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Luther (song)

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"Luther"
Single by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
from the album GNX
ReleasedNovember 29, 2024 (2024-11-29)[1]
Genre
Length2:57
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"Squabble Up"
(2024) 		"Luther"
(2024)
SZA singles chronology
"Saturn"
(2024) 		"Luther"
(2024)
Audio video
"Luther" on YouTube

"Luther" (stylized in lowercase) is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar and American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released as the second single from Lamar's sixth studio album, GNX on November 29, 2024. The song was written by both Lamar and SZA, along with Atia Boggs and Sam Dew, while production was handled by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Bridgeway, Kamasi Washington, M-Tech and Rose Lilah. The song is titled after R&B and soul singer Luther Vandross.

Composition

[edit]

"Luther" is a "love ballad" accentuated by various string sections against 808 beats and hi-hats which was called a blend of contemporary R&B and hip-hop by Screen Rant.[2][3] It features a sample of "If This World Were Mine", written by Marvin Gaye and performed by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn, and builds on the song title from the very beginning.[4] Lamar in a "monotone" delivery kicks off the "love story" by confessing his love for the protagonist, presumably a "sex worker" or a misunderstood “promiscuous woman”. SZA steps in during the choruses to reflect from the standpoint of the woman Lamar had introduced the listener to beforehand. The chorus consists of harmonizations between Lamar and SZA, while the latter's vocals are more highlighted and layered on top of Lamar's.[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

Writing for NME, Kyann-Sian Williams thought the song was yet another demonstration of the duo's "chart-topping chemistry" and praised their "debonair" take on a "traditional love ballad".[2] Lindsay Zoladz at The New York Times called "Luther" a notably "tender moment" and "three-minute pause" from an otherwise boastful album.[6] Tomás Mier of Rolling Stone noted Lamar for "stretching his singing chops" before being joined by SZA.[7]

Commercial performance

[edit]

In New Zealand, "Luther" debuted at number one on the Official Aotearoa Music Charts, marking Lamar's fourth overall number-one single in the country, and his second for 2024.[8]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Luther"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 3
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[10] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 50
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 50
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 2
France (SNEP)[14] 45
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 4
Hong Kong (Billboard)[16] 21
India International (IMI)[17] 4
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 7
Italy (FIMI)[19] 67
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[20] 4
Latvia (LaIPA)[21] 7
Lithuania (AGATA)[22] 9
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[23] 65
Luxembourg (Billboard)[24] 21
Malaysia (Billboard)[25] 7
Malaysia International (RIM)[26] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[29] 27
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100)[30] 3
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[31] 47
Singapore (RIAS)[32] 9
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[33] 65
South Africa (TOSAC)[34] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 36
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 21
Taiwan (Billboard)[37] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 5
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[39] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[40] 3
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[41] 3
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[42] 34

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Luther"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Italy November 29, 2024 Radio airplay Universal [43]
United States December 10, 2024 Contemporary hit radio
[44]
Rhythmic crossover

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Fusi, Eleonora (November 25, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar, SZA – luther (Radio Date: 29-11-2024)". EarOne.it. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Williams, Kyann-Sian (November 25, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's surprise new album GNX is here". NME. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Nelson, Brighton (November 23, 2024). "GNX: Every Song On Kendrick Lamar's Surprise New Album Ranked". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Landrum Jr., Jonathan (November 23, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album GNX". Associated Press. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Horvath, Zachary (November 23, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Wants To Change A Woman's Life For The Better On SZA-Assisted "Luther"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (November 26, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's surprise new album GNX is here". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Mier, Tomás (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's surprise new album GNX is here". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  13. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  14. ^ "Top Singles (Week 48, 2024)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  15. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  16. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 2nd December 2024 | Week 48 of 52". IMIcharts. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 48" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of December 4, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "Straumēšanas Top 2024 – 48. nedēļa" [Streaming TOP 2024 – Week 48] (in Latvian). LaIPA. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "2024 48-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Dec 12, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  25. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  26. ^ "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 49 (29/11/2024-05/12/2024)". RIM. December 14, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Facebook.
  27. ^ "Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  28. ^ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  29. ^ "Singel 2024 uke 48". VG-lista. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  30. ^ "Philippines Hot 100: Week of December 14, 2024". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  31. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 22.11.2024–28.11.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  32. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 49 (29 Nov - 5 Dec 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  33. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 48. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  34. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10 Week 48-2024". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  35. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 48". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  36. ^ "Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  37. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Taiwan Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  39. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  40. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  41. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  42. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  43. ^ Fusi, Eleonora (November 25, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar, SZA – luther (Radio Date: 29-11-2024)". EarOne.it. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  44. ^ "A Recap of Radio Add Recaps".
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