Such a great read, per usual!👏🏾 I’ve been playing this album nonstop since its release and I would not be mad at all with a double album. There’s so many possible hints that it could be one coming! Also, the DMX and then Hov Vol.2 references?! I didn’t even peep those but once you mentioned it…I was like “Wowwww, hol up!!!!!”
Thanks Amirah! Gotta give Ricky credit for making the initial connections but, once I saw it, I just ran with it. Appreciate you reading and sharing 🙏🏾
A fantastic breakdown. It's one of the reasons Kendrick is ridiculous (layered complexity and direct simpliciy), and it's one of the reasons Substack is fulfilling (learning from community). A long time ago, I wrote a grad thesis on Yasiin Bey (then Mos Def) and Langston Hughes. This article takes me back there and is one of the reasons GNX has been on repeat. Many thanks!
Thanks for reading! Agreed, the communal aspect of Substack is definitely one of the things that makes it standout as a platform and I just tried to leverage that quality as best as I could with this piece 🙏🏾
Side note: I can imagine that thesis being so much fun to write / read
It was fun. Your piece made me want to delve back into it. I'm writing on GNX, but more about the connection to education, innovation, and the evergreen skills of taking in good art. More to come!
Wow! This piece was for the community and made by the community through your own. Your shout-outs to other writers that served as inspiration was truly humble. Dope read and an amazing closer - full circle in so many ways
Thanks so much Cole! Yes, this was definitely a community piece and it only felt right to acknowledge those who helped me find the loose threads to tie together. It’s not often you get a project that gives you the opportunity to do deep dives like this so I definitely did my best to make the most of it. Appreciate you reading and the kind words 🙏🏾
John I waited all day to read this...made sure I did nothing because I knew this was gonna be good.
You. Don't. Miss. 🔥
The clues are there that this will be a double album. I also heard the Isaac Hayes Black Moses reference is another indication of a double album.
Either way I'm here for it.
Thanks so much Alex! I appreciate you taking the time to read it.
Agreed, there are a lot of hits about a potential double album but I remember people saying the same about DAMN. so I'm a bit skeptical
Happy to be wrong though 🤷🏾♂️. More music from Kendrick is hardly a bad thing 😂
Definitely saving this one to lock in on it later!
Appreciate it bro, let me know what you think 👍🏾
Lit AF. Rap Encyclopedia type shit.
Good shit John!
Thanks NJ! 🙏🏾
Such a great read, per usual!👏🏾 I’ve been playing this album nonstop since its release and I would not be mad at all with a double album. There’s so many possible hints that it could be one coming! Also, the DMX and then Hov Vol.2 references?! I didn’t even peep those but once you mentioned it…I was like “Wowwww, hol up!!!!!”
Thanks Amirah! Gotta give Ricky credit for making the initial connections but, once I saw it, I just ran with it. Appreciate you reading and sharing 🙏🏾
A study in lineage. Thank you for this!
Thank you for reading and sharing 🙏🏾
Appreciate you 👊🏾
A fantastic breakdown. It's one of the reasons Kendrick is ridiculous (layered complexity and direct simpliciy), and it's one of the reasons Substack is fulfilling (learning from community). A long time ago, I wrote a grad thesis on Yasiin Bey (then Mos Def) and Langston Hughes. This article takes me back there and is one of the reasons GNX has been on repeat. Many thanks!
Thanks for reading! Agreed, the communal aspect of Substack is definitely one of the things that makes it standout as a platform and I just tried to leverage that quality as best as I could with this piece 🙏🏾
Side note: I can imagine that thesis being so much fun to write / read
It was fun. Your piece made me want to delve back into it. I'm writing on GNX, but more about the connection to education, innovation, and the evergreen skills of taking in good art. More to come!
Damn bro, you bodied this! and then to reference so many of the great writers on here as well. I'm just here to be a fan!
Thanks man! We don't exist in a vacuum so it only felt right to highlight the writers who helped point me in the right direction 🙏🏾
Loved how much I learned in this representing for the Hip Hop fanatics fr 🤲🏾
Appreciate you reading bro 👊🏾
This was definitely me getting back in my ‘rap genius’ bag lol, it had been a while
Happy to hear that you’ve enjoyed it and been able to take away some things from it
Wow! This piece was for the community and made by the community through your own. Your shout-outs to other writers that served as inspiration was truly humble. Dope read and an amazing closer - full circle in so many ways
Thanks so much Cole! Yes, this was definitely a community piece and it only felt right to acknowledge those who helped me find the loose threads to tie together. It’s not often you get a project that gives you the opportunity to do deep dives like this so I definitely did my best to make the most of it. Appreciate you reading and the kind words 🙏🏾
Insightful as always, brother. Made some poignant connections!
Appreciate it man, thank you for reading. Definitely had to give your piece a shout-out at the end 👊🏾
“whats up with these jabroni a** 🥷🏾s tryna see Compton!”
great read, John - the tie in of the generation x theory with his cultural and reincarnation references made a lot of sense to me.
Another unintentional wrestling connection that is just clicking in my head now 😂
Thanks! Happy to hear that it wasn't too much of a reach 👍🏾
Really loved reading this, John. I’m already on my sixth listen to GNX all the way through and I discover something new each time.
Thanks Reda! Hopefully this can act as a companion piece as you continue to listen to the album 🙏🏾
Forensic. Good job! Perhaps I should go and listen to this album properly now 😁
Thanks! Tbh this album is a pretty straightforward listen, I just did my best to tie some loose threads together
They’re tying 🤝