The Best Moments from the GNX Tour

I’m late. I know. However, the tour is still going strong! SZA & Kendrick Lamar are currently touring in Europe this summer and Australia later in the fall.  If you’re over in those regions, I definitely recommend going. Or if you just want to live through me, I’ve got you covered.

And you know I love the lux life, so I did well by us.

If you don’t know, I’m a super fan of both Kendrick Lamar and SZA! It was my second time seeing them both perform live. I saw Kendrick at the One Music Festival in Atlanta in 2024, and I attended SZA’s S.O.S. tour in 2023 in Nashville. So, of course, I was excited to see them together performing their collaborations and biggest hits. I purchased my tickets on the day of release!

And recall how I mentioned lux? I splurged on floor seats! I’ve come such a long way! I used to be a nosebleed kind of girl. Then I slowly climbed my way down to the 200s, then to the 100s, and finally to the floor! My first-ever floor seats were actually at last year’s Essence Festival. I had purchased floor seats, but they were in the back and sucked. So, I snuck up to the like row 9 and was able to see Usher up close and personal. Of course, I was scared and paranoid the whole time (read more about my experience here).

Getting There

I went to one of the first shows in Atlanta, Georgia. After learning my lesson of staying far away from concert venues, I made sure to book a hotel near the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I stayed at the Glenn Hotel downtown, and it was perfect. It was a ten-minute, half-mile walk to the stadium, and I didn’t even break a sweat. I have nightmares of previously getting stuck in traffic and searching for parking. It was incredibly smooth; I highly recommend this method.

Getting into the venue was a breeze and very organized. Concessions were sold on the floor with barely any wait time. It was night and day compared to my previous concert experiences. I have been fortunate enough to experience the various tiers of concerts and festivals. From nosebleeds to Platinum level, and it truly does change your experience. I had almost sworn off concerts after attending Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour. Getting to and from the venue was insanity; I was so exhausted mentally and physically. But this was a nice change, and my wallet may never be the same, because I’ve seen the light, lol.

The Show

I arrived on time, and the show started on time! The lights dimmed, and Kendrick opened the show with “Wacced Out Murals,” a song from his new album, GNX. The crowd and energy were amazing, and it was so loud! I love going to Atlanta for hip-hop/rap concerts; the vibe is always there. The crowd was a nice mix, and there were even some older people there, like full grey-haired grandparents who knew the lyrics and everything. Music truly is universal.

Surprisingly, SZA and Kendrick rotated their sets. Kendrick would perform a few songs, followed by SZA, and they would alternate. I love that they did it that way; it kept me on my toes and excited for what’s next. Of course they performed one of my favorite songs, All The Stars. I’ve been in love with that song since the ending of Black Panther.

One thing that continues to surprise me is men’s love for SZA. It’s my second time seeing her and i’m so in awe of how guys spaz out over her! The first time I saw it, it was a group of teenage boys who were in tears and on the verge of fainting when she was performing. At this show, grown men were screaming and singing her lyrics as if they had a personal connection with the songs. Her songs are written almost exclusively from a female perspective, so seeing guys really connect to it is so amazing. I figured the tour would be split between the guys who were there for Kendrick and the girls who were there her, but I was wrong. The crowd was there for both of them equally.

Favorite Moments

I must admit, the most exciting part of the show was when Kendrick performed “Not Like Us.” Arguably one of the biggest diss songs of all time. The crowd was on fire. I’m fairly certain we could be heard from outside the stadium. And the “A minor” part! It was so loud that I’m sure I lost a hearing decibel, along with my voice, for the following day.

I also loved that Kendrick performed almost every song off the new album. He did a good mix of all his songs and was thoroughly pleased. And they both performed all the songs they had done together, which I wasn’t expecting. I thought maybe just the singles, but they also included album cuts.

The show was so good that I splurged on an over-priced $55 t-shirt. The nerve of them charging so much for a cotton shirt smh!

All in all, the show was amazing and worth every hard-earned penny that I spent. 

*Edit – it was my third time seeing SZA in concert, I also saw her at Lollapalooza in 2024