Kendrick Lamar Replaces Drake A At No. 1

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, replacing Drake’s “What Did I Miss?” NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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It’s likely that no matter how much time passes since the end of their public feud, Kendrick Lamar and Drake will always be compared to one another and seen as rivals. The rappers spent part of 2024 trading diss tracks in what turned out to be one of the most high-profile beefs in hip-hop history. Lamar came out on top, thanks largely to his tune “Not Like Us,” which didn’t just reach No. 1 on the Hot 100, it also earned the rapper both Record and Song of the Year at the Grammys.

It’s been well over a year since “Not Like Us” seemingly finished the war, but Lamar and Drake are still competing against one another directly on the Billboard charts.

Kendrick Lamar Replaces Drake at No. 1

Lamar manages to replace Drake at No. 1 on several Billboard tallies in the United States this week, thanks to his recent collaboration with friend and tourmate SZA. “Luther” returns to the summit on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs rankings this frame. Last period, the collaboration sat in the runner-up spot on the two consumption-based lists, pushed down by Drake’s “What Did I Miss?”

The Canadian hip-hop superstar’s single begins to decline this frame, making way for “Luther” — one of the most popular tunes in hip-hop of all time, according to the charts — to find its way to the summit once more.

Drake’s Songs Decline as “Luther” Surges

On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs tally, “What Did I Miss?” drops from No. 1 to No. 3, landing just ahead of Drake’s previous smash “Nokia.” On the Hot Rap Songs chart, “What Did I Miss?” only steps back one space, while “Nokia” also holds at No. 4 on that ranking.

“Luther” Extends Its Historic Reign

“Luther” has now ruled both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs rankings for 29 weeks apiece. The tune long ago became the longest-running leader on both tallies, and with every frame it commands the tallies, it adds to its total and Lamar and SZA further their lead over every other hit in the history of those genres.