Kendrick Lamar GNX

GNX IS OUT

Kendrick Lamar’s latest surprise drop, GNX, ain't just a project—it’s a whole ride through history, heritage, and horsepower.

Released on Friday, Nov. 22, the album is a declaration of Kendrick's unshakable bond with a certain iconic machine: the 1987 Buick GNX. From the moment you lay eyes on the cover, where K.Dot leans against the trunk of the car, it’s clear this is more than just a nostalgic flex. This is a full-circle moment for the Compton kingpin, whose personal connection to the GNX is rooted deep in the streets—and his soul.

Kendrick’s GNX isn’t just about the music. It’s about legacy. The title alone is a throwback to the muscle car that took the automotive world by storm in 1987. The Buick GNX wasn’t just a car; it was a statement. And for Kendrick, it’s a symbol of his own power, precision, and—let's be real—his speed on the mic.

In a 2012 interview with Complex, Kendrick shared a revelation that ties his birth to the car in a way only he could tell it: “When I was born, I came home from the hospital in an '87 Buick Regal while my pops was bumping Big Daddy Kane.” Think about that: the soundtrack of a young Compton artist’s life wasn’t just any beat. It was a rhythm set to the roar of a Regal—and soon, the ferocious GNX.

Now, the GNX wasn't just any car. Buick dropped it in '87 to flex their NASCAR success, producing a limited run of these muscle machines. But the world didn’t just get the GNX. They also got the Grand National and Regal T-Type, expanding the Regal line into something sleek, something special. Kendrick’s a child of that same year—an '87 baby with the Buick pedigree running through his veins.

However let’s talk about the real flex here: the race. The Buick GNX wasn’t just fast—it was insane fast. The Grand National GNX, back in its prime, beat out a Ferrari F40 in a quarter-mile run by a mere 0.3 seconds. That’s speed with a capital S. And it wasn’t just the Ferrari that was worried. The Lamborghini Countach—the Lamborghini, mind you—couldn’t touch the GNX in that lane. Now that’s the kind of car you name an album after.

But there’s something even deeper here. Kendrick might just be taking another shot at his longtime rival, Drake. You see, Enzo Ferrari—the Italian mastermind behind the Ferrari racing team—was known as “il Drake” by his British rivals. The man didn’t just run fast cars; he ran a legacy. And Drake himself has been known to flaunt a little Ferrari flex here and there, even sporting an inflatable yellow Ferrari during one of his tours. But Kendrick? Kendrick’s running with the GNX, a car that not only outpaces Ferrari but does it in style.

But the car isn't just a metaphor for flexing or competition.

It’s something more spiritual for Kendrick. Back in March, he posted on his burner account (On Instagram), @jojoruski, a quiet flex of his own: he’d copped a GNX for himself. And with it, dropped a little gem of wisdom for his followers: “A good ol’ saying can snap you back into reality sometimes, but in the moment of confusion, the best thing you can do is find a GNX.” The message? When the world gets fuzzy, when the mind’s out of sync, the answer’s simple—find your path, your rhythm. And if you’re Kendrick Lamar, that path leads straight to the Buick.

With GNX, Kendrick’s first album to drop exclusively through pgLang and Interscope Records after parting ways with Top Dawg, he's got us all in a trance—12 tracks, 44 minutes of raw energy and artistry. Jack Antonoff and Sounwave take the wheel on production, and Kendrick enlists a star-studded crew of collaborators, including AzChike, Deyra Barrera, Dody 6, Hitta J3, Ink, Kamasi Washington, Peysoh, Roddy Ricch, Sam Dew, SZA, Wallie The Sensei, and Young Threat.

The GNX is here. It's got the power. It’s got the speed. It’s got the legacy. And it’s got Kendrick Lamar, reminding us that when the world’s racing forward, he’s always in the driver’s seat.