"Luther" | ||||
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Single by Kendrick Lamar and SZA | ||||
from the album GNX | ||||
Released | November 29, 2024 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 2:57 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Kendrick Lamar singles chronology | ||||
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SZA singles chronology | ||||
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Audio video | ||||
"Luther" on YouTube |
"Luther" 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 singer Luther Vandross.
"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. [1] [2] 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. [3] 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. [4]
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". [1] Lindsay Zoladz at The New York Times called "Luther" a notably "tender moment" and "three-minute pause" from an otherwise boastful album. [5] Tomás Mier of Rolling Stone noted Lamar for "stretching his singing chops" before being joined by SZA. [6]
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [7] | 7 |
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA) [8] | 1 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [9] | 2 |
France (SNEP) [10] | 45 |
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [11] | 4 |
Ireland (IRMA) [12] | 7 |
Italy (FIMI) [13] | 67 |
Latvia (LaIPA) [14] | 7 |
Lithuania (AGATA) [15] | 9 |
Luxembourg ( Billboard ) [16] | 21 |
Malaysia ( Billboard ) [17] | 14 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [18] | 20 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [19] | 1 |
Norway (VG-lista) [20] | 27 |
Singapore (RIAS) [21] | 12 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [22] | 65 |
South Africa ( Billboard ) [23] | 3 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [24] | 36 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [25] | 21 |
UK Singles (OCC) [26] | 5 |
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [27] | 2 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [28] | 3 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [29] | 3 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Italy | November 29,2024 | Radio airplay | Universal | [30] |
"If This World Were Mine" is a 1967 song by soul music duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell from their album United. Written solely by Gaye,it was one of the few songs they recorded without Ashford &Simpson writing or producing. When it was released as a single in November 1967 as the B-side to the duo's "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You",it hit the Billboard pop singles chart,peaking at number sixty-eight,and peaked at number twenty-seven on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Gaye would later put the song into his set list during his last tours in the early-1980s as he performed a medley of his hits with Terrell. The song was covered a year later by Joe Bataan on the 1968 Fania Allstars LP Live at the Red Garter,Vol. 2,and in 1969 by Ambrose Slade (pre-Slade) on their album Beginnings.
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