"Kendrick Lamar - GNX" Don't Expect a Miracle from Me

 


    You know I've never actually listened a full Kendrick Lamar album? That's not to say that I dislike all of the music he's released. I'm certainly a fan of his poppier stuff, and even off this album I absolutely adore Luther, though that song could hardly be considered a rap/hip-hop song. Either way, it's hard to think about this year in music and not think about him. His beef with Drake was on the mind of everyone, even mine, and I quite enjoyed some of the songs that came out of it, mainly Not Like Us and Like That. Even still, I was not particularly eager to go out and listen to this album when Kendrick surprise released it a couple weeks ago. I suppose a part of me understand that he's beloved, but I also understand that I'm not a big fan of the genre he operates within, so really the more I listen to his music the less my opinion on him is going to become. Regardless, I figured it's only fair I give it a shot, after all maybe I like more songs on the album than Luther, and it never hurts to try out things at least once. So without further ado, my track-by-track review.

GNX - Kendrick Lamar

wacced out murals - 70/100 Alright I'll admit this is a pretty solid intro from Kendrick Lamar. It's not very fast and the instrumental is light but the timing is right and really lets Kendricks arrogant rapping stand out. Not sure if it's something I'd regularly listen to just because of its length.

squabble up - 55/100 Yeah this song has a decent groove and beat to it but honestly it's just not for me. It isn't too melodic so that doesn't help it's case as a more formulaic song compared to wacced out murals.

luther (with sza) - 85/100 Did you really think I was going to give this song a bad score? Honestly, it could probably be higher I really love what SZA's been releasing lately. Actually that's a lie I don't know how I felt about that Drake feature she did but Saturn is an absolutely pretty song and definitely close to the top of my year end list. Will she actually release an SOS deluxe or LANA this year? I don't really think so but it'd be cool to see it because she's touring next year anyways.

man at the garden - 55/100 Sadly this song does not interest me instrumentally like wacced out murals did. It's interesting to hear him being introspective especially when he talks about his family. 

hey now (feat. dody6) - 40/100 Yeah I'm not really feeling this song or this beat. If this song was put on the car I'd just stare at whoever put it on. I'm not saying it'd be a vibe killer, but instrumentally I think the beat does start off completely odd and unflattering. It actually does turn itself around around the bridge instrumentally, but the chorus and the feature are really not doing this song any favours in my mind.

reincarnated - 70/100 Not too crazy about the Nas sample, but it does it's job in this song. Kind of cool to hear Kendrick rap about these idols he had though. At least lyrically this song interests me, though I can't tell if I enjoy or don't care about Kendricks delivery in this song since it has a bit more force.

tv off (feat. lefty gunplay) - 60/100 Instrumentally I think this song does interest me more than squabble up. I know people liked yelling it at first but I don't really enjoy when Kendrick yells Mustard or the end of the track.

dodger blue (feat. wallie the sensei, siete7x, roddy ricch) - 80/100 I have not heard of Roddy Rich since The Box, but I really enjoy the groove of this song. The singing and Kendricks rapping on it isn't too bad either, dare I say this might be my second favourite song off the album after luther? Not what I expected when I saw that Roddy Rich was going to have a feature but this is a pretty good nice short song.

peakaboo (feat. azchike) - 45/100 Not really too crazy about the chorus or the feature and lyrically it doesn't really impress me either. 

heart pt.6 - 70/100 Obviously, I've never listened to the rest of this anthology but I have to admit this song is pretty good. The instrumental is chill and sounds well, but not too overbearing to take away from Kendricks rapping.

gnx (feat. hitta j3, youngthreat, peysoh) - 40/100 Yeah I'm basically just waiting for the next song to show up at this point. I really don't like this song, though shoutout Jack Antanoff for helping produce it I suppose.

gloria (with sza) - 80/100 Is there a 50% chance I'll like this song because it has SZA and is bound to be one of the poppier tracks off this album? Absolutely but who cares man. Kendrick isn't the best singer but his softer delivery on these tracks aren't too bad. Not my favourite SZA chorus either but still pretty decent all things considered.

Final Score 63/100

    I suppose me liking a couple songs off of this album is pretty par for the course. Was it a coincidence I liked the two SZA songs? Absolutely not, it mostly just reinforced my belief that at least right now, Kendrick Lamar isn't really an artist meant for me, or one who I'll routine enjoy outside of a couple of songs. I was genuinely surprised I enjoyed dodger blue though, that song does indeed have a great groove that even I can't deny. I most certainly don't think this album would even touch my list of favourite albums I've listened to this year, but still I have to respect that to someone who enjoys this kind of hip-hop music they're probably foaming at the mouth. Basically how I feel about emo or pop-punk music to be honest, which is why that The Story So Far album will probably up there on my list.

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