Kendrick Lamar made an unexpected move by releasing his new album, “GNX,” on Friday afternoon without any prior announcement. This release adds to a year of notable achievements for Lamar, highlighted by his high-profile conflict with Drake, which many believe Lamar emerged victorious from, particularly with his hit diss track “Not Like Us,” which alludes to their rivalry. The 12-track album was quietly released on Friday afternoon, with Lamar sharing the album cover on Instagram shortly after noon EST. In the opening track, “wacced out murals,” Lamar addresses his feud with Drake, rapping about Snoop Dogg’s Instagram post of Drake’s diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle” and Snoop’s subsequent neutral stance, praising both artists for elevating the rap game. The album also features “heart pt. 6,” continuing Lamar’s “heart” series and sharing a title with one of Drake’s diss tracks from May. Additionally, Lamar responds to criticism over his selection to headline the Super Bowl in New Orleans over local favorite Lil Wayne, referencing Lil Wayne’s 2008 album “Tha Carter 3” and expressing a sense of irony and hard work in his lyrics. Lamar also notes that Nas was the only one to congratulate him on the Super Bowl gig.