With ‘Luther’ & More, Kendrick Lamar Is Creating History on Billboard’s Airplay Charts

Kendrick Lamar maintains an extraordinary run on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as his track “Luther,” featuring SZA, climbs to the number one position on the chart dated March 1. This song takes over the top spot from Lamar’s own “TV Off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay, which held the position for three weeks. Meanwhile, another collaboration with SZA, “30 for 30,” moves from 2 to 3, and his previous leader “Squabble Up” holds firm at No. 4, marking a second consecutive week of Lamar’s dominance in the top four slots.

With his performance on Rhythmic Airplay, Lamar becomes only the second artist to hold all four top spots concurrently on any Billboard airplay chart. He follows his contender Drake, who achieved this during 11 different weeks on the Rap Airplay chart, with seven weeks in March-April 2013 and four in May-June 2018. While Drake’s successes included at least one track where he was featured by another leading artist, Lamar is the first artist to accomplish this milestone solely in lead or co-lead roles.

“Luther,” which simultaneously jumps to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, claims the Rhythmic Airplay title as the most-played track on U.S. radio stations contributing to the panel for the week of Feb. 14-20, reported by Luminate, with a 5% increase compared to the prior week.

“Luther” marks Lamar’s ninth No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay. A significant one-third of these have come just in 2025, featuring “Squabble Up” dominating for two weeks in January and “TV Off” leading the ratings for three weeks in February.

Here’s a summary of the rapper’s complete list of top charting songs on the radio chart:

“Humble.,” three weeks at No. 1, starting June 6, 2017
“Loyalty.,” feat. Rihanna; one week, Sept. 30, 2017
“Love.,” feat. Zacari; one week, Dec. 30, 2017
“Pray for Me,” with The Weeknd; two weeks, April 18, 2018
“Like That,” with Future and Metro Boomin; four weeks, May 18, 2024
“Not Like Us,” 12, June 15, 2024
“Squabble Up,” two weeks, Jan. 18, 2025
“TV Off,” feat. Lefty Gunplay; three weeks, Feb. 8, 2025
“Luther,” with SZA, one week (to date), March 1, 2025

For SZA, “Luther” contributes a seventh No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay to her record and marks her first since “Saturn” reached the top the previous May. Here’s a summary of her chart leaders:

“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat feat. SZA; two weeks at No. 1, starting June 26, 2021
“I Hate U,” one week, March 19, 2022
“Kill Bill,” three weeks, March 4, 2023
“Snooze,” two weeks, July 15, 2023
“Rich Baby Daddy,” Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA; two weeks, Dec. 2, 2023
“Saturn,” one week, May 11, 2024
“Luther,” with Kendrick Lamar; one week (to date), March 1, 2025

Lamar and SZA are well-positioned to increase their tallies to a 10th and an eighth No. 1, respectively, and potentially replace themselves at the top. Their other currently collaborative track, “30 for 30” (credited to SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar), rises to the second position with a 14% increase in weekly airplay.

Apart from the leading tracks, both Lamar and SZA further strengthen their presence on Rhythmic Airplay with additional songs. SZA’s third entry in the top 10, “BMF,” climbs from 12 to 10 (with a 9% growth in plays), while Lamar has a fifth entry with “Peekaboo,” featuring AzChike, debuting at No. 37.

• Source: NEWHD MEDIA