Kendrick Lamar and SZA have officially made history with their soul-stirring track “Luther,” which just clinched its 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This milestone now marks Lamar’s sixth chart-topping hit and SZA’s third.
The song — which honors and samples the late, legendary Luther Vandross — is more than just a love letter to the R&B icon, but a continuous celebration of the magic that the two artists have created together.
Not only have they reached this elongated milestone, but “Luther” has also become the first song by a solo man and woman (with no accompanying acts) to rule for double-digit weeks. In fact, it has surpassed the nine-week reign of Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s 1981 duet “Endless Love” and joined the likes of Diddy and Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You” and Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day.”
SZA, Kendrick Lamar perform at Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images
Elsewhere, “Luther” maintains the No. 1 spot for the 18th consecutive week on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts. This makes Lamar’s seventh No. 1 on each chart and SZA’s fourth, with her first No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
To further embody the warmth of the track, K. Dot recently released the highly anticipated visual for “Luther,” which received direction from Karena Evans. The video sees both Kendrick and SZA immersed in their own worlds with their own love interests as the two move through the same setting, but in separate, beautifully crafted realities.
The visual comes full circle, closing with a heartfelt cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “If This World Were Mine,” as performed by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn — a perfect homage to the track’s roots.
SZA shared her thoughts on the collaboration while recently visiting the Sherri Show. “He’s such a genius, and part of his genius is him being so elusive, and so mysterious, and I love it,” she told Sherri Shepherd. “I don’t know what’s going on as much as you don’t know what’s going on. When ‘Luther’ came on, I said, ‘OK, that’s the vocals we’re using, period,’ and same with ‘Gloria.’ I said, ‘OK,’ and I love that.”
Revisit Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” video above.
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