Kendrick Lamar - GNX

Kendrick Lamar GNX PGLang / Interscope

I figured I'd kick start this new Buddyhead reviews section off with "GNX" because in my opinion it's hands down the best record of last year. In a year where not a ton of good mainstream shit came out Kendrick seemed to dominate the collective mindset of culture this year. This record was his pivot was just fucking with Drake to the entire culture plus it’s a record that celebrates Los Angeles in every way so you know as an unofficial ambassador of the city I love that shit.

"Not Like Us" was the best hit (diss) song of the year, yet he did not include it on this album. And his run of singles that were Drake disses was spectacular as well; "Euphoria" prolly my favorite, "6:16 in LA" was amazing too and can't forget the epic "Meet the Grahams"). Then he did The Pop Out which was the best (and only) diss concert I've ever seen, and like united all the LA gangs on staged too. And then bam this record dropped without warning, no press no nothing but everybody heard it. And almost immediately it seemed the people collectively decided it was a legendary classic. Or at least I did.

Yep, this is a Kendrick Stan page, I'm back on the team. It took me a couple years to catch up to his last record "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers", but I think that’s also a banger now. Kendrick is definitely one of my favorite contemporary artists (and has been since “good kid, m.A.A.d city”) in the way he does things and the quality of art he produces, second prolly only to Kanye cuz of how much he's influenced culture for so long. As a reminder I don’t look for purity in the artists I listen to cuz otherwise I’d be listening to the wind. This is America…

As far as the songs go the highlights for me are wacced out murals, sqabble up, luth, reincarnated, tv off and dodger blue. And my favorite lyrics on this bad boy is "Don't say you hate L.A. when you don't travel past the 10."

In closing this record is a certified banger, Buddyhead approves. This shit makes me feel good when I hear it and I stamp it legendary. Not even in the top 3 of best record in his catalog but definitely the best record of the year to me.

And guess what, Axl agrees...

-Travis Keller

Axl sez: