. My favorite songs include “Wesley’s Theory,” “m.A.A.d city” and “untitled 05|09.21.204.” In all of these songs, I would say Lamar proves himself to be a musical genius.

Lamar is well known for his groundbreaking lyrics, including heavy commentary on racial inequality, socioeconomic status and personal struggle.  Unfortunately, I think GNX falls short of his other albums. Lamar’s previous albums, DAMN., To Pimp A Butterfly and good kid, m.A.A.d city will go down in rap history as some of the most groundbreaking and critically acclaimed albums of our time. Although GNX is a good album, Lamar’s previous works set the bar high, and, in my opinion, GNX doesn’t quite reach the same level as his earlier tracks.

The album opens with “wacced out murals,” a song that touches on Lamar’s beef with Drake and how he feels isolated in and betrayed by the music industry. The opening track is self-reflective and lyrically reminds me of J. Cole‘s song “No Role Modelz.” Lamar’s lyrics take the reigns in “wacced out murals,” which has a typical lyrical Lamar feel to it. Despite this, I don’t necessarily like the song; I think musically it’s mediocre and it’s not something I would want to listen to on the day-to-day.

In the song “luther (with sza),” Lamar takes a different approach with a mellow and smooth beat enhanced by SZA‘s soothing feature. SZA’s part on “luther (with sza)” adds much-needed variety to the album. Generally speaking, SZA is a safe and popular option as a feature in any rap song. Lamar’s “All The Stars (with SZA)” is one of his most popular songs of all time, and fans love the contrast and combination of the two voices — probably a major reason why Lamar decided to feature SZA twice on GNX. I think the song is okay, but it sounds like an elevated version of something you might hear while walking around T.J. Maxx.

Although I was initially disappointed by the first few songs, Lamar begins to redeem himself as the album progresses. “Reincarnated,” “tv off (feat. leefty gunplay)” and “heart pt.6” stand out to me as the best songs on the album because they remind me of Lamar’s previous albums Section.80 and good kid, m.A.A.d city.

In “wacced out murals” and “gnx (feat. hitta j3, youngthreat, peysoh)” Lamar raps in a confrontational and angry tone without his usual infectious beat — a style of music that I don’t like. In my favorite song on the album, “heart pt.6” Lamar uses a jazz-influenced soundscape and raps in a less aggressive tone, letting the music share the stage with the lyrics. Lyrically the song reminds me of “u,” one of Lamar’s best songs, and musically it reminds me of “How Much A Dollar Cost,” a blend that makes for an enjoyable old-Kendrick type of listen.

Following the release of GNX, social media users and fans have largely praised Lamar for the album’s depth and lyricism. Although I have always been a big fan of Lamar, I only give credit where credit is due, and to me, Lamar’s new album doesn’t stack up with the rest of his discography. While GNX is good and features some great songs, it doesn’t match the innovation and introspectiveness of his earlier projects.

If you’re a long-time Lamar fan and haven’t listened to the album yet, I would recommend giving it a try as his lyrical strength is evident. If you aren’t yet a Lamar fan, start with his earlier albums, DAMN. and To Pimp A Butterfly before diving into GNX. While GNX is worth exploring, it may not be the best introduction to Lamar’s genius.