Luther (song)

"Luther" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar and American singer-songwriter SZA. This marks Lamar's and SZA's second collaboration after 2018's "All the Stars". Titled after the American R&B and soul singer Luther Vandross, the track contains a sample of Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 rendition of "If This World Were Mine", originally performed by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. "Luther" was released as the third single from Lamar's sixth studio album, GNX, on November 29, 2024, through PGLang and Interscope Records.

"Luther" was written by Lamar, SZA, Ink, and Sam Dew; it was produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Ruchaun "Scott Bridgeway" Akers, Kamasi Washington, Matthew "M-Tech" Bernard, and Roshwita Larisha "roselilah" Bacha. An R&B and hip-hop love ballad with influences of 1980s R&B and freestyle music, "Luther" features Lamar and SZA's vocal harmonies against 808 drums, hi-hats, and an orchestral arrangement. Its lyrics are about imagining a better future for one's loved ones.

Music critics lauded "Luther" for the vocal chemistry between Lamar and SZA; many reviews highlighted it as a tender and heartfelt track compared to GNX's boastful other songs. The single spent 13 consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it Lamar and SZA's longest-charting number one song on the chart, as well as the second longest-running hip-hop song of all time on the Hot 100, behind Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road". It also peaked at number one in New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and South Africa; at number three on the Billboard Global 200 chart; and in the top 10 in many countries including in Australia, Canada, Portugal, and the UK.

Lamar and SZA first performed "Luther" live at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on February 9, 2025. At the 68th Grammy Awards, "Luther" won Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance, and was additionally nominated for Song of the Year.