Kendrick Lamar drops surprise new album
"GNX," the performer's sixth studio album, appeared on streaming services without fanfare at midday on the US East Coast (1700 GMT).
The offering from the 37-year-old comes at the end of a year that has seen his music fueled by a feud with Drake, a spat that produced some of the year's biggest hits.
One of them, Lamar's "Not Like Us," grabbed the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and garnered him a number of Grammy nominations for next year's gala.
"GNX" is the first album from Lamar since his mega-selling "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers" in 2022, which itself came after a five-year wait.
Friday's release is timely for an artist who will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February, a coveted showcase that takes place in the middle of the NFL season finale, which is routinely watched by around a third of Americans.