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Kendrick Lamar surprise-dropped his sixth studio album, GNX, on November 22, 2024, hosting features from SZA, Lefty Gunplay, Dody6, and more. The Compton rapper also brought on a team of award-winning producers which includes Sounwave, DJ Mustard, and Jack Antonoff.
After multiple social media projections suggested GNX would top the charts in its opening week, Kendrick's new LP debuted at No.1 on Billboard 200. The album reportedly sold 319,000 album-equivalent units and generated over 300 million on-demand audio streams.
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Kendrick Lamar's GNX officially marks his fifth consecutive chart-topping studio album, following up on the 2022 Grammy-winning rap album Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers.
With multiple media outlets and publications re-posting Kendrick Lamar's Billboard achievement, several fans took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to share their thoughts and opinions on the Compton rapper bagging his fifth No.1 album.
One individual was seen praising Kendrick for achieving another chart-topping album, with no prior rollout, while also speaking on the criticism Lamar received after releasing GNX, explaining:
"319k for a SURPRISE ALBUM with no physicals, no rollout & no singles is amazing no matter how you spin it but someone out there will try to convince you it’s bad for Kendrick’s standards lol"
Similar reactions followed with fans praising Kendrick Lamar and GNX in the comment section of NFR Podcast's post.
"319k for a surprise drop? That’s crazy I really wonder what he would do if he actually did a real rollout," said a fan.
"Imagine the numbers with the physicals," another stated.
"319k . Drops an album and doesn’t post nothing else on his social media, not even the viral dances on tic tok," a user cited.
"Can't wait for Aubrey's Angels to act like this isn't incredible numbers," another claimed.
Several users were found referencing the 2024 rap beef, suggesting how GNX wouldn't have performed well if Lamar hadn't gone head-to-head with Drake in May.
Some users also drew comparisons between GNX's first-week sales and Drake's 2023 album, For All The Dogs, which reportedly earned over 400,000 album-equivalent sales in its first week.
"Imagine he didn’t beef with Drake, bro would’ve done Megan Thee Stallion numbers lmaoo," a user claimed.
"SO ALL OF THIS TO SELL LESS THAN [For All The Dogs] ??? DRAKE IS REALLY THE GOAT," added another.
"He flopped. Drake's last album did 415k and Kendrick’s album was way more anticipated," a Kendrick critic claimed.
Kendrick Lamar's GNX confirmed as largest hip-hop album debut for 2024
Kendrick Lamar's GNX first-week numbers marked the sixth-largest streaming debut of the year, bringing in 319,000 album-equivalent sales and 379 million on-demand audio streams.
A report from HypeBeast suggests the album sales were supported by the massive streaming week Kendrick generated following the release of GNX, with songs like tv off and squabble up going viral across social media platforms.
According to Billboard, the success of GNX can be attributed to the 285,000 streaming-equivalent units generated, alongside the 32,000 physical copies that were sold. Kendrick's new LP is reportedly the largest hip-hop album debut for 2024, commercially outperforming Tyler, The Creator's eighth studio album.
Tyler's Chromakopia earned 299,500 album-equivalent units in its first week, debuting at No.1 and holding the top spot on Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks, before being outperformed by ATEEZ's Golden Hour: Pt.2.
Coming in close to Kendrick Lamar's GNX, on Billboard 200 is The Wicked Soundtrack LP. Featuring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and more, the soundtrack album marks the highest debut for a big-screen adaptation of a stage musical.
The remaining top 5 spots are occupied by Sabrina Carpenter's Short N Sweet at No.3, Tyler, the Creator's Chromakopia at No.4, and Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft at No.5.
While Kendrick Lamar has consecutively led the Billboard charts with his past five albums, fresh singles dropped this year, Like That and Not Like Us, also went No.1 on Billboard Hot 100.
Kendrick Lamar's GNX also ranks as the second-highest streaming debut for 2024, behind Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department.
