3 Can’t-Miss Tracks from Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’

Kendrick Lamar surprised everyone last November with GNX.

Videos by American Songwriter

By the time his sixth album arrived, he’d already topped the Billboard Hot 100 twice in 2024. First, with a feature on Metro Boomin and Future’s track “Like That.” That was followed by his own single, “Not Like Us.”

These singles were part of a volley of diss tracks in Lamar’s high-profile beef with Drake. Though the feud had been simmering for more than a decade, “Not Like Us” put the Canadian rapper on the mat.

Then it swept its five GRAMMY category nominations, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rap Song. Meanwhile, Lamar continued his blockbuster run with an epic performance during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.

If you don’t know GNX, here are three tracks you don’t want to miss.

Regulators, squabble up!

“Squabble Up”

The music video for “Not Like Us” opens with a snippet of an untitled song as Lamar walks down the hallway. It later became known as “Squabble Up,” slang for “square up” to fight or dance, depending on your situation. The track samples Debbie Deb’s “When I Hear Music” and celebrates Lamar’s West Coast hip-hop roots. It’s one of his funkiest grooves and yet another No. 1 for Lamar.

“Woke up looking for the broccoli
High-key, keep a horn on me, that Kamasi
IP, ownership, the blueprint is by me
Mr. Get Off, I get off at my feet.”

“Luther” with SZA

Lamar’s cool R&B track samples “If This World Were Mine” by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn—a cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1967 Tamla Records duet. SZA joins Lamar on a love song where he promises to change her life. SZA sings about a hard life with concrete flowers and heartache, hoping for a better future. It’s a tender break from the album’s more bombastic tracks.

“Hey, Roman numeral seven, bae, drop it like it’s hot
If this world was mine, I’d take your dreams and make ’em multiply
If this world was mine, I’d take your enemies in front of God
Introduce ’em to that light, hit them strictly with that fire.”

“TV Off” with Lefty Gunplay

It’s no coincidence that “TV Off” resembles Lamar’s GRAMMY-winning hit “Not Like Us.” Producer Mustard created the beat to both tracks around the same time. He told Billboard, “That first half was definitely in the same realm of me making things like ‘Not Like Us.’” But the second half was taken from a separate theatrical album. Mustard sent the latter beat to Lamar to see if he liked it. Lamar said, “This is crazy.” When the song breaks for its transition, Lamar yells, “Mustard!” The producer said he’s excited to perform it live and hear the crowd shout his name during the switch.

“Hey, turn this TV off
Ain’t with my type activities?
Then don’t you get involved
Hey, what, huh, how many should I send?
Send ’em all
Take a risk or take a trip
You know I’m tripping for my dog.”

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images