Sza's Billboard Chart Record With 'Luther'

If you're a SZA fan, you'll want to know that "Luther" made Billboard history with a 23-week No. 1 run on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart — the longest since the chart's 1958 consolidation. What makes it even wilder is that it broke a record Kendrick Lamar himself had set with "Not Like Us." The song also hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks. There's even more to unpack about this milestone.

Key Takeaways

• "Luther" became SZA's third Hot 100 No. 1, dominating the chart for 12 consecutive weeks alongside Kendrick Lamar.
• The song set the longest Hot Rap Songs No. 1 run ever, holding the top spot for 27 weeks.
• "Luther" surpassed Kendrick Lamar's own "Not Like Us," making it a rare case of an artist breaking their own record.
• The track became the only male-female duet to exceed 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
• Sampling Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 classic, "Luther" peaked at 12.8 million U.S. streams in a single week.

Luther' Just Set the Longest #1 Run in Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart History

"Luther," the collaborative track by SZA and Kendrick Lamar, has just shattered a milestone that's stood since Billboard consolidated its R&B/Hip-Hop chart in October 1958 — claiming the longest No. 1 run in the chart's history at 23 weeks.

You're witnessing duet dynamics at their most powerful, as the track's genre fusion of R&B and hip-hop surpassed "Not Like Us" at 22 weeks and "Kill Bill" at 21 weeks.

The record didn't arrive overnight — "Luther" held its position for 15 consecutive weeks before crossing this threshold.

Featured on Kendrick Lamar's GNX album, the song proves that artistic chemistry and sonic depth can outperform viral trends, cementing its place as a defining achievement in modern chart history. During its record-breaking 23rd week, the track drew an airplay audience of 57.5 million listeners across the United States.

How 'Luther' Surpassed Kendrick Lamar's Own Record on the Same Chart

What makes "Luther's" record even more remarkable is that it dethroned Kendrick Lamar's own "Not Like Us," which had held the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart's longest No. 1 run at 22 weeks. The collaboration dynamics here are fascinating — Kendrick effectively helped break his own record alongside SZA.

From an industry optics standpoint, that's nearly unheard of. Here's what makes this milestone stand out:

1. "Luther" hit its record-breaking 23rd consecutive week on the June 7 chart
2. It surpassed "Not Like Us" by exactly one week after tying at 22
3. SZA's previous "Kill Bill" held 21 weeks, making Kendrick the prior record holder

You're watching history where an artist outdid themselves through someone else's moment. The song was released last November as part of Kendrick's GNX album, proving that longevity on the charts was built into its foundation from the very start.

Every Billboard Chart 'Luther' Reached #1 On Simultaneously

While "Luther" was rewriting duet and R&B/hip-hop history on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it was simultaneously dominating the Billboard Hot 100 — reaching No. 1 for 12 consecutive weeks.

That dual chart dominance reflects how broadly the track connected across every metric Billboard tracks, from streaming and sales to radio dominance across multiple formats. The song's cross-genre appeal gave it an unusually wide demographic breakdown, pulling listeners from pop, R&B, and hip-hop audiences at once.

It broke the record for the longest-running R&B/hip-hop track on the Hot 100, surpassing Roddy Ricch's "The Box," and became the only co-billed male-female duet to exceed 11 weeks at No. 1 — a record it shares with no one else. The track also now stands alongside Eminem's "Lose Yourself" as the only rap songs to achieve a 12-week reign atop the Hot 100.

The Streaming and Airplay Numbers That Made 'Luther' Unstoppable

Behind "Luther's" chart dominance lies a staggering set of streaming and airplay numbers that made its success nearly impossible to challenge. Its streaming dominance and airplay surge combined to create an unstoppable force across every major Billboard metric.

Here's what those numbers looked like at their peak:

1. Streaming dominance: 12.8 million U.S. streams in a single week, fueling a 27-week run at No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs — the longest ever.
2. Airplay surge: 53.1 million airplay audience in one week, locking in a 3rd-week hold at No. 1 on Radio Songs.
3. Year-end impact: No. 2 on the 2025 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart, confirming its status as the year's defining track.

The song also claimed the top spot on R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs for 15 consecutive weeks, further cementing its cross-format dominance in a way few tracks have ever achieved.

What 'Luther' Means for SZA and Kendrick Lamar's Combined Chart Power

Those streaming and airplay numbers didn't just chart a hit — they built a cultural landmark that redefined what two artists can achieve together. "Luther" marks Kendrick Lamar's sixth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and SZA's third, but it's their combined chart power that sets this collaboration apart.

This cross genre collaboration pulled from rap, R&B, and pop audiences simultaneously, expanding both artists' reach beyond their individual fanbases. Fanbase mobilization drove 23 weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs — the longest in the chart's 66-year history. The song samples Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 version of "If This World Were Mine," weaving a classic soul foundation into its modern chart dominance.

Their joint Grand National Tour amplified that momentum further. Kendrick replaced his own previous No. 1 with "Luther," while SZA secured her longest-running chart-topper yet. Together, they've proven that artistic synergy translates directly into historic commercial dominance. Fans looking to test their knowledge of chart-topping hits and music milestones can explore trivia and fact-finding tools available across a wide range of categories.