Kendrick Lamar Recorded Nearly 100 Songs for GNX

When Kendrick Lamar dropped his 2024 album GNX, fans were captivated by its sharp lyricism, cinematic production, and bold sonic twists. But what many didn’t realize was that the final 12-track album was just the tip of the iceberg: according to longtime collaborator Sounwave, Kendrick recorded between 80 and 100 songs during the GNX creation process.

The Creative Flood: From Mr. Morale to GNX

Right after finishing his previous project, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), Kendrick didn’t take a break he switched gears almost immediately into what would become GNX. In an interview, Sounwave described the early phase of GNX as a creative “throw-everything-at-the-wall” period: beats, hooks, ideas, lyrics everything was being churned out rapidly to capture raw inspiration.

Over time, this explosion of creativity resulted in a massive backlog of material dozens of rough songs, demos, alternate versions, and experimental tracks. From this mountain of music, a carefully curated set of 12 songs was selected to form the final GNX album.

Why So Many Songs?

There are a few reasons behind the enormous output:

• Artistic exploration: With so many songs, Kendrick and his production team had room to test different sounds from West Coast-inspired grooves to darker, experimental beats. Sounwave described the early GNX sessions as rooted in “funky West-Coast groove,” before the sound evolved further. HotNewHipHop+1
• Selecting only the strongest: Not every idea sticks. By crafting many songs, Kendrick ensured that only the very best the ones that fit his vision made it onto GNX. This kind of abundance allows for refinement and bold choices down the line.
• Flexibility for future releases: Having a large archive gives him room to revisit past material, release deluxe editions, or even rework tracks later a helpful safety net for any artist of his caliber. Some insiders suggest a possible deluxe of GNX could tap into this vault of unreleased songs.

GNX: What Made the Final Cut

Despite the flood of material, GNX’s final tracklist delivers a focused, powerful experience. The 12 songs on the album combine introspective lyrics, broad themes, and tight production showing that Kendrick didn’t just record a lot, he curated carefully.

Notably, tracks like “luther,” “tv off,” “squabble up,” and “hey now” emerged as standout hits, supported by strong production from collaborators like Mustard and Jack Antonoff, who helped refine the sound into something both modern and rooted in West-Coast tradition.

What Happens to the Other 80–90 Songs?

For now, most of the recorded songs remain unreleased floating somewhere in studio archives. That backlog raises questions could there be a GNX deluxe edition? Will some songs be reworked and dropped later? Fans and industry insiders are speculating.

Given the sheer volume of material, anything is possible. But even without those tracks seeing the light of day, GNX stands as a testament to Kendrick Lamar’s work ethic, creative range, and commitment to quality.

What This Means for Fans & Hip-Hop

Kendrick’s decision to record so many songs yet only release a dozen underscores the level of care and craft behind his albums. It challenges the idea that a record is just a collection of songs instead, GNX becomes a sculpted, intentional body of work.

For fans, it means there’s a trove of unheard material potential gems, alternate versions, or completely different directions of GNX yet to be discovered. It also confirms what many already knew: when Kendrick says he’s working, he truly means it.

For the hip-hop industry, it sets a high bar showing that with patience, ambition, and dedication, one can balance creativity with precision, productivity with polish.

Kendrick Lamar recording almost 100 songs for GNX gives us a glimpse into the sheer magnitude of his creative process. It shows ambition, depth, and an uncompromising standard for quality. Whether or not we ever hear those unreleased tracks, GNX remains powerful but the leftovers hint at a vault full of potential.