Kendrick Lamar releases surprise new album, ‘GNX’ : NPR

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

After preserving the rap world on its heels all yr lengthy, buying and selling diss tracks with Drake, Kendrick Lamar is closing out 2024 with that very same power. At present, he dropped a shock album referred to as “GNX.” And right here with us to speak about it’s NPR Music’s Rodney Carmichael. Hey, Rodney.

RODNEY CARMICHAEL, BYLINE: Ailsa, what is occurring?

CHANG: Hey. OK, this was a whole shock, proper? Like, no one knew it even existed till it was launched?

CARMICHAEL: Yeah. I imply, just about. It is form of blown us all away. We’re scrambling over right here.

CHANG: What are you able to inform us about it?

CARMICHAEL: Let me simply begin off by reminding you that that is the 51st yr of hip-hop.

CHANG: Wow.

CARMICHAEL: Proper? It is a yr of rebirth for hip-hop. And no one appears extra useless set on burning all the pieces right down to the bottom and beginning over once more than Kendrick Lamar.

CHANG: (Laughter).

CARMICHAEL: I imply, that is an artist who, although he is by no means been afraid of the darkish, this album proper right here seems like his darkest, his most minimalist, his starkest LP by far. It is actually what I’d name, like, his “Black Album” or his “Makaveli,” for the Tupac followers on the market. I imply, simply take heed to this primary track, “Wacced Out Murals,” the place he rhymes about an actual mural of him being defaced in his hometown, Compton, this yr after he gained his battle with Drake.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “WACCED OUT MURALS”)

KENDRICK LAMAR: (Rapping) Yesterday, any individual whacked out my mural. That power will make you [expletive] transfer to Europe. However it’s common for me, yeah, that is for certain. The love and hate is particular with no treatment.

CHANG: Yeah, that is intense.

CARMICHAEL: Yeah. You’ll be able to hear from his tone, man, this dude remains to be in battle mode, and he is coming for everyone. That is a lot greater than Drake or anybody artist. It is in regards to the tradition of hip-hop, and he is prepared for change.

CHANG: Effectively, you listened to this complete album. Like, what are you able to inform us in regards to the really feel of “GNX,” moreover that it is darkish?

CARMICHAEL: (Laughter). Effectively, OK.

CHANG: (Laughter).

CARMICHAEL: Actually, what it’s is mainly Kendrick doubling and tripling down on this spirit of rebuke that he actually unleashed on hip-hop this yr. I imply, I really feel just like the album might actually be titled, I mentioned what I mentioned, ‘trigger…

(LAUGHTER)

CARMICHAEL: …That is all that he’s actually doing all through this complete album. The track “Man At The Backyard,” for instance, is mainly, like, a reference and possibly even an interpolation of Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight.” It builds actual gradual, similar to that track, and ends with Kendrick simply going ballistic.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “MAN AT THE GARDEN”)

LAMAR: (Rapping) How annoying. Does it angers me to know the lames (ph) can communicate on the origins of the sport I breathe? That is insane to me. It is vital. I deserve all of it as a result of it is mine. Inform me why you suppose you deserve the best of all time.

CHANG: As a result of we’re speaking about Kendrick, I think about that there are extra surprises, like, past the shock that there was even an album launched immediately. Yeah?

CARMICHAEL: Yeah. In fact, in fact. So he works with some acquainted names in manufacturing, you understand, like Sounwave, DJ Dahi. However there are some large surprises, too. Jack Antonoff – he contributes a number of co-production, and…

CHANG: Wait. Is not he the producer for Taylor Swift?

CARMICHAEL: Precisely, finest identified for his manufacturing work with the likes of Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lorde. However yeah, he is…

CHANG: Wow.

CARMICHAEL: …Coming into Kendrick’s home on this one. However there’s additionally this R&B pressure flowing by means of sure songs on the album. You are feeling this softer pressure that is form of effervescent beneath this difficult, darkish exterior that he has. It virtually feels prefer it’s a brand new template that Kendrick’s setting for the place he needs hip-hop, you understand, and particularly, like, masculinity in hip-hop, to go – after he is accomplished burning it down, in fact.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HEART PT. 6”)

LAMAR: (Rapping) Prime had given us dominion within the dwelling he lived in hoping that we would see some tens of millions, God bless our hearts.

CHANG: That’s NPR’s Rodney Carmichael. Thanks a lot, Rodney.

CARMICHAEL: Thanks, Ailsa.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HEART PT. 6”)

UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing) When you bought time and I bought time.

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