Kendrick Lamar unexpectedly released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday.
Lamar posted a teaser for the album on Friday afternoon and published the project on streaming services shortly after.
“GNX” features 12 new tracks, including “squabble up,” which was teased in the music video for Lamar’s hit diss track “Not Like Us.”
The album follows Lamar’s 2022 album “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers.”
The album opens with “wacced out murals,” which features lyrics alluding to Lamar’s previous indictments on the current state of rap. The song calls back to the untitled track he dropped on Instagram in September as well as the criticism he received from other rappers after being announced as the next Super Bowl‘s halftime show performer.
Fans were surprised and delighted by the new album. Many shared their excitement on social media.
The album caps off Lamar’s monumental year following his feud with fellow rapper Drake. After Lamar and Drake sent diss tracks back-and-forth to each other for months, Lamar appeared victorious with his smash hit “Not Like Us,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was recently nominated for several Grammys.
Lamar continued his tradition of creating “the heart” tracks, of which he had already made five installments. While Drake named one of his diss tracks against Lamar this year “The Heart Part 6,” that did not stop Lamar from creating his own “heart pt. 6” for “GNX.”
SZA appears on two tracks. Jack Antonoff also contributed to the production of the album.