If there’s one thing Kendrick Lamar loves, it’s making a statement. His album GNX isn’t just a nod to a fast car—it’s a symbol. Buick’s wildest Grand National trim was a muscle car outlier, a turbocharged V6 that humiliated V8s. The Buick GNX didn’t fit the mold, much like Kendrick himself. This car isn’t just rare; it’s rebellious. And Lamar, born the same year Buick dropped this monster on the streets, clearly sees the connection. Whether it’s in his music or his garage, Kendrick Lamar doesn’t follow trends—he creates them.

What car is in Kendrick Lamar’s album cover?

A 1987 Buick GNX is front and center on Kendrick Lamar’s GNX album cover and music videos. It’s not just a prop—Lamar actually owns the car. The GNX is a legendary muscle car, a rare turbocharged V6 that defied expectations and embarrassed V8 competitors. 

Motor1 confirmed, “Lamar bought a pristine GNX—presumably the same one featured in the video—earlier this year.”

This isn’t Lamar’s first Buick connection. In 2012, he told Complex, “When I was born, I came home from the hospital in an ’87 Buick Regal while my pops was bumping Big Daddy.” His dad’s car was a standard Regal, but the GNX was the ultimate version—built in the same year Lamar was born. Now, Kendrick has one of his own, merging nostalgia with raw performance.

What does GNX stand for in a car?

GNX stands for Grand National Experimental, a fitting name for Buick’s wildest muscle car. In many ways, it was a car that should never have existed.

The GNX was an upgraded version of the Regal Grand National, featuring a McLaren-tuned turbocharged V6 that pushed performance to new heights. It was so quick that it left some V8 supercars of the era in its dust.

Calling a production car “experimental” was a bold move—maybe even cheeky. The GNX flipped the muscle car script, ditching a big-block V8 for a high-tech turbocharged V6. Car and Driver captured its impact: “Corvette, get outta town. Mustang, move over. Camaro, keep your back to the wall at all times.” Buick never built another car like it, which only adds to its legend.

How rare is a GNX?

Only 547 GNXs were built, making it one of the rarest American muscle cars ever. Prices reflect that.

The most recent GNX sale on Classic.com was just over $100K, but values have been rising steadily for the past five years. Today, the average GNX price sits around $175K, and some collectors predict it will climb even higher. It looks like Kendrick Lamar invested in his Buick GNX just in time.

This car was legendary from day one. Back in 1987, Buick dealers charged $20K over MSRP, and some GNXs sold for $75K—Ferrari money at the time. Now, with Kendrick Lamar shining a spotlight on the GNX, demand is likely to skyrocket. If history repeats itself, the GNX will only get rarer, more expensive, and even more legendary.

The Buick GNX and Kendrick Lamar: Two rule breakers

The Buick GNX wasn’t supposed to exist. A turbocharged V6 beating V8 muscle cars? That was unheard of. A Detroit car tuned by McLaren? Get out of here! But Buick did it anyway. Just like Kendrick Lamar, the GNX defied expectations and left the competition scrambling. With his album GNX, Lamar isn’t just shouting out a cool car—he’s making a statement. This is a rapper who never plays by the rules, paying tribute to a car that broke every rule in the book.