🔹 Song Overview
- Released November 29, 2024, as the third single from Kendrick Lamar’s album GNX (vinylmeplease.com, en.wikipedia.org).
- A soulful R&B–hip‑hop love ballad, sampling Luther Vandross, produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, and others (en.wikipedia.org).
📈 Billboard Chart Performance
- Billboard Hot 100: Debuted at No. 3. Rose to No. 1 and stayed there for a groundbreaking 12 consecutive weeks, a historic joint run for a male–female duet (foxy99.com).
- Radio & Streaming:
- ~67.5 million weekly radio impressions (up ~7%)
- ~25 million official weekly streams (vinylmeplease.com).
- Sales: Around 2,000 digital units sold weekly .
🏆 Records & Cultural Impact
- Longest-running Hot R&B/Hip‑Hop No. 1 of the decade (12 weeks), surpassing previous record holders (foxy99.com).
- Sixth No. 1 for Kendrick; third for SZA (foxy99.com).
- Won BET Award for Best Collaboration (2025) (en.wikipedia.org).
- Regularly featured on the Grand National Tour setlist and performed at Super Bowl LIX halftime, bolstering its cultural footprint (en.wikipedia.org).
💿 Sales & Streams
- Nearly 400 million total streams in about three months (foxy99.com).
- While pure sales remain modest (a few thousand weekly), streaming and radio fuel its dominant chart position (vinylmeplease.com).
📊 Why It Resonates
- Harnesses nostalgic yet fresh R&B through the Vandross sample.
- Emotional lyrics and chemistry create deep listener connection.
- Smart promotional timing: tied to album release, Super Bowl, and stadium tour (vinylmeplease.com).
✍️ Summary
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | Nov 29, 2024 |
| Hot 100 | No. 1 (12 weeks) |
| Radio | ~67 M impressions/week |
| Streaming | ~25 M streams/week, ~400 M total |
| Sales | ~2K/week |
| Milestones | Longest R&B/Hip‑Hop chart reign; BET Best Collaboration |
“Luther” isn’t just a hit — it’s a cultural moment: a powerful reminder of the duo’s artistry and emotional depth. Their synergy continues to shape both charts and hearts.