By Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal
On my dreadful, unfortunately oh-so often 12-hour long Amtrak journey from Humboldt back home for the holidays, I was pleasantly surprised to find out — via literally everyone I follow sharing on their Instagram stories — that Kendrick Lamar released a 12-track surprise album titled GNX that very morning.
Now, y’all are gonna hate me for this, but I’ve lowkey given up on immediately streaming albums when they drop. No, don’t stop reading — blame Drake’s last 5 albums for turning me this way. I wait until the locals decide what’s good or not, and then from there, I decide if it’s good or not.
Upon hearing the album had a Debbie Deb sample, I had to stream ASAP — starting with that song. I pressed play and let out a scream on that heinously crammed 7 a.m. bus ride through SoHum. Squabble up is too good. I am a bit of a whore for a great sample. I especially love this one, since it samples a song that went 20 times platinum in my childhood home alone thanks to my LA Mexican mom — the music video needs a review of its own.
Upon streaming the album in its entirety, I don’t have much else to say, other than it’s really fucking good. Not like us was just a glimpse of how creative and down Kendrick could get. Kendrick brings in the beloved SZA, yet holds space for upcoming LA rappers such as Peysoh, Roddy Ricch, Azchike, Wallie the Sensei, and Lefty Gunplay on this 44-minute long record.
This album to me is an exceptional representation of the modern west coast music scene. It is a nostalgic — yet ahead of its time — mosaic of all of the creative, varying influences and styles from classic and new west coast rap & hip hop, along with synths and vocals of new and old neo-soul and R&B.
I am led to believe there is something for everyone on this album. KDOT and SZA pay a brilliant homage to the 1982 If This World Were Mine duet between 80s R&B legends Cheryl Lynn and Luther Vandross on Vandross, the third track of the album. The unique dark beat and flow on hey now reminds me of the late LA rapper Drakeo The Ruler, with a bit of early E-40. Lamar then pays homage to Mexican mariachi and the 90s G-funk era in reincarnated. We are surprisingly introduced to the isolated and powerful Spanish vocals of Dreya Barrera, a local Los Angeles based Mexican-American Mariachi singer. Interestingly enough, Lamar befriended and scouted the artist after viewing her emotional performance at the Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela Memorial in late October. We then hear the possible reincarnation and possession of a certain rap legend when Lamar begins to rap over a G-funk beat that is a sample from a song by the one and only Tupac Shakur… are y’all catching all these west coast parallels?
Now let’s bring up some of the infamous lyrics that have sparked convos on social media since the drop. Kendrick brings up the disrespect LA transplants cause the city, its people, and reputation in dodger blue — “Don’t say you hate LA if you don’t travel past the 10.” He brings up how transplants talk negatively about LA and LA culture, yet their arguments are invalid as they don’t bother to attempt to immerse themselves in the various neighborhoods and cultures that make up the real LA and its culture.
All in all, I would say this album is wonderful. It’s turnt, then it’s soulful, then it’s serious, then it’s goofy — yet it’s not overwhelming. This album is a mix of a love letter and yearbook signed to those on the west coast from Lamar. It’s rare for me to find albums these days that I consider no-skips, because I’m quite picky with what I let control my vibe and essence. I’ve genuinely enjoyed this album so much that I’ve proudly streamed it through and through multiple times since its release about a week ago. The question isn’t if GNX is on the way to becoming a West Coast Classic, but rather, are you in for the ride?
Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal is a third year Journalism:PR Major at CPH, originally from Fresno, CA. She enjoys shoes, traveling, DJ-ing, dancing with friends and most of all serving cuntress! Catch her cool and iconic contributions on any of the student publications.