Kendrick Lamar is in the midst of one of the most remarkable runs in modern hip hop—and 2024 proved to be a year that cemented his status as one of the world’s biggest artists. With a show-stopping Super Bowl Halftime performance and a handful of Grammy Awards under his belt, Lamar is showing no signs of slowing down.
Currently co-headlining The Grand National Tour with fellow TDE alum SZA, Kendrick is setting new standards in the live music space. The tour has been a massive commercial and critical success, selling out arenas and stadiums across North America and smashing attendance records in multiple cities. And while some critics may have doubted the pairing, the results speak for themselves: the fans are showing up, and the haters are being silenced.
Tonight, the tour rolls into MetLife Stadium in New Jersey—a major stop on a run that has already been full of unforgettable moments. With some extra time in the New York City area ahead of the show, Kendrick was recently spotted entering a studio, immediately sparking speculation that new music could be on the way.
Photos of the rapper arriving at a Manhattan recording studio began circulating online, and fans wasted no time connecting the dots. Given Kendrick’s secretive nature, even a glimpse of him near a studio is enough to send the internet into overdrive.
So—is Kendrick Lamar dropping a new album this year?
Fans certainly hope so. His most recent project, GNX, arrived just six months ago, and while it was met with widespread acclaim, its brevity left many listeners craving more. Historically, Kendrick has favored densely layered albums, and GNX felt more like a bold, conceptual teaser than a final statement.
Adding fuel to the fire is an unreleased snippet that dropped just before GNX launched—one that has yet to materialize into a full track. Many believe this is evidence of more music sitting in the vault, potentially part of a larger, imminent rollout.
However, Kendrick himself has remained tight-lipped. Known for his calculated silence, he rarely gives any clues about his creative process. His last few albums—including DAMN. and Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers—were released with little to no advance warning, and it seems that pattern isn’t changing anytime soon.
While fans wait, tonight’s performance at MetLife promises to be a highlight of the tour. With SZA by his side, Kendrick will take the stage in one of the nation’s most iconic venues, delivering a show that is expected to be one of the biggest of The Grand National Tour so far.
Whether or not a new album is on the immediate horizon, one thing is clear: Kendrick Lamar is operating at the peak of his powers. And if the studio visit is any indication, something special may be coming sooner than expected.
