Kendrick Lamar Shows Potential for Expansive GNX Projects
Kendrick Lamar could easily release multiple untitled unmastered.-style projects or a lengthy deluxe edition for his GNX album if he chooses to give fans more music. His creative process for GNX has been prolific, according to longtime collaborator and producer Sounwave, who revealed in a Variety interview that between 80 and 100 songs were recorded for the album, though only 12 tracks made the final cut.
The work on GNX began in 2022, shortly after the release of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The album initially featured a “funky West Coast groove” before producers like Jack Antonoff and Mustard were brought in to refine its sound. Mustard, in particular, played a crucial role, contributing signature production to tracks such as “Hey Now” and “TV Off.” For “TV Off,” Mustard sent two beats separately, and Kendrick combined them into the final version, turning it into a Super Bowl-level anthem. Mustard said he did not question who merged the beats, simply appreciating the result.
Reflecting on GNX a year after its release, Sounwave highlighted the album’s impact. He emphasized that Kendrick’s approach breaks boundaries and consistently reinvents his sound. Sounwave described moments like seeing a 60-year-old woman rapping a GNX song word for word as proof of its lasting resonance.
Speculation around a GNX deluxe edition has circulated for some time. Last year, Lefty Gunplay, who appears on “TV Off,” mentioned that Kendrick has additional material in the works. He noted that Kendrick plans to collaborate again and described the rapper as “very secretive” regarding the project’s release.
Kendrick Lamar has not confirmed whether a deluxe edition or expanded project will be released. Fans remain eager for any new material, knowing the depth of the recorded sessions and the creative freedom Kendrick has shown throughout his career.
