Kendrick Lamar: Rapper surprises fans with new album GNX

American rapper Kendrick Lamar has dropped an unexpected new album titled GNX.

The artist's sixth studio album, featuring 12 songs, was released on his social media accounts at approximately 5:00 PM GMT on Friday.

It includes input from American R&B artist SZA and Kamasi Washington, among several others.

GNX marks Lamar's first album release since 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and it arrives just before he takes the stage as the main act at the Super Bowl halftime show in February.

It wraps up a busy year for Lamar, whose latest tracks have been influenced by an ongoing rivalry with Canadian artist Drake.

For months, there were whispers circulating that Lamar, a multiple Grammy winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient for Music, was busy creating a new project.

Initial feedback on the album has largely been favorable, and many fans have expressed their admiration for it on social media.

"Whatever happens next, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author has crafted another exciting installment in what continues to be the most captivating long-form narrative in hip-hop," reported AP News.

The publication described Lamar as a driven and exceptionally skilled poet from Compton, grappling with both his personal struggles and the complexities of the world on a grand platform, always feeling uneasy about the weight of his success.

Rating Game Music noted that the album serves as a reminder of why he is considered one of the greats. However, they also mentioned that it doesn’t come across as a groundbreaking release; instead, it feels more like a creative outlet for Kendrick, allowing him to express and release some of his thoughts and ideas.

"I believe the actual project is just around the corner."

There were rumors that Taylor Swift might show up, but it seems that the pop icon didn't attend after all.

The two have collaborated in the past, with the rapper featuring on Swift's song "Bad Blood" from her 1989 album.

Nonetheless, SZA contributes her vocals to two songs, titled "Luther" and "Gloria."

Lamar and SZA recently had a conversation with Harper's Bazaar that touched on various subjects, including spirituality and mental well-being.

Additional songs on the album are "TV Off," "Dodger Blue," "Peekaboo," and "GNX."

In the first song, "wacced out murals," Lamar makes a nod to his forthcoming Super Bowl show.

This highly sought-after opportunity coincides with the final game of the NFL season and attracts a large viewership in the United States. Nonetheless, it stirred some disappointment among Lil Wayne's fans, who believed he would have been a better choice for the role.

"I feel like my dedication disappointed Lil Wayne," sings the rapper from Compton.

"I won the Super Bowl, and the only person to congratulate me was Nas."

The latest album continues a feud with Drake that has been going on for a long time. However, this rivalry intensified earlier this year, as both artists exchanged harsh words through a series of new tracks.

The rivalry led to the creation of some significant songs, especially Lamar's "Not Like Us."

With an infectious DJ Mustard track behind it, Not Like Us shattered Spotify records, becoming the hip-hop song with the highest number of streams in a single day.

It went on to reach the top of the charts in the United States and climbed to sixth place in the UK, marking Lamar's biggest success as a solo artist.