The hits keep coming for Kendrick Lamar. The Grammy-winning rapper emerged the decisive victor in a highly publicized rap beef with Drake, issuing a knockout blow with the diss track “Not Like Us.” A month later, Lamar doubled down during his high-profile Juneteenth pop-out concert in Los Angeles when he performed “Not Like Us” five times. In November, the Grammy nominations cemented the unquestionable victory. Lamar is up for seven awards at the 2025 show and he received five of those nominations for “Not Like Us,” including record and song of the year. To round it off, Lamar will headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show.

But Kendrick Lamar isn’t done yet. The Pulitzer-winning rapper and the New York Times-described “least predictable stars” signed off on an already massively successful year by dropping a surprise album.

Friday, Lamar dropped “GNX” a 12-track album featuring contributions from SZA, Kamasi Washington, and mariachi singer Deyra Barrera. He released the album on his social media accounts, minutes after posting a teaser video.

His first full-length studio album since his 2022 release “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” GNX is a nod to the limited-production Buick coupe. The vehicle was introduced in 1987, the same year Lamar was born.

The album also pays homage to Lamar’s love of the Buick GNX.

“As for the album title, Lamar has long held a place in his heart for GNX cars, which are a type of vintage Buick Regal,” writes Samantha Chery of The Washington Post. “He told Complex that after he was born, his dad — who inspired his love for rap — brought him home in an ’87 Buick Regal, and earlier this year he shared photos on Instagram of a GNX he bought.”

Listen to the full album below: