Kendrick Lamar has once again claimed the throne on the U.K. Albums Chart. The Compton rapper’s surprise sixth studio album, GNX, debuted at No. 1, marking his second chart-topping album in the U.K., following 2015’s critically acclaimed To Pimp A Butterfly.
This achievement is even more remarkable considering GNX is currently available only via digital downloads and streaming, with physical formats slated for release in early 2025. Dropped unexpectedly on November 22, the album caps off a banner year for Lamar, fueled by the success of his summer smash Not Like Us. The track, widely regarded as the final jab in his fiery feud with Drake, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to No. 6 on the U.K.’s Singles Chart.
The feud escalated this week when Drake filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music, claiming the label failed to prevent the release of Not Like Us, which he alleges contains “false and damaging accusations.” Both artists are tied to Universal—Lamar via Interscope Records and Drake through OVO’s licensing with Republic Records. Universal dismissed the allegations as “offensive and untrue.”
A Tight Race for the Top Spot
Lamar narrowly edged out British soul sensation Michael Kiwanuka, whose latest effort Small Changes landed at No. 2. Despite a commanding lead earlier in the week, with 87% of Kiwanuka’s sales coming from physical formats like vinyl and CDs, Lamar’s streaming dominance proved decisive. Small Changes becomes Kiwanuka’s fourth top-five album, joining Home Again (No. 4, 2012), Love & Hate (No. 1, 2016), and the Mercury Prize-winning Kiwanuka (No. 2, 2020).
This Week’s Top 5
The chart’s upper echelon also saw Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet debut at No. 3, followed by Linkin Park’s comeback album From Zero at No. 4. Charli XCX rounds out the top five with her latest record Brat.
Other Chart Highlights
Further down the rankings, Father John Misty earned his fifth top-20 album with Mahashmashana landing at No. 12, while Afrobeats star Wizkid secured his best U.K. chart performance to date with Morayo, which debuted at No. 14.
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX cements his legacy as one of the most influential artists of his generation, continuing to dominate charts and conversations alike.
