Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s ‘Luther’ Continues Historic Crossover, Hitting No. 1 on Pop Airplay Chart
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” lifts a spot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart dated May 3.
Lamar rules Pop Airplay for the third time — and first as a lead artist, following two No. 1s in featured roles, on Maroon 5’s “Don’t Wanna Know” for a week in 2017, and Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” (five weeks, 2015). SZA scores her fourth No. 1, after “Saturn” (two weeks, 2024) and “Kill Bill” (one, 2023) and as featured on Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More” (one, 2021).
“Luther,” on pgLang/Interscope/ICLG, previously made history as the first song to hit No. 1 on both Rap Airplay (five weeks and counting) and Adult R&B Airplay (three weeks in March). It has also topped Radio Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay.
Notably, “Luther” joins 10 other songs that have led Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Adult R&B Airplay, Rhythmic Airplay and Pop Airplay. (All are four individual-format charts. Radio Songs reflects all-format play; R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay blends mainstream R&B/hip-hop and adult R&B reach; and Rap Airplay counts activity on mainstream R&B/hip-hop and rhythmic stations.)
Here’s a look at the elite mass-appeal hits that have topped Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Adult R&B Airplay, Rhythmic Airplay and Pop Airplay (which have coexisted since 1993).
- “Luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA, 2025
- “Talk,” Khalid, 2019
- “That’s What I Like,” Bruno Mars, 2017
- “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey),” The Weeknd, 2015
- “Happy,” Pharrell Williams, 2014
- “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
- “No One,” Alicia Keys, 2007-08
- “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006
- “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, 2005
- “On Bended Knee,” Boyz II Men, 1994-95
- “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men, 1994
Meanwhile, “Luther” is the first rap hit to lead Pop Airplay since two back-to-back in February-March 2024: Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me” followed by Doja Cat’s “Agora Hills.” (Rap titles are defined as those that have hit or are eligible for Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart.)
“Luther” is an ode to late R&B great Luther Vandross and samples his vocals. He charted one Pop Airplay entry as a credited artist: “Endless Love,” with Mariah Carey, hit No. 7 in 1994.
“Luther” has notched nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has drawn 896 million in radio audience and 582 million official streams and sold 50,000 downloads in the U.S. through April 17, according to Luminate. It’s from Lamar’s LP GNX, which has ruled the Billboard 200 albums chart for three weeks and spent its first 21 weeks on the chart in the top five.
All charts dated May 3 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, April 29.
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