Brandon’s Reviews:
hey now: This might actually be my favorite song off the album, the beat is chilling, the vocals are aggressive and then right when you’re least expecting it Los Angeles takes over the song. The west coast synth combined with Kendricks lyrics about “spaceships on rosecrans” is what makes me feel proud to be from California. The back and forth with Dody6 at the end of the song wraps the whole thing up in an antagonistic way that feels like it was simply made for this beat.
heart pt. 6: This is my favorite entry in the heart series. The beat gives classic west coast vibes and Kendricks flow is reminiscent of some of his best songs. The story of Black Hippy and Kendricks own life interwoven into a song about friendship and creative freedom all wrapped up nicely into what can only be considered a classic in Kendrick’s catalog definitely serves as a highlight of the album.
luther: If you somehow still needed proof that Kendrick is one of the most versatile musicians out right now, here it is. His writing combined with SZA’s angelic vocals create one of Kendrick’s best melodic flows to date. The strings in the back accent the lyrics, and provide a perfect setup for the back and forth melody Kendrick and SZA effortlessly slide over the song.
reincarnated: If “hey now” is my favorite off the album to listen to, “reincarnated” is easily my favorite to experience. The direct reference to Tupac’s “Made Ni***z” combined with a masterfully written story jumping from life to life in a cycle of reincarnation. Kendrick speaks to the human experience on almost every level in this song. Not to mention the retelling of the devils fall from heaven from Kendricks perspective, this song is so deeply layered I could write a whole breakdown on just the lyrics alone. All I have to say is make sure you really listen to this one.
Trent’s Reviews:
wacced out murals:
These days, only Kendrick could open an album with a diss track to the entire music industry so soon after beating one of the biggest names in Hip-Hop. Making good on the threats made in his previous track unofficially titled “Watch the Party Die,” Kendrick sets the high-octane ferocity of the album right away as he once again hails himself king of the industry. And with a declaration like this, arguing against him feels like a death sentence.
squabble up:
Just when I was losing hope that the teaser song from Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” music video would ever be released in its entirety, “squabble up” shot me from my seat and sent me into the kind of electrifying euphoria only Kendrick can invoke. After months of waiting, I’m happy to say the broccoli more than lives up to the hype.
tv off:
As if we weren’t already racing over a hundred, in comes the already iconic beat switch of “MUSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD!” Doubling as a shout-out to DJ Mustard, the producer behind “Not Like Us” and many other iconic beats, in addition to being everything it claims to be– crazy, scary, spooky and hilarious, “tv off” is the track I most want to hear performed at his upcoming Super Bowl performance.
dodger blue:
The most underrated song on the album, and one I didn’t fully appreciate until a re-listen, “dodger blue” slows us back down to the speed limit, pops the top open and takes us on a late-night drive through the vibing streets of Los Angeles.
gloria:
A slower ending to his speediest album yet, this reflective love/hate letter is made out to Hip-Hop itself, a role that SZA embodies as she challenges Kendrick’s complicated emotional outpouring. Whether his music is saint or sin, heals or kills, if the mix-tape structure of the album has any common thread, it’s the expression of these contradictions that “gloria” so passionately presents.
Final Review:
For us GNX comes off the summer-long hot streak that began Kendrick’s warpath, cementing 2024 as one of the most integral years of his incredible career. Whatever he decides to do next, and whether or not he inspires the change he wants in the industry remains to be seen, but it’s clear that this is just the beginning of an exciting, new, battle-hardened chapter for hip-hop’s brightest star. This album is a solid piece through and through. It might not be as deep as “To Pimp A Butterfly” or as nuanced as “Mr Morale & The Big Steppers” but brings a certain energy that Kendrick really hasn’t had in any of his works up to this point. It’s extremely replayable, and it’s got a lot of songs I could see becoming mega hits from his catalog. For what he set out to achieve with this album, I think he nailed it. Every track carries so much weight and you can really feel the energy in each and every song. If you haven’t liked his music in the past, this really might be the album to get you into it, and if you have you’ll love it all the same.
