Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Grand National Tour, better known as the GNX Tour, is showing everyone what a major hip-hop tour looks like. Touring with SZA, Kendrick is performing songs from his new album GNX, while SZA brings tracks from her deluxe album Lana. The tour started on April 19 in Minneapolis and will wrap up on August 9 in Stockholm, covering 39 stadiums across North America and Europe.
The GNX Tour feels more like a story than just a concert. The show is divided into nine sections, with Kendrick and SZA performing a total of 52 songs. One of the standout moments is Kendrick driving a black Buick GNX onto the stage, a nod to the car the tour is named after. SZA’s part of the show leans heavily into visual storytelling, using oversized props and dancers in detailed insect-themed costumes. Together, they perform tracks like “Luther,” “Doves in the Wind,” and “All the Stars,” blending their styles smoothly.
Kendrick’s tour is not just making headlines because of the performances; it is also setting new records. The opening night in Minneapolis brought in 9.12 million dollars, beating Eminem’s record from 2019 for the highest-grossing hip-hop show. Not long after, Kendrick and SZA broke that record again in Houston, pulling in 9.44 million dollars from a crowd of over 42,000 fans.
If the numbers keep climbing, the GNX Tour could make over 350 million dollars by the time it ends, beating Drake’s previous tour record of 320 million. That would make it the highest-grossing rap tour ever.
Kendrick’s surprise album GNX, released in November 2024, added even more momentum to the tour. The album went straight to number one on the Billboard 200, and five of its songs landed in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Only a few artists, like Taylor Swift, Drake, and The Beatles, have ever pulled that off.
At the same time, SZA is building connections with fans by hosting meet-and-greets and pop-up events tied to her Not Beauty lip collection, giving her audience more ways to interact beyond just the music.
The GNX Tour is proving that Kendrick Lamar is not just one of the best rappers around but also one of the most creative performers in live music today. Together with SZA, he is raising the bar for what a hip-hop tour can look and feel like, without relying on tricks or flashy distractions. Whether you are there for the music, the visuals, or just the energy, this tour is setting a new standard.