Kendrick Lamar Reunites With SZA On Multiple Stunning "GNX" Tracks

BYGabriel Bras Nevares2.2K Views
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Feb 5, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; SZA presents the award for best música urbana album during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-523641 (Via OlyDrop) / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It looks like that Harper's BAZAAR interview was more of a signal than we thought.

Kendrick Lamar mostly featured lesser-known and up-and-coming West Coast names on his surprise new album GNX, but there are also some stars on here beyond an impressive production roster. Roddy Ricch contributes to the track "dodger blue," and the one and only SZA appears on two cuts off this new LP. "luther" sees the SOS singer and K.Dot get ethereal and wavy once more with a romantic cut backed by gentle guitars, gorgeous strings, and some other dreamy musical elements. "gloria," on the other hand," features the duo in a more soulful and dramatic bag, although there's a similarly evoked sense of grandeur and beauty.

Of course, this isn't the only time that these two linked up recently, as Kendrick Lamar and SZA interviewed each other for Harper's BAZAAR earlier this year. They talked about a lot of things. Their emotions and tendencies as artistic creatives, the "true meaning" behind "Not Like Us," insecurities, family, and a whole lot more emerged as compelling subjects. Turns out that this was more of a sign for more work on the way than we thought it was...

Kendrick Lamar & SZA Stun On "luther": Listen

Elsewhere, fans are reacting wildly to this new Kendrick Lamar album, all of its lyrical references, and its California-loving instrumentals. Not everyone's a fan, but that's literally what he raps about on a lot of songs on GNX, so we're not surprised that he turned some folks off with his choices. There's a lot to dive into when it comes to what the Compton lyricist addressed on here, his energy on these records, and how it relates to the massive year that he had before this. There is still more to find, and we're sure these initial hours of listening will evolve into more developed conversations.

Meanwhile, SZA also has her new album Lana on the way, which fans are incredibly excited about. It was originally going to be a deluxe for SOS, but it looks like it took on a whole new life of its own. The question now is whether or not she will collaborate with Kendrick Lamar again soon or if we'll have to wait for the next blue moon to hear their chemistry again.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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