“GNX” & Kendrick’s Influence

Kendrick Lamar released his latest album GNX at the end of last year, 2024 (first time calling it last year, wow). Kendrick Lamar new album GNX includes 12 tracks and lasts around 44 minutes. The album unsurprisingly has 2 collaborations with SZA, both of which add the magical chemistry we are accustomed to as a Kendrick Lamar discography classic.

Kendrick also worked with Jack Antonoff on this album, which I found surprising. Jack Antonoff is a Grammy-winning producer working famously with Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lana Del Rey. Kendrick Lamar worked with Jack Antonoff on several great tracks from GNX including “wacced out murals“, “squabble up“, “man at the garden“, “reincarnated“, and both of the SZA and Kendrick Lamar collaborations; “luther” and “gloria“. They basically worked together on all of my favorite songs from the new Kendrick Lamar album. For me, their styles match and I love hearing high-quality lyrics together with emotionally qualified production. The experience must have been revolutionary for Jack Antonoff as well since he stepped up his game, got out of his comfort zone, and worked so well and elegantly with Kendrick Lamar on GNX tracks. It would be great to hear them more, dare I wish for a Kendrick Lamar and Lana Del Rey collaboration produced by Jack Antonoff? Dear 2025, come bearing miracles.

This is not a Kendrick Lamar GNX album review, but more like a Kendrick Lamar lyrics analysis. Kendrick Lamar is one of the most influential artists of this generation, with fascinating self-expression and solid writing skills (he is a Gemini after all).

So, what’s with all the prophecy? After Kendrick released GNX, an album full of self-expression in its best form, the internet started talking about how Kendrick kept portraying himself as a prophet. I simply wanted to provide you with some perspective on Kendrick Lamar GNX lyrics and see how metaphors work.

Kendrick Lamar’s storytelling techniques go beyond casual metaphors. I think the main vision and meaning behind Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics, especially on GNX is to light a path for the people and share his way of living so that he can use his already-influential platform to be a good influence. This can sound like prophecy, but it’s done well and it’s now art.

On “reincarnated”, Kendrick states:

My present life is Kendrick Lamar

A rapper looking at the lyrics to keep you in awe

The only factor I respected was raisin’ the bar

(reincarnated by Kendrick Lamar, via genius)

Every individual is only a version of you

How can they forgive when there’s no forgiveness in your heart?

Kendrick Lamar Grammy Awards history is quite rich. He took home 17 Grammys before and will probably run for Grammy Awards 2026 since he released GNX outside the calendar for Grammy Awards 2025. He will also be touring with SZA on “Grand National Tour” in 2025. Kendrick Lamar tour dates 2025 are already released and he will be headlining the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9. With Kendrick Lamar’s influence on new artists and his spiritually strong image, I think he’ll be winning more than Grammys this year.