Honestly, nobody saw GNX coming. When Kendrick Lamar surprise-dropped his sixth studio album on November 22, 2024, the internet basically melted. But amidst the aggressive West Coast bangers and the lyrical shrapnel left over from the Drake feud, one track felt different. Kendrick Lamar ft SZA Luther (formally titled just "luther") stopped everyone in their tracks.
It wasn't just another collaboration. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated healing.
The "Luther" Sample That Changed Everything
You hear it the second the needle drops. That warm, crackling soul. The song is built entirely around a sample of Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s 1982 cover of "If This World Were Mine." If you’re a fan of classic R&B, you know that’s sacred ground. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell did the original, but the Luther version has a specific kind of velvet texture that fits Kendrick’s current "elder statesman" era perfectly.
Why name it after Luther Vandross?
It’s a tribute. Luther was the king of making vulnerability sound like a superpower. By naming the track Kendrick Lamar ft SZA Luther, Dot isn't just sampling a song; he’s adopting a mood. He’s stepping away from the "Boogeyman" persona of 2024 and leaning into a softer, protective masculinity.
The production credits are a heavy-hitter list: Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, and Kamasi Washington. It’s a strange mix on paper—a pop giant, a jazz legend, and a hip-hop visionary—but it works. The 808s are there, sure, but they’re tucked under orchestral arrangements that make the whole thing feel like it’s floating.
Breaking Down the Lyrics: More Than Romance?
Kendrick starts the song with a reference that had Reddit detectives working overtime: "Hey, Roman numeral seven, bae, drop it like it's hot."
🔗 Read more: British TV Show in Department Store: What Most People Get Wrong
Most people just hear a Snoop Dogg shoutout. But look closer. In the Bible, the number seven represents divine completeness. He’s essentially saying his partner (widely assumed to be Whitney Alford) completes him on a spiritual level.
"If this world was mine, I'd take your dreams and make 'em multiply / If this world was mine, I'd take your enemies in front of God / Introduce 'em to that light, hit them strictly with that fire."
That’s a wild bar. He’s promising to protect her by sending her enemies to face divine judgment. It’s romantic, yeah, but in a "Old Testament" kind of way.
Then SZA enters.
Her chemistry with Kendrick is undeniable. From "Babylon" to "All The Stars," they’ve never missed. But here, she isn't just a guest. She’s his mirror. They harmonize on the chorus about "concrete flowers" and "better days comin' for sure." It’s an anthem for anyone trying to build something beautiful in a place that isn't designed for it.
The Power of the Duet
Interestingly, the track is often listed as "luther (with SZA)" rather than "feat. SZA." This isn't just a technicality. It signals a true duet. Their voices are layered so closely that sometimes it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
💡 You might also like: Break It Off PinkPantheress: How a 90-Second Garage Flip Changed Everything
Why "Luther" Dominated the Charts in 2025
The song didn't just stay on the charts; it lived there. After debuting at number three, it eventually climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 by March 2025. It stayed at the summit for 13 consecutive weeks.
Think about that. A soulful, slow-burn R&B ballad beating out high-energy pop tracks.
A huge part of that staying power came from the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. On February 9, 2025, Kendrick brought SZA out to perform "luther" on a circular stage designed to symbolize unity. It was the emotional peak of the show. While everyone expected him to just play "Not Like Us" five times in a row, he chose to highlight this tender moment instead.
It worked. The song became the longest-running number-one hit for both artists.
The Music Video and the Whitney Alford Connection
When the music video finally dropped in April 2025, directed by Karena Evans, it added a whole new layer of meaning.
The video is heavy on geometry—circles, specifically. Circles symbolize eternity and harmony. But the biggest talking point? Kendrick spent a significant portion of the video rapping directly to Whitney Alford.
📖 Related: Bob Hearts Abishola Season 4 Explained: The Move That Changed Everything
For a couple that has been the subject of endless rumors and rap-beef scrutiny, this felt like a definitive statement. It wasn't a PR move; it felt like an intimate window into their actual life. The video shows them in a minimalist, architectural space that feels both cold and incredibly private. It captures the "world within a world" that you build with a partner when the outside world is chaotic.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't sat down and really listened to the lyrics of Kendrick Lamar ft SZA Luther, do it with a good pair of headphones. Pay attention to the way the Kamasi Washington horn arrangements swell during the final minute.
For the musicians out there, try stripping the song back to its chord progression. It’s a masterclass in how to use 1980s R&B foundations to create a modern hip-hop masterpiece.
If you're looking to dive deeper into their collaborative history, go back and listen to "All The Stars" and "Doves In The Wind" immediately after. You’ll see the evolution of two artists who have moved from "rising stars" to the undisputed voices of a generation. The Grand National Tour, which they co-headlined throughout 2025, further cemented this song as the "heart" of Kendrick's new era.
Keep an eye on the 2026 Grammy nominations. This track isn't just a hit; it's the frontrunner for Song of the Year.