Kendrick Lamar & SZA's "luther" emerged as part of the GNX rollout, sampling Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's "If This World Were Mine" to craft a love song about alleviating a partner's pain.

Commercial success

• "luther" ruled the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for 13 consecutive weeks.

• The song tied Lil Nas X’s "Old Town Road" for the third-longest command on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

• It achieved 5x RIAA Platinum certification eligibility and surpassed over 1B streams on Spotify.

Cultural impact

• Kendrick Lamar and SZA performed "luther" at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.

• Part of the track became a popular sound used on TikTok and social media, with a dance challenge even becoming part of the virality.

Critical response

• NPR Music critic Ken Tucker noted that Lamar "samples Luther Vandross' 'If This World Were Mine,' with Kendrick singing and wrapping his own love lyric all around it." Read full review

• Songs Magazine highlighted that "Kendrick Lamar weaves his verses with sharp poetry, exploring themes of identity, struggle, and hope," while SZA "adds emotional depth." Read full review

• The New York Times Amplifier Newsletter described "luther" as "easily the album’s most tender moment," where Lamar and SZA "trade verses that imagine a better world for their beloveds." Read full review