OK, go ahead and give Kendrick that MVP award already.
I was one of the people who initially thought Kendrick Lamar didn’t deserve Rapper of the Year. I was ready to hand the title to Future, especially since he released three full albums, while Kendrick didn’t have one at the time. The only real buzz Kendrick had going for him was his single “Not Like Us.”
However, my perspective completely changed after GNX dropped. The album’s massive success, including selling over 300,000 units in its first week, was undeniable. It was a game-changer for me. Today, yet another impressive milestone has been acknowledged, this time highlighting the achievements of individual tracks from the album.
From GNX, an impressive seven tracks secured spots on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Squabble Up” claiming the top position at number one. The other charting tracks are “TV Now,” “Luther,” “Wacced Up Murals,” “Hey Now,” “Reincarnated,” and “Man at the Garden.” Unfortunately, one of my personal favorites from the album, “Gloria,” didn’t make the cut.
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’ occupies seven spots in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 ?
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) December 2, 2024
He is the first hip-hop artist in Hot 100 history to debut three songs at No. 1 in any calendar year: “squabble up,” “Not Like Us,” “Like That” pic.twitter.com/bIMzTcWMfV
The fact remains: Kendrick Lamar went all out with this album, aiming to create hits—and some of them genuinely knocked it out of the park. What makes this noteworthy is that Kendrick is typically known for crafting albums rich with strong themes and introspective tracks designed to provoke thought and heal the soul. GNX, however, is packed with one banger after another.
The upside? We now have a wealth of material perfect for his Super Bowl performance. Given the public’s enthusiasm for these tracks, it’s clear that Kendrick’s experiment in delivering hit-driven content resonated widely.
Do you think GNX is Kendrick Lamar’s most impressive album?
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
