Kendrick Lamar Debuts #1 Despite Drake’s Legal Action
Surpassing previous expectations, Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album “GNX” has reportedly sold over 319,000 units in its first week. According to Chart Data, That’s a total of 379.72 million on-demand streams equating to 32,000 pure sales. The record will debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts.
Billboard 200: #1(new) @kendricklamar, GNX 319,000 [379.72 million on-demand streams | 32,000 pure sales].
— chart data (@chartdata) December 1, 2024
The album triumph success could not be overshadowed by the controversy invoked by Lamar’s rival Drake. Drake allegedly filed legal docs in court with claims of defamation and payola against him and Lamar’s label partners, Universal Music Group, after the massive success of Kendrick Lamar’s historic diss track “Not Like Us” earlier this year. These forms were submitted to the court days after Kendrick Lamar released GNX.
Kendrick Lamar has placed a final stamp as a hip-hop titan railroading Drake’s career with his series of diss records and a new album in 2024 during his year-long rap battle against the formerly admired hitmaker. It was previously estimated that Lamar would sell about 230,000 units of his surprise album. However, those expectations quickly surpassed as Lamar swiftly gained a series of breakout hits from the album.
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GNX’s Breakout Tracks
Notable tracks going viral on social media include the West Coast-styled track “Squabble Up” and “Luther” featuring his former TDE labelmate SZA. The track is a sultry RnB/hip-hop blended hit that samples the late Luther Vandross’ classic record “If This World Were Mine” paying homage to the soul icon. DJ Mustard’s produced track “TV-Off” has been quite a favorite amongst listeners, with the song highlighted in many videos on social media.
During warm-ups at his basketball game, Lebron James shouts the signature lyric of an overzealous Lamar screaming MUSTARD mid-track.
LeBron James vibing to “tv off” by Kendrick 📺pic.twitter.com/Cme00vpErj
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) November 30, 2024
Heart Pt. 6 Song Samples SWV By Pharrell Williams
Lamar’s “Heart Pt. 6” is my favorite song on the album; it uses an interpolating sample of 90s RnB group SWV’s song “Use Your Heart”. Pharrell Williams and his group, the Neptunes, produced this track in 1996. To highlight, Drake also appeared to allegedly have a history of a one-sided beef with the hit-maker as Williams is the founding producer of The Clipse. This rap group features Pusha T, Drake’s rap nemesis.
Drake has also taken several shots lyrically on his songs “Meltdown” and “Family Matters.” In 2022, Drake allegedly purchased his jewelry from Pharrell’s auction website, Joopiter, for $2.2 million. He later claimed he melted down the jewelry in his verse on Travis Scott’s “Meltdown.” Pharrell was recently asked his thoughts on Drake purchasing jewelry during his conversation with GQ. “No, because I think beyond all of the on-goings, at the heart of all of it, he’s a music fan,” Williams said of Drake making the purchase. “He’s a fan of the history of what it is, and I happen to be a part of that, and those artifacts are a part of it.” Williams seemed unbothered by Drake’s purchase and melting of the jewelry he sold.
Kendrick Lamar Puts On For West Coast
Kendrick Lamar also gave back to West Coast rappers. It features a series of lesser-known talents in the project, including Wallie The Sensei, Hitta J3, and more.
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“Squabble Up” Music Video Review Breakdown
To further review his track ‘Squabble Up,’ the song uses elements of Debbie Deb’s 1984 freestyle hit “When I Hear Music” with g-funk, hyphy, and mariachi influences. Lamar released the music video, paying tribute to many iconic figures in hip-hop. Also, celebrating the West Coast’s various diverse groups and cultures. Firstly, Kendrick Lamar’s entire exterior set is a replica of the rap band The Roots’ classic music video,”The Next Movement.” Lamar will stand in the light green room reminiscent of The Roots as several scenes play around him. Roots drummer Questlove shows appreciation to Kendrick Lamar for tributing his group in an Instagram post.
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Ice T & Nate Dogg Honored
Lamar highlights rap legend Ice T’s ‘Power’ album artwork, with a woman facing the camera holding a long gun and wearing a thong. He honors the late rap hook man Nate Dogg with a copy of his vinyl record hanging from the ceiling. Simultaneously, he squats on the floor near candles labeled RIP. This also coincides with a scene of a group of Mexicans dancing in sequence, paying honor to their impactful cultural presence and influence throughout the West Coast. The video also spotlights the infamous gang culture in California.
Respect! @kendricklamar 👑 https://t.co/jj5juB3ysm
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) November 25, 2024
Menace II Society & Isaac Hayes
He playfully mentions the classic dance show Soul Train, featuring a man and woman in front of a chalkboard with letters unpuzzling words. Highlighting the late host, Don Cornelius, scrambled board segment on the show. We must not forget the boy peddling on a red tricycle, an ode to the movie “Menace II Society.” Lastly, Lamar ends the video honoring the late Isaac Hayes with an individual recreating his “Black Moses” album cover look. So many more jewels are in this video, but we mention only a few.
Isaac Hayes as Black Moses stands as a powerful symbol of liberation, leadership, and cultural pride.
— Isaac Hayes (@isaachayes) November 25, 2024
Thank you, @kendricklamar, for honoring Isaac and his legacy, reminding the world of the everlasting power of Blackness. pic.twitter.com/PiD9vcg73o
Let’s conclude by asking you to share your favorite tracks on Kendrick Lamar’s new album. If you enjoyed this read and gained some knowledge, follow and subscribe for more content. Lastly, read social media reactions to his album below!
Kendrick Lamar checked every box with GNX and that was something the haters said he couldn’t do pic.twitter.com/SRm3jZTGYx
— The Rap Roundtable (@RapRoundtablePC) November 24, 2024
Kendrick Lamar: “Squabble up, squabble up.”
— vids that go hard (@vidsthatgohard) November 22, 2024
Me: pic.twitter.com/68Fs63EBKf
“MUSTARD!” 🗣️ @kendricklamar #GNX pic.twitter.com/8O2uf1IW2g
— Ali Graham (@lil_ye) November 23, 2024
Can we acknowledge how Kendrick Lamar just be finding talents outta no where.
— kendrick Lyrics (@WordFromKdot) November 27, 2024
2011, Kendrick Lamar found Anna Wise on YouTube & the rest is history. https://t.co/6TDwHJOhFc pic.twitter.com/qU1tyj2CRM
.@kendricklamar LOOK WHAT YOU’VE STARTED 🥹🔥 pic.twitter.com/xuKHvSUjW7
— kendrick Lyrics (@WordFromKdot) November 30, 2024
This is KENDRICK LAMAR era 🔥
— Naveed (@NaveedShares) December 1, 2024
Kendrick Lamar taking the “Heart pt6” title back from Drake pic.twitter.com/8s8focZUvz
— Steven chaponda Chapy (@chaponda_steven) December 1, 2024
‘GNX’ by Kendrick Lamar debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 319k units.
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) December 1, 2024
Biggest opening week for any album by a male artist this year. pic.twitter.com/YIUSmuva4N
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