Released on November 22 of last year, GNX was one of the most unexpected, yet impactful albums of Kendrick Lamar’s career. Nobody was prepared for it, especially after the “rap beef” with Drake took place in May of 2024, but it certainly did not disappoint. Alongside his new drop, Lamar also won five Grammys and played for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. These significant achievements indicate that he’s in the prime of his career. So, here are my top three songs of Lamar’s new album, along with a review of his halftime show performance.
Firstly, and not surprisingly, “tv off” takes the No. 1 spot for me. Not only does the song remind me of his previous albums, since it has a similar energetic vibe to the album DNA, but the chorus is extremely catchy too. After listening to it for the first time, I was not able to stop saying “mustard,” which had also gone viral and turned into a TikTok trend. Secondly, I would have to give my No. 2 spot to “gloria,” which features Sza. This track has a laid back vibe to it, while the bop of the beat also gives it a little kick of energy. Additionally, Sza’s feature really adds to the song, as her voice compliments his voice really nicely. Her presence truly cannot be ignored, and certainly builds upon the chill vibe of this song. Last but not least, the No. 3 spot is given to “squabble up.” This song is fun to blast on your headphones because not only does it hype you up, but it also has a heavy thumping bass that you can feel to your core. Alongside the bass, this song also has a really catchy chorus that can easily replay in your head all day. The only reason that it’s third on the list is because it’s only very fitting for specific occasions, such as a pre-game hype song.
But enough about my favorite songs – let’s talk about how people felt about his halftime show. I’ve seen and heard two different reactions to it so far, and there’s a very distinct line between the two. Many viewers felt that Lamar’s performance wasn’t lively enough and that his song choice didn’t fit the halftime show vibe. Others argue, however, that it was a very meaningful performance and that people aren’t understanding the real message behind it. From what I’ve researched, his intent behind the performance was to highlight racial injustice in the US. From Uncle Sam opening the show (played by Samuel L. Jackson) saying, “don’t be too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” to his stage performers forming the shape of a torn American flag, most of his visuals played the part of implying his meaning.
The contrasting verdicts about Lamar’s performance can be explained by the two different types of viewers who watch the halftime show –those who want something to fit the atmosphere, and those who feel that making a statement is equally fitting. Personally, though I believe that the underlying messages within the performance were important, I think too much emphasis was placed on visuals and not on the songs he chose to perform. For example, instead of playing his unreleased song “Bodies,” he could’ve played a hit song from an older album to get the crowd going. However, it’s fully up to the individual to decide whether the show served its purpose or not, and this is simply just my opinion.
Overall, despite some varied judgement on the halftime show, nobody can doubt that Kendrick Lamar is in his prime, with “Not Like Us” taking the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 22 weeks and with him winning five of the seven Grammys he was nominated for. As Lamar continues making hits, listeners are excited to see what’s coming next.
