An early Christmas present. Rapper Kendrick Lamar unexpectedly released a new album

by times news cr

Without any prior announcement, American rapper Kendrick ​Lamar released his sixth​ studio⁢ album titled​ GNX early ​Friday evening. You can already‌ hear it on streaming services. ‌Foreign agencies write about him as‌ an early Christmas present to⁤ listeners.

The record,⁣ named after the⁤ 1980s Buick GNX sports car that ‍Kendrick Lamar recently ​bought​ and in which his father ​once ‌drove him home from the hospital, has⁤ 12​ tracks, according to the AP. Award-winning producer Jack Antonoff collaborated on all but ⁣one.

Pop singer SZA and Mexican mariachi‍ star Deyra Barrera⁣ guest ​on several songs, while American musician Ink and interpreter Sam Dew contributed to others. There are also‌ sampled voices of singer Cheryl Lynn ⁣and the late Luther Vandross. Among other things, Kendrick ⁢Lamar used strings and jazz‌ saxophonist Kamasi Washington on the record, with whom he​ had already collaborated.

As the ⁤AFP agency reminds, the thirty-seven-year-old musician ends the year with‍ the news, during ⁤which ‍he publicly ⁣quarreled ‍with Drake. ​Their closely watched rap‌ battle dominated the media‌ and‍ spawned some ‍of the⁣ most listened to ​tracks of the year, most⁤ notably Lamar’s Not Like Us. It​ topped the Billboard Hot 100 ⁢and earned him several Grammy nominations. On the new album, Lamar returns to the⁣ controversy ⁤with the opening track Wacced ‍Out Murals.

GNX⁤ is his first ⁣studio recording since Mr. ⁤Morale & the‍ Big Steppers⁣ from 2022, which he later personally presented also in Prague’s O2 arena.

Kendrick Lamar first gained attention ‌with​ his​ debut album good kid, mAAd city​ in 2012.⁤ Since then, he has received⁣ 17 Grammy⁤ Awards and‌ became the first non-classical or jazz musician to receive a Pulitzer Prize⁢ in 2017 for⁣ his ‍record Damn. This year’s⁤ album is the first that he did not release on the⁣ Los Angeles​ label Top Dawg Entertainment,‌ where he started. Instead, ⁢he published ‍it under the banner of his creative‌ agency pgLang, which he founded the year before with ⁤longtime collaborator Dave Free, ⁤adds ⁣the New⁢ York Times.

Now Kendrick Lamar has a‍ big year ahead of him, in addition to the chances to turn ‍seven nominations at the Grammy Awards in February, ⁢he will perform at the finals of the American football league, the Super Bowl, which is one of the most prestigious in the USA due ⁤to its high⁤ viewership. ⁢In recent years,​ singers Usher and The Weeknd ‌or Rihanna have been given the same opportunity. Lamar also ⁣glosses over the upcoming performance at ‍the⁢ Super Bowl in the opening track of the ‍new ⁢album.

Video:‌ Sample from the GNX album

Kendrick Lamar released his new album GNX without prior notice. Photo: Dave Free | ⁤Video: pgLang

What themes can we ⁢expect in Kendrick Lamar’s new album GNX? ⁤

Interview ⁤between Time.news Editor and Music Expert

Time.news Editor: Thank you for joining us today to discuss the highly anticipated ⁤release of Kendrick Lamar’s new album, GNX. It certainly seems like he’s surprised everyone by ⁢dropping it without any prior announcement. What do you think this ​approach⁤ says about his strategy as an artist?

Music Expert: Thanks for having me! Kendrick’s decision to‍ release GNX without ‌fanfare is quite significant. It underscores his confidence as an artist;‌ he knows his audience is going to ‍listen regardless of the build-up. It almost creates an element of spontaneity in the⁤ music landscape,‌ reminiscent of ⁢unexpected drops in other genres, particularly in hip-hop.

Time.news Editor: Absolutely! And speaking ​of the album itself, the name‍ GNX is quite‍ personal to Kendrick, as it references the 1980s ‍Buick​ GNX sports car⁢ that⁤ holds sentimental value to him. ⁢How do you think this personal connection might influence ‍the themes in the album?

Music Expert: ⁣ That’s ‍a​ fascinating point. The connection to‌ his father and the journey home from‌ the hospital adds a layer of ‍emotional depth. This choice⁢ of title ‌may suggest themes of nostalgia, family legacy, and a reflection on his ⁤own journey. Kendrick often weaves personal and familial stories into his‌ music, ⁢and‍ having that reference might mean we’re in for a more introspective album this time around.

Time.news Editor: The collaboration aspect ⁢is also noteworthy. With award-winning producer Jack Antonoff at ‍the helm​ for most⁣ of the tracks, alongside contributions⁤ from artists like SZA and Deyra Barrera, what does this say⁢ about the evolution of his sound?

Music‌ Expert: Kendrick is ‌known⁤ for blending genres and sounds, and having someone like Antonoff on board allows him to ‌explore ‍new⁣ musical territories. Antonoff has a ‍knack for creating rich, layered productions ​that can ⁤elevate the⁣ emotional stakes of a song. The inclusion of⁣ various artists—from pop to mariachi—also hints at Kendrick’s willingness to experiment and cross boundaries, which is exciting for⁣ listeners looking for innovative sounds.

Time.news Editor: One of the standout features of GNX is the opening track, “Wacced‍ Out Murals,” which ⁤appears to⁤ address his recent public dispute with Drake. How ‌important is it‍ for artists like Kendrick to address controversies in their work?

Music Expert: ⁣Very important! Controversies can fuel an artist’s⁤ creativity, serving as major sources of inspiration. ​By addressing his feud with Drake, Kendrick is acknowledging the landscape of rap politics and the competitive ⁢nature of the genre. ‍It’s ⁢a way to make a statement, ⁤not‍ just to his ⁣peers ‍but to fans, ⁢showing​ that he’s unafraid ⁢to tackle these subjects head-on.

Time.news Editor: Kendrick is coming off⁤ a monumental year, with his previous album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, receiving critical ​acclaim and even a performance in Prague. How do you think the impact of his earlier work sets the stage for GNX?

Music Expert: Mr. Morale & the Big ⁣Steppers was ⁤a pivotal ⁢moment in Kendrick’s career, ⁤both artistically and thematically. It explored deep ‍psychological and ​social ⁤issues, setting a high ⁢bar for ⁢expectation. With GNX, he may feel the​ weight of that, but at the same ‌time, it gives him a platform to evolve. Listeners are eager to ‌see how he builds on that narrative—whether he’ll continue to delve ​into ​heavy themes or adopt a different approach.

Time.news Editor: Sounds‍ like Kendrick ⁣Lamar is ⁤continuously shaping his legacy. With 17 Grammy Awards to ⁤his name, where do you see him fitting in the future landscape ⁤of music?

Music Expert: Kendrick is undoubtedly one of the defining figures in modern rap, ⁣and ⁣his influence will be felt⁢ for generations. He’s not just a musician; he’s a storyteller and⁤ a cultural commentator. The future holds a lot for ⁢him, whether he continues to push the envelope in hip-hop or even branches out into other genres or artistic endeavors. ​Whatever he chooses, audiences will be‍ all ears.

Time.news Editor: Thank you for​ sharing your insights today! It’s always a pleasure to discuss Kendrick Lamar and his impactful journey in‍ the music industry.

Music Expert: Thank you for having me! I look forward to seeing how GNX resonates with ​fans‌ and what comes next from⁣ Kendrick.

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