Since the release of Kendrick Lamar’s latest album last month, avid fans have immersed themselves in dissecting the Californian rapper’s intricate work. However, curiosity looms over the elusive Buick GNX that graces the album cover, with scant details about its storied past emerging.

With merely 547 units produced, the GNX is heralded as one of the rarest and most coveted muscle cars from the 1980s. This prestige has only been amplified by Lamar’s artistic homage to this vehicle through his album artwork, music videos, and lyrics.

Kendrick acquired his GNX earlier this year—in March—but the sale remained a covert operation, complicating efforts to trace the car’s history. Our investigation, however, led us to the individual responsible for selling what has quickly become one of the most recognized GNXs in the world.

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The Timeless Connection between Kendrick Lamar and the GNX

In a 2012 interview with Complex, Lamar reminisced about how his father drove him home from the hospital in a Buick Regal, a more modest version of the GNX. The connection runs deeper: Lamar was born in 1987, coinciding with the debut of the GNX variant of the Regal.

“When I was born, I came home from the hospital in an ’87 Buick Regal while my pops was bumping Big Daddy Kane,” Lamar shared.

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Authenticity as a Core Principle

Earlier this year, Lamar took to Instagram to showcase his newly acquired GNX—a vehicle that would soon serve as a defining element in his album’s visuals. This rare reveal came just days prior to the release of the track “Like That,” which inadvertently ignited a public feud with fellow artist Drake.

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Throughout the five diss tracks that followed, Lamar critiqued Drake for embodying a sense of inauthenticity within hip-hop culture. This notion of authenticity was central to Lamar’s post regarding the GNX, where he stated, “But in the moment of confusion, the best thing you can do is find a GNX. Make you realize the only thing that matters in life is that original paperwork. That TL2 code. 1 of 547.”

The TL2 code Lamar references is a unique identifier General Motors assigned to Grand Nationals on the assembly line slated for GNX enhancements, serving as verification of the car’s authenticity.

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The Story Behind Kendrick Lamar’s GNX Purchase

Despite the GNX not being officially listed for sale on auction platforms, it made clandestine appearances on social media in mid-2023.

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The individual behind these posts was—somewhat unexpectedly—a lesser-known Instagram user, Gerardo Chora, also known as “jerryworldwidegns.” He has gained notoriety for his niche specialization in sourcing and selling Buick Grand Nationals and GNXs.

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Decoding Kendrick Lamar’s GNX

In a post from last July, Chora provided a detailed walkthrough of the GNX that Kendrick would purchase, discussing its pristine condition and history. We verified that this was indeed Lamar’s vehicle by cross-referencing the production number stamped on the dashboard: 191.

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The #191 GNX boasted only 9,351 miles at the time of listing, still fitted with its original Gatorback tires from 1987. Before its journey to California, the car was registered in Magoffin County, Kentucky, adorned with the vanity plate “GNX.” This area is renowned among Buick aficionados for hosting the Buick GS Nationals—a cherished annual gathering that highlights classic Buick muscle cars in drag racing and car exhibitions.

While the precise sale price remains undisclosed, Chora had set the asking price at $189,000. Over the past five years, GNXs have fetched an average price of $177,205, according to data from Classic.com.

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According to Chora, the #191 GNX was for sale for the first time since its original purchase in 1987, presenting a rare chance to own a low-production, low-mileage, single-owner automobile.

Reflections on Kendrick Lamar’s GNX Legacy

Kendrick Lamar’s GNX transcends mere automobile status; it epitomizes Buick’s muscle car legacy and serves as an emblem of authenticity and nostalgia within Lamar’s narrative. From its origins in the 1980s to its current place in hip-hop culture, the GNX continues to resonate with both enthusiasts and casual followers alike.

As for Gerardo Chora, his talent for unearthing automotive treasures like the GNX underscores that even in specialized sectors, compelling stories await discovery. Whether one is an aficionado of Lamar, the GNX, or both, this remarkable convergence of music and automotive history beautifully illustrates that a car can symbolize far more than its individual components.

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Source:www.autoblog.com