Released in 1987, the Buick GNX became an automotive beacon of cultural relevance in the following years. The car became especially popular in the Los Angeles area, where a young Kendrick Lamar was growing up surrounded by the influence of hip-hop legends like Snoop Dogg and Tupac. 

On November 22, 37 years later, Lamar released his sixth studio album, GNX, in honor of the revolutionary car, reflecting its continued mainstay within the culture, a parallel to Lamar himself.

In the album consisting of 12 songs, Lamar strays from his traditional introspective sound and delivers a love letter to his southern Californian roots. Characterized by upbeat and catchy harmonies, tight vocals and bright production, listening to GNX feels like a convertible ride on a warm California evening as palm trees emerge on the orange skyline.

The album begins with the song “wacced out murals,” in which Lamar reflects on the defacement of a mural dedicated to him in his hometown of Compton, in which his face was covered up and painted over. The song is a confident rebuttal to his haters, calling out Lil Wayne specifically for his public frustration toward Lamar at losing the invitation to perform at Super Bowl LIX — in Wayne’s hometown of New Orleans. A brash and unforgiving attitude prevails, as Lamar delivers sharp, piercing vocals on high-energy tracks “squabble up,” “tv off,” “peekaboo,” “hey now” and “reincarnated.” The album features different sounds though, as R&B cuts “luther,” “dodger blue” and “gloria” come with lush production, airy beats and laid-back vocals from Lamar, SZA, Roddy Ricch and more.

Just like when Buick released their version of the GNX, Lamar’s has been carefully engineered and manufactured with oodles of love, care and passion — and just like the car did, Lamar cements himself as the best in the game, doing laps around the competition in the driver’s seat of his GNX.