Fat Joe Predicts Kendrick Lamar and SZA Will Become the Greatest Rapper-Singer Duo of All Time
Fat Joe is placing a bold bet on Hip Hop’s future, naming Kendrick Lamar and SZA as the potential greatest rapper-singer duo the genre has ever seen. During a recent episode of his podcast Joe and Jada, the Bronx legend praised the duo’s chemistry, artistry, and growing dominance, comparing their momentum to some of the most iconic partnerships in music history.
“They’re going to be best friends and all that forever,” Fat Joe said. “Right now, they got about six or seven songs. They are number one. They could take the spot, 100%. They are fire together.” Joe, also known as Joey Crack, pointed to the pair’s recent success as evidence that their partnership is far from casual. “They’re on their way,” he added. “They call Ja and Ashanti the greatest duo of all time, I’m just saying SZA and Kendrick are solo artists.”
Fat Joe’s prediction comes at a time when Kendrick and SZA’s joint single “Luther” is dominating the charts. The track has now spent thirteen consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest-running No. 1 song by co-billed solo male and female artists—surpassing Diddy and Faith Evans’ 1997 tribute to Biggie, “I’ll Be Missing You.” “Luther” also ranks just behind Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s legendary “One Sweet Day” in terms of total weeks at No. 1 for a collaborative single. Additionally, it has dethroned Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” to become the biggest Hip Hop single of the decade so far.
SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s creative connection goes beyond hit records. Their history dates back to 2018’s Grammy-nominated “All the Stars,” and the chemistry has only grown stronger since. While promoting her Grand National Tour earlier this month, SZA opened up about a life-changing piece of advice from Kendrick that reshaped how she sees herself as a performer. “One time he gave me the pointer of pretending to watch myself from above,” she shared on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “That actually changed a lot for me. When I was watching myself from afar, I was like, ‘This is not what I wanna see! I wanna see something different. I wanna turn up!’”
That introspective trick helped SZA channel a new stage presence—one she credits to Kendrick’s unique perspective. “That third person – he’s also a Gemini. So you never know. He’s already split in half,” she added with a laugh.
While fans have long celebrated duos like Ja Rule and Ashanti, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, or even Drake and Rihanna, Kendrick and SZA bring something distinct to the table. Their partnership doesn’t rely on romantic narratives or traditional pop formulas—it’s rooted in artistry, vulnerability, and a shared vision for pushing the genre forward. As Fat Joe pointed out, they’re not just collaborating—they’re rewriting the blueprint. If their current trajectory continues, Kendrick Lamar and SZA could very well claim the title of Hip Hop’s greatest rapper-singer duo of all time.
