Here’s why Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s ‘Luther’ is dominating charts despite surprising setbacks.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA are making music history as their collaboration “Luther” tops the Billboard Hot 100 for an 11th consecutive week. Meanwhile, their tour opener in Minneapolis is also setting a new high for concert revenue, grossing over $9 million in one night.
Luther’s Performance Across All Platforms
Luther is making waves across major music platforms, setting records and showing strong staying power. So much so that the Kendrick Lamar and SZA duet has now spent 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
From April 25 to May 1, ‘Luther’ drew 67.9 million radio airplay audience impressions. That’s a slight 1% dip from the previous week. Still, it continues to hold the top spot on the Radio Songs chart for a fifth consecutive week.
Meanwhile, streaming numbers fell 6% to 20.5 million official streams, pushing ‘Luther’ to No. 3 on the Streaming Songs chart after a seven-week run at No. 1.
Sales, however, moved in the opposite direction. ‘Luther’ sold 2,000 units during the same week, up 4% from the prior period. It also reentered the Digital Song Sales chart at No. 24, after previously peaking at No. 4.
Yet, despite slight dips in streaming and airplay, ‘Luther’ remains a chart-topping force, especially in R&B and rap categories.
In fact, ‘Luther’ continues to dominate genre-specific charts, holding the No. 1 spot on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts for a staggering 19 weeks straight.
Its ongoing success has also extended Lamar’s record to six Hot 100 No. 1 hits and SZA’s to three, marking their longest-running chart leaders to date.
Where “Luther” Stands in Chart History
According to Billboard, Luther began its reign on March 1, 2025, and has held the top position for 11 consecutive weeks.
To understand its importance, here’s a breakdown of the longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 duets by co-billed male and female acts:
- “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16 weeks, beginning Dec. 2, 1995)
- “Luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA (11 weeks, beginning March 1, 2025)
- “I’ll Be Missing You,” Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112 (11 weeks, beginning June 14, 1997)
- “Endless Love,” Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9 weeks, beginning Aug. 15, 1981)
- “My Boo,” Usher & Alicia Keys (6 weeks, beginning Oct. 30, 2004)
- “I’m Your Angel,” R. Kelly & Celine Dion (6 weeks, beginning Dec. 5, 1998)
- “Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (5 weeks, beginning Jan. 11, 2025)
- “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z + Alicia Keys (5 weeks, beginning Nov. 28, 2009)
- “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” Elton John & Kiki Dee (4 weeks, beginning Aug. 7, 1976)
- “Somethin’ Stupid,” Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra (4 weeks, beginning April 15, 1967)
In the broader rap and hip-hop landscape, ‘Luther’ is not only making waves among duets but also among rap songs overall.
On the genre-specific charts, “Luther” continues to hold the No. 1 spot on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts for a staggering 19 consecutive weeks. This run further solidifies its status as one of the most dominant rap/hip-hop songs of the year.
If “Luther” can maintain its momentum for another three weeks, it could tie with another Lamar hit, “Not Like Us” for the longest-running at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 R&B/Hip‑Hop Songs, which held the top spot for 22 weeks.
Kendrick Breaks Concert Revenue Record
Beyond chart success, Lamar has set a new benchmark for concert revenue. The opening night of his and SZA’s “Grand National Tour” at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on April 19 grossed a total of $9,124,989, according to Touring Data.
This historic figure comes from 47,354 tickets sold at an average price of $192.70, with the venue reaching 100% capacity.
The Minneapolis show also marks the most-attended concert of all time for both Lamar and SZA outside of festival performances. And, this tour will continue across North America until June before moving to Europe and the United Kingdom for summer performances.