Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s nostalgic collaboration, “Luther,” continues to dominate the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a third consecutive week, marking another milestone in both artists’ careers.
Released on November 29, 2024, Luther is a heartfelt homage to the late R&B and soul icon Luther Vandross. The song samples “If This World Were Mine,” originally performed by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and later covered in 1982 by Vandross and Cheryl Lynn. This sample choice blends classic soul with contemporary R&B and hip-hop, creating a track that brings that ‘old thang back’ with modern vibes.
SZA’s silky, melodic vocals and Kendrick Lamar’s penetrating and reflective lyricism bring “Luther” to life with a resounding message about love and devotion. The duo’s chemistry has been compared to their previous collaborations on hits like “All the Stars” (from Black Panther) and “Doves in the Wind” from SZA’s Ctrl album.
In a recent interview on Sherri, SZA expressed her admiration for Kendrick Lamar’s elusive and mysterious nature, stating, “He’s such a genius and a part of his genius is being so elusive and so mysterious.”
“When ‘Luther’ came out, I said ‘OK — that’s the vocals we’re using, period,’ ” she added. “Same with ‘Gloria,’ I said, ‘OK!'”
In addition to ruling the Hot 100, the song also dominates multiple other Billboard charts, including: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot R&B Songs, and Hot Rap Songs.
In April, SZA and Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper will kick off their highly anticipated Grand National Tour across the U.S. The duo will make stops in major cities including Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Detroit, before concluding the tour in Washington, D.C. in June.
During an interview with Sherri, SZA shared her excitement about co-headlining the tour with Lamar. “There’s so many firsts happening back-to-back,” she said, reflecting on the rapid progression of her career.
She also opened up about the unique experience of growing in the public eye, adding, “I can’t express what it’s like to go through life for the first time in front of everybody.”
SZA acknowledged how surreal it is to step into this new level of success, explaining that her last tour was her first time headlining arenas. Now, just a short time later, she’s headlining stadiums alongside Lamar.
