Barely three months after his “Not Like Us” shattered the mark as the longest-running No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Kendrick Lamar is back for another stab at the record books.
Lamar’s “Luther” collaboration with frequent collaborator (and current Grand National co-headliner) SZA captures a record-tying 22nd week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated May 31, matching “Not Like Us” for the all-time mark since the chart became a singular, all-encompassing genre ranking in October 1958. “Not Like Us” rang up 21 weeks in charge in 2024 amid its moment in Lamar’s diss track war with Drake, and rebounded for a 22nd frame in February after Lamar’s performance of the song during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
For SZA, the “Luther” look also returns her to a perch she once claimed: Before “Not Like Us” took the title, the singer-songwriter’s “Kill Bill” scored the most weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, 21 in 2022-23.
As “Luther” shares the gold medal, here’s a look at the songs the most weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in its 66-year history:
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:
22, “Luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA, 2024-25
22, “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, 2024-25
21, “Kill Bill,” SZA, 2022-23
20, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019
18, “Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22
18, “One Dance,” Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla, 2016
16, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
15, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, 2006
For its 22nd week in charge, “Luther” registered 16.7 million official United States streams, 2,000 sales downloads and 60.5 million in airplay audience in the tracking week of May 16-22, according to Luminate, declines of 8%, 6% and 4%, respectively, in each metric.
Mirroring its Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs triumph, “Luther” achieves a 22nd week at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The melodic rap cut remains in second place for the longest stay at the summit in the chart’s 35-year history, trailing only “Not Like Us” and its 26-week record.
While “Luther” extends its domination on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, it surrenders the top spot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 to Morgan Wallen’s “What I Want,” featuring Tate McRae. The new champ clips the “Luther” reign at 13 weeks – still, easily the longest-running No. 1 for both Lamar and SZA atop the flagship chart.