Entertainment

Kendrick & SZA Make History As “Luther” Reigns Supreme for Seventh Week at No. 1

With “Luther,” it seems Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s joint collaborations would prove to be the soundtrack of a moment. They make it clear yet again that when these two link up, it’s a movement. The pair’s smash collaboration, “Luther,” is not only an undeniable bop, but it just sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 for its seventh straight week, giving both artists one of the all-time runs and yet another certified fan favorite that won’t loosen its grip. This marks Kendrick’s sixth No. 1 single and SZA’s third, though “Luther” is now the song with the longest run at the top of the Hot 100 for both of them.

This kind of staying power arrived months after the track first dropped, a rare feat in today’s fast-turnover streaming era. This kind of momentum is earned. With artists like Drake rebounding up the charts to No. 3 with “NOKIA,” the timing couldn’t be better for hip-hop believers eager to stoke in-progress debates. K.Dot and Drizzy’s long-brewing rivalry was just doused with another log. Kendrick prefers to let the numbers do the talking, and at the moment, those numbers are yelling. On the other hand, “Luther” is a linchpin of Kendrick’s GNX album, which has since been certified over 2 million album-equivalent units sold in the U.S., meaning that it has to qualify for double platinum status.

Check out this article: Yung Miami Shuts Down 50 Cent Romance Rumors, Keeps It Strictly Business

You can bet “Luther” was a major reason for that success, but the album’s also loaded with other long-living bangers like “hey now,” “squabble up” and “peekaboo,” which were racking up streams, too, with little sign of wilting. And for SZA, her chemistry with Kendrick has yet to be matched. Fans knew what kind of magic the two create together ever since their “All The Stars” collab. “Luther” is evidence that lightning can indeed strike twice. Seven weeks in and counting, “Luther” isn’t simply parked at No. 1, it’s prospering there. Kendrick and SZA released a cultural moment. And it seems to be here to stay.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Related Topics:Kendrick Lamar luther SZA

Up Next

Usher’s London Serenade Sparks Buzz, But No Marriages Were Harmed in the Making

Don't Miss

Janiq blooms boldly on ‘Flowers and Fantasies’

Honk Magazine

Celebrity

Meek Mill Draws Mixed Reactions With Drill Take on Nico & Vinz’s “Am I Wrong”

Meek Mill has released a couple of songs that leaked online recently, giving fans a proper way to hear the tracks after they popped up over the weekend. “Philly Heathens” has been praised for its attention to street culture and youth affected by violence, but his other new album, “Am I Wrong,” has received a much more divided response.

“Philly Heathens” has been praised for its lyrics about street culture and the young people who get caught up in violence. “Am I Wrong,” however, takes a vastly different approach, remixing the song of the same name by Nico & Vinz as a drill centric interpolation.

“Am I Wrong” is now 12 years old, and its connection to the EDM sound of the time makes it especially recognizable to those who grew up with it. So Meek’s take is built on a familiar musical reference, but the response has been far from universally complimentary. A lot of the criticism has been directed at the hook. The production has also been called dated, but the track was leaked, which may explain its sound. But the strongest reactions have focused on Meek’s chorus vocals.

Some of the responses have been good, though. Some listeners felt the track was a throwback to the blog era, while others thought the criticism targeted almost entirely the hook, not the song as a whole. One Reddit commenter wrote that the track was good, but the chorus was bad, suggesting that Meek’s performance on the rest of the song was better than the reception to the hook may suggest.

The different reactions demonstrate the contrast between Meek’s two new leaks. “Philly Heathens” has resonated with audiences for its subject matter, while “Am I Wrong” has sparked discussion due to its interpolation and vocal approach.

Both songs are now officially available on YouTube so that fans can decide for themselves. The response to “Am I Wrong” shows how difficult it is to reinterpret a well known song, especially when a recognizable hook becomes the centerpiece of the new version

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Celebrity

Drake Joins Karol G in Houston for First Live Performance of “Ahi”

Drake made a surprise appearance in Houston this weekend, joining Karol G on stage for the first-ever live performance of their collaboration, “Ahi.”
The surprise appearance took place during Karol G’s show in Houston, where Drake jumped out from the bottom of the stage to perform the song with her. “Ahi” is the latest from Karol G’s project No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, and the Houston show marked the first time the pair had performed the collaboration together on stage.

Drake made his entrance to a loud reception from the crowd. The rapper popped out from under the stage, bowed to Karol G, hugged her, and launched into their collaboration. With “Ahi,” the performance was not over. Drake stayed on stage and carried on with the set, performing “Janice STFU” and “One Dance” and giving the Houston crowd a long set from the Canadian rapper.

The collaboration also sparked speculation about Drake’s upcoming music. A rumor started that Karol G was one of the collaborators on the project, along with Molly Santana and Future, days before ICEMAN is expected to drop. Future and Molly Santana were among the names on the rumored list, and Future ended up on “Run To Atlanta.”

See also EBK Woods - Coffin

Drake’s Houston appearance comes as he continues to promote music outside the traditional album release cycle. He released FOMO, a visual YouTube project featuring visuals for several songs from Habibti and Maid Of Honor nearly two weeks ago. The project also featured a couple of unreleased songs, including new material with Yeat and new unreleased music with Don Toliver.

Drake and Don Toliver have also dropped a remix of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.” The remix has recently sparked speculation about the artists after re uploaded visuals allegedly erased all footage of Langley.

But the Houston show shifted the focus back to Drake and Karol G. The surprise appearance turned the stop into the first live showcase of “Ahi” for the audience, while Drake’s renditions of “Janice STFU” and “One Dance” extended his surprise time onstage. It also gave fans their first chance to see the two artists perform their collaboration together, adding a live chapter to the release of “Ahi. “

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0