Kendrick Lamar’s Surprise LP ‘GNX’ Tops U.K.’s Albums Chart

Kendrick Lamar has landed his second No.1 on the U.K. Albums Chart with GNX, his surprise-released sixth studio album.

The Compton rapper previously topped the chart in 2015 with his third LP To Pimp A Butterfly, while 2017’s DAMN. and 2022’s Mr Morale & The Big Steppers both finished at No. 2.

Lamar achieved the feat through digital-only downloads and streaming numbers, with physical releases due in early 2025. GNX arrived last Friday (Nov. 22) with no notice, but comes in a banner year for the rapper following the success of “Not Like Us,” the final blow in his vicious feud with Drake. The song went to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on the U.K.’s Singles Chart earlier in the summer. 

Earlier this week, Drake instigated legal action against Universal Music claiming defamation, alleging that the label could have halted the release of the song which saw Lamar “falsely accusing him of being a sex offender.” The pair both license their music through Universal Music, with Lamar working with Interscope Records and Drake licensing his OVO Records via Republic. Universal music said the claims were “offensive and untrue.”

Lamar beat British soul star Michael Kiwanuka to the top spot, with the latter’s Small Changes No. 2 placing resulting in his fourth top five LP on the chart following 2012’s Home Again (No. 4), 2016’s Love and Hate (No. 1), and 2020’s Mercury Prize winner Kiwanuka (No. 2). Earlier in the week Kiwanuka held a large lead over Lamar given his success on physical, with 87% of his final total coming across vinyl, CD and cassette.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet lands at No. 3, with last week’s chart-topper Linkin Park and their comeback album From Zero finishing at No. 4, while Charli XCX’s Brat rounds out the top 5.

Elsewhere Father John Misty earns his fifth top 20 album with Mahashmashana closing at No. 12, while Afrobeats titan Wizkid’s sixth album Morayo making his highest-charting album at No. 14.