Kendrick Lamar has fueled speculation that a deluxe edition of GNX is on the way by unearthing a previously unreleased song called “Money Without Me.”
The track, which is believed to date back to his Section.80 era, was released on Kendrick’s official YouTube page by surprise on Wednesday (December 18).
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The song’s artwork features the same car, a 1987 Buick Grand National, that appears on the cover of GNX as well as in the music video teaser that preceded the album, seemingly indicating that a deluxe might be around the corner.
Featuring synthy, piano-laced production, “Money Without Me” finds K.Dot reflecting on his Compton upbringing while adopting the same melodic cadence that he used throughout his aforementioned 2011 mixtape.
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“Now I was raised on the wild side, ever since a child I / ‘Member food stamps when momma said it’s chow time / Poppa had the green Seville with the Alpine / Woofer in the back, ‘Doggystyle,’ track number nine,” he opens the song, referencing “Serial Killa” from Snoop Dogg‘s 1993 debut.
He continues: “Lifestyles of a lil’ nappy head / Guns in the closet, bills in the bed / Watching JAY-Z on BET countin’ bread / Pointed at him then I said, ‘Man, you ain’t gettin’ money without me.'”
The song also contains references to Diddy, Dr. Dre and Oprah Winfrey.
Kendrick Lamar drops a ‘Section.80’ era loosie titled “Money Without Me” on YouTube.
Is the ‘GNX’ Deluxe around the corner? 👀 pic.twitter.com/lWbHLt7cmJ
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) December 18, 2024
Lefty Gunplay, the Los Angeles rapper who appears alongside Kendrick Lamar on “TV Off,” claimed last month that a deluxe version of GNX is in the works.
During an interview with Bootleg Kev, he said: “I know he’s got a deluxe version coming out. He’s very secretive.”
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He added: “He has some stuff. We did two, three songs. He has some stuff in the chamber. He told me that we’re going to work again, for sure.”
Rumors of there being a deluxe album were initially sparked by Kendrick’s aforementioned GNX teaser clip which featured two Buick Grand Nationals, which some fans interpreted as a subtle hint at a second project.
Kendrick himself has yet to comment on the speculation.
It’s worth noting that fans also believed that his 2017 LP DAMN. would be followed up by a second album called NATION. but that never materialized.
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The release of “Money Without Me” mirrors similar moves made by fierce rival Drake and brief opponent J. Cole in recent months, with the pair also digging into the vaults to share a wealth of previously unreleased content with fans.
