Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album “GNX” is named after a killer muscle car

The superstar rapper (and Super Bowl LIX halftime performer) poses with the “Buick Regal from Hell” on the cover of his latest record.

“Driving in my GNX with Anita Baker on the tape deck, that’s what it’s going to be, Sweet Love/Fuck, sorry, I want to see you all geeked out.” That’s the first of many references to the Buick Regal Grand National Experimental on Kendrick Lamar’s new surprise album , which is not only named after the classic American muscle car, but also features the lyrical technician posing next to his personal GNX on the cover.

In addition to the above line from opening track “Wacced Out Murals,” Lamar nods to the rare ride in “Man at the Garden” with the lyrics “VVSs, white diamonds/GNX with the seat back, reclinin” and begins the track “TV Off ” with the proclamation: “All I ever wanted was a black Grand National.” Then there’s the title track “GNX” – a tribute to West Coast hip-hop featuring the LA artists Peysoh, Hitta J3 and Young Threat.

Lamar’s love for the GNX dates back to his first moments of life. In a 2012 interview with Complex, the Compton-born wordsmith revealed that after he was born in 1987, his father drove him home from the hospital in a Buick Regal, the base model GNX. The year of K-Dot’s birth is also notable, as the GNX was produced for 1987 only as a swansong to the Regal’s Grand National trim, named after the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National Series, which Buick won in 1981.

The performance and rarity of the GNX made it worthy of honor. McLaren Engines helped modify the Regal Grand National’s turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 to produce an official (and underrated) 276 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. The so-called “Regal From Hell” reached 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds, making it the fastest American production car of the day.

According to GM, only 547 GNX models were built, compared to 20,193 Grand National Regals produced the same year. Its value has only increased in recent years, with mint examples now selling for $257,000. That’s a nearly 30 percent increase compared to the valuation three years ago, when Kourtney Kardashian bought one for her husband (then-fiancé) Travis Barker. This sparseness is a shame, as the combination of G-Funk-inspired instrumentals and Lamar’s idiosyncratic lyricism would undoubtedly sound best behind the wheel of the album’s eponymous vehicle.

Meanwhile, Lamar will headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on Sunday, February 9 – the same day his hip-hop nemesis Drake kicks off his 2025 tour.

Mentioned in this article: Buick Buick GNX Entertainment GNX Kendrick Lamar Muscle Cars Rap Rides