Sounwave played a pivotal role as the lead producer on Kendrick Lamar's album GNX, shaping its sound and direction with his signature style and innovative approach.

Commercial success

• Sounwave's production on GNX helped the album debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 319,000 equivalent album units in its first week.

• The album surpassed 2 billion streams on Spotify in 2025, making it the fastest rap album of the year to reach this milestone.

• GNX became eligible for RIAA Gold certification after moving over 500,000 units in the US.

Cultural impact

• The album's experimental production, blending West Coast hip-hop with Latin influences, was widely discussed in music publications and credited with pushing genre boundaries.

Critical response

• Pitchfork noted that Sounwave's production on GNX "anchors the album's experimental edge while maintaining Lamar's signature intensity." Read full review

• The Guardian highlighted the album's "adventurous arrangements" and credited Sounwave for helping Lamar expand his sonic palette. Read full review

• The New York Times described GNX as "an impressive but slight collection of flag-planting thumpers, puffed-chest posse cuts, conceptual experiments and moments of introspection," with Sounwave's production providing a strong foundation. Read full review