Kendrick Lamar's album, GNX, released nearly a year ago, has reached a significant milestone. The project recently surpassed 2 million album-equivalent units sold in 2025, making it the first hip-hop record to achieve this feat this year. This success follows a Super Bowl halftime show performance that helped maintain the album's visibility.
Key Takeaways
- Kendrick Lamar's GNX sold over 2 million album-equivalent units in 2025.
- It is the first hip-hop album to reach this milestone this year.
- GNX ranks as the fifth highest-selling album across all genres in 2025.
- The album is submitted for next year's Grammy Awards consideration.
GNX Dominates Album Sales in 2025
Despite numerous major rap releases in 2025, Kendrick Lamar's GNX continues to resonate with listeners. The album's strong performance nearly a year after its release highlights its enduring popularity. Industry reports, as noted by Rap on Instagram, confirm its impressive sales figures.
The album's achievement of 2 million album-equivalent units is a testament to its widespread appeal. This metric combines traditional album sales with streaming and digital track equivalents, providing a comprehensive view of an album's commercial performance.
Sales Snapshot
- 2,000,000+ album-equivalent units sold.
- First hip-hop album to reach this mark in 2025.
- Fifth highest-selling album overall across all genres this year.
Interestingly, Kendrick Lamar also contributed to one of the other top-selling albums of the year. He featured on Playboi Carti's album, MUSIC, three times. This collaboration further demonstrates his impact on the music landscape.
Impact of Hit Singles and Collaborations
The continued success of GNX is partly due to its popular singles. Tracks like "luther" with SZA and "tv off" with Lefty Gunplay have maintained significant traction. These songs have contributed to the album's consistent streaming numbers and digital sales.
The album's West Coast influences and unique sound have also played a role in its longevity. Listeners continue to stream and purchase the record, solidifying its place as a standout project of the past year.
"The smash success of 'luther' with SZA as well as 'tv off' with Lefty Gunplay, it's no wonder that GNX as a whole continues to get play."
This sales milestone comes at a notable time, coinciding with developments in Kendrick Lamar's public dispute with Drake. A lawsuit involving Universal Music Group (UMG) and Kendrick Lamar has reportedly concluded, with a dismissal in his favor. This legal outcome has been met with positive reactions from his fanbase.
Background Information
Album-equivalent units represent a standardized measure of music consumption. It combines physical and digital album sales, track downloads (typically 10 tracks equal one album unit), and audio and video streams (e.g., 1,500 premium streams or 3,750 ad-supported streams equal one album unit).
Grammy Submissions and Tour Success
Looking ahead, GNX is poised for potential further recognition. The album is among Kendrick Lamar's extensive submissions for consideration at next year's Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy will announce official nominations on Friday, November 7, 2025. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026.
If Kendrick Lamar secures multiple nominations and wins, he could potentially become the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history. This would mark another significant achievement in his career.
Tour Accomplishments
In addition to album sales and awards buzz, Kendrick Lamar recently concluded the South American leg of his "Grand National" tour. This tour, while not without its challenges, was described as a successful and impactful experience, generating substantial revenue.
He is scheduled to perform additional shows in Australia later this year, in December. These performances will wrap up a busy touring schedule that has brought his music to audiences worldwide.
Fans continue to support his existing music as they await his next creative endeavor. The sustained engagement with GNX demonstrates the artist's lasting influence in the music industry.