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Penn State References You May Have Missed In Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’

It doesn’t take much for Kendrick Lamar to break the internet.

At noon on Friday, Lamar released “GNX,” his first album since “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” came out in May 2022.

While Lamar hails from Compton, California, it appeared he dropped a few Penn State references in his tracks. We compiled all those mentions you may have missed.

‘squabble up’ — The White Out

“squabble up,” the second track in the album, makes some references to Penn State’s iconic White Out game.

“When I hear music, it makes me dance. You got the music, now is your chance.”

This line is a clear reference to “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes and the energy it brings in a White Out. When Penn State fans hear “Mo Bamba,” they all know to stand up and get loud. With that music on, the defense knows it has the chance to make a huge stop, and the crowd knows it has a chance to force a false start or a timeout from the opposing offense.

“I got friends, I got foes, but they all sitting ducks.”

No matter who comes into Beaver Stadium, they don’t have much of a chance of winning a White Out game — they’re all sitting ducks. In fact, the Nittany Lions are on a five-game win streak in the White Out, albeit against lesser competition.

‘wacced out murals’ — Dissing The SEC & Praising Sylly Week

If you thought the Drake disses were bad, just read what Lamar had to say about the SEC.

“I know propaganda work for them, and f— whoever that’s close to them.”

This line is obviously taking a shot at ESPN and the College Football Playoff Committee for their SEC bias and the propaganda going around college football fanbases. Whether you like it or not, Lamar supports Penn State and Indiana making the playoffs over a two-loss SEC team.

Lamar also used this song to reference Penn State’s syllabus week.

A couple rules of engagements, I’ma guide you.”

Of course, Lamar is taking the role of a professor with this line. The professor will show their class its syllabus for the semester, also known as the rules of engagement, and guide the students as they work through the syllabus in class together.

‘tv off’ — Halloweekend

In “tv off,” Lamar’s collaborator, Lefty Gunplay, seems to shout out Halloweekeend at Penn State, one of the university’s best weekends of the year.

Shit gets crazy, scary, spooky, hilarious // Crazy, scary, spooky, hilarious

Gunplay touches on the various elements of Halloweekend in this line, noting how Halloweekend has all the elements of being crazy, scary, and often funny. We’re not sure if Lamar has ever spent Halloweekend in Happy Valley, but he’s invited to a Penn State daylong any time.

‘luther’ — Rooting For Penn State Against Ohio State

In his song “Luther” with SZA, Lamar seemed to capture the agony of rooting for Penn State football against Ohio State each year.

If this world was mine, I’d take your dreams and make ’em multiply.”

This line captures how Penn State fans feel coming into gameday each year, thinking this will be the time the Nittany Lions pull off the win over the Buckeyes. Lamar, and other Penn State fans, are ready to take their dreams and multiply them.

Of course, things almost always turn sour.

Weekends, get it poppin’ on the low // Better days comin’ for sure.”

This line most exemplifies how Penn Staters feel after most contests against Ohio State. The game might be over, but the bars are still open downtown. It’s time to “get it poppin’ on the low” before waiting for those “better days” to come next year.

‘dodger blue’ — James Franklin

‘dodger blue’? More like Penn State blue.

‘dodger blue’ features Lamar’s clearest Penn State reference and even identifies him as a James Franklin fan.

Am I trippin’? Yes, I am // Meditate over some money, I see Franklin, I find zen.”

There aren’t too many people in Happy Valley who “find zen” when they see Franklin, but it seems Lamar does. Maybe he just really likes 12-personnel football.

‘gnx’ — Constant On-Campus Construction

Lamar’s collaborator YoungThreat, apparently, is also getting tired of the constant construction on Penn State’s campus.

It’s gettin’ down to the wire // Get on my Bob the Builder shit, get down with the pliers // Been comin’ back-to-back hits, how this fella ain’t tired?

While Penn State’s construction projects often seem to come down to the wire, Penn State is still playing Bob the Builder and bringing back-to-back hits. Even with Beaver Stadium getting some renovations, Penn State’s Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new classroom building, the construction of new on-campus housing, and renovations to the Sackett Building.

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About the Author

Joe Lister

Joe is a senior journalism major at Penn State and Onward State's managing editor. He writes about everything Penn State and is single-handedly responsible for the 2017 Rose Bowl. If you see him at Cafe 210, please buy him a Miami pitcher. For dumb stuff, follow him on Twitter (iamjoelister). For serious stuff, email him ([email protected]).

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