Mustard’s Excitement Over Kendrick Lamar’s Shocking ‘GNX’ Album

In an unexpected turn of events on Friday, November 22, Kendrick Lamar clandestinely unveiled his sixth studio album, GNX. The album boasts contributions from the illustrious SZA and is underpinned by production from Mustard, the creative force behind “Not Like Us,” in conjunction with Sounwave and Jack Antonoff—both of whom provide an element of surprise. This 12-track opus spans a concise duration of just under 45 minutes.

“You know what’s astonishing? It was as much a revelation for me as it was for anyone else,” remarks Mustard. “I speculated that its release might coincide with the beginning of the year or perhaps align with the Super Bowl festivities. Earlier that day, while training at the gym, I was startled to see him post a snippet of a track. Moments later, the album was unleashed upon the world.”

“TV Off,” a remarkable track co-produced by Mustard, alongside Sean Momberger, Sounwave, Antonoff, and Kamasi Washington, swiftly emerged as a standout from GNX. This stems from its deliberate echoes of Lamar’s acclaimed hit “Not Like Us,” as Mustard admits was “certainly intentional.” In a parallel to the album’s surprise release, it is noteworthy that Mustard didn’t encounter the finalized version of the track until its unveiling.

Mustard’s enthusiasm is palpable: “What was my reaction? I was ecstatic. I already know I’m proficient with my beats, yet Kendrick is, without a doubt, the preeminent rapper of all time. He stands among the greatest.”

He divulges that “TV Off” was conceived around the same period as “Not Like Us,” yet emphasizes that the two halves of “TV” were crafted separately from distinct beats. “The initial segment undoubtedly resonated with my work on ‘Not Like Us,’ while the latter half derived from compositions I was developing for an ambitious theatrical project. I decided to send it to Kendrick, who responded enthusiastically, saying ‘This is incredible.’”

Adding to the creative fervor, the seamless transition between the two segments culminates in Lamar exuberantly exclaiming “Mustaaaaaaaaard.” In Mustard’s view, “That was elite. So thrilling. Is this a new signature? I eagerly anticipate performing that track and hearing audiences vocalize that, as they’ll undoubtedly resonate with it.”

Regarding another collaboration, “Hey Now,” Mustard reveals that this beat was crafted 3-4 years prior, exclusively by himself, until Sounwave and Antonoff contributed. “I knew that with the right artist, it would coalesce beautifully. Upon sharing it with Kendrick, he grasped its essence immediately and asserted, ‘I know how to approach this.’”

“I adopt a strategy of routinely sending Kendrick new material,” he elaborates. “I am perpetually in pursuit of what lies ahead. This morning, I texted him, ‘What can I provide you?’ Whatever the requirement, I stand ready to contribute, fully committed to this collaborative endeavor.”