Kendrick Lamar Shares His Thoughts on the GNX and Drake Feud: “I Appreciate Artists Who Go for the Challenge”

Kendrick Lamar’s Inspiration for GNX

Kendrick Lamar revealed the motivation behind his latest album “GNX” and the tracks he created during his rivalry with Drake.

• READ MORE: Kendrick Lamar – Overview “GNX”: transformation of hatred into a learning moment

Reflections on His Career

On the eve of his performance at the Super Bowl in New Orleans this Sunday (February 9), the rapper from Compton sat down with Ebro Darden from Apple Music and Nadeska Alexis to discuss his upcoming concert. They inquired about his recent accomplishments at the Grammys, where he took home five awards for the Drake diss track “Not Like We,” marking it as one of the most prominent rap songs in the history of the awards.

“I just thought about culture, in fact,” he said, elaborating on the inspiration behind the song.

“At first, it is always about me. When people talk about rap, the conversations I hear often regard it as merely that—just rap, and not a true art form. So, when you bring such records to the forefront, it reminds people that this is more than just what happened 50 years ago.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I79EHCBD2us

Thinking back on his career, Lamar shared with Darden and Alexis that his aim has always been to “be better than himself and his craft” and to revitalize the “culture” of hip-hop. This led Darden to ask whether Lamar’s musical releases last year, including GNX in November and several diss tracks aimed at Drake, were meant to draw a clear distinction between genuine hip-hop and other forms.

“My intention from the first day was always to maintain the essence of (hip-hop) as a sport,” said the 21-time Grammy winner. “I don’t care how people view it as a collaborative effort. That’s cool too, but I love when artists sharpen their skills.”

Kendrick Lamar says that he drew inspiration in watching videos with battles with Smack DVD and URL when recording his Drake Diss “Not the way we”

“My intention from the first day was to maintain the nature of this as a sport. … It has always been a core of the one who I am. “pic.twitter.com/3Tec4UXK1F

– Kollege Kidd (@kollegekidd) February 6, 2025

“GNX” features a series of hits in the Hyphy style, including “Quarrel,” “TV OFF,” and “Hey Now,” which, according to Kendrick, drew inspiration from legendary G-Funk DJ QUIK and Dr. Dre.

“I’ve always had this DNA,” he explained. “You heard this DNA a little on ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city,’ but I wanted to prioritize telling my own story. When we moved on to GNX, I just felt that it was the right time, as not only had energy been lost, but there was also energy bubbling inside me.”

“I wanted to return to the bite and the intensity of rap. Just all bars and hard beats. These are the foundations for me. I thought back to what I loved as a child: hard raps and dope beats that hit.”

The co-founder of PGLANG also discussed how GNX differed from his critically acclaimed album of 2022, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers,” noting that the shift was “necessary.”

“It was a big transition from Mr. Morale, as that was my most introspective album. I wanted to dive into my own psyche and my personal growth and see how it resonates with the public and who can connect,” he shared. “So, this time, I felt it was essential to step out of that cocoon and express, ‘I can share my victories and show every facet of who I am.’”

• READ MORE: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morality and overview of large steppers’: catharsical, mental autobiography

Preparing for the Super Bowl

In another part of the conversation, Lamar discussed his performance at the Super Bowl, expressing his hopes to spotlight his passion for life through “stories” and black culture. “I’ve always had a passion for bringing that to any stage, whether it’s in front of 500 people at the Key Club,” he said. “I’ve always aimed to create a space where people can listen, but also see and think a little more.”

This Sunday (February 9), he will make a special appearance during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl.