Kendrick Lamar Falls Off Billboard Hot 100 for the First Time Since Drake Feud Began
Kendrick Lamar has officially dropped off the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time since his high-profile feud with Drake began in 2024. The last remaining track, “Luther” featuring SZA, has now exited the chart after spending 13 straight weeks at number one. The collaboration was one of the standout tracks from Lamar’s latest album, GNX, which dominated streaming platforms through the first half of 2025.
The fall marks the end of a remarkable run for Lamar, who has stayed on the Hot 100 for nearly a full year since his viral exchange with Drake reignited hip-hop’s most-watched rivalry. Fans of both artists took to social media to react to the news. “But this yall savior right? Kendrick era for sure LMAO,” one Drake supporter wrote on X. Another commented, “No one’s gonna come anywhere close to Drake’s consecutive weeks charting record.”
The feud between Lamar and Drake reshaped the landscape of hip-hop in 2024. It began when Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin’s Like That and dismissed the “Big 3” narrative in rap, positioning himself as a solo force. The move triggered a string of lyrical battles between the two, including diss tracks that trended globally and reignited debates about dominance and artistry in rap. Lamar’s “Not Like Us” became the defining anthem of that era, breaking streaming records and earning him the headlining slot at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.
In November 2024, Lamar released his sixth studio album, GNX, which cemented his commercial and critical success. The project included collaborations with SZA, Dody6, Lefty Gunplay, Wallie the Sensei, Siete7x, Roddy Ricch, AzChike, Hitta J3, YoungThreat, and Peysoh. Both “Squabble Up” and “Luther” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, extending Lamar’s streak as one of the most dominant charting rappers of the decade.
Following his Super Bowl performance, Lamar launched the Grand National Tour with SZA, performing 47 shows across North America, Europe, South America, and Australia. The tour solidified his global appeal, with sold-out arenas and festival-level attendance. While SZA will not join him for the final leg, Lamar is set to perform four solo shows in Australia this December, marking the conclusion of a historic touring year.
Drake, meanwhile, has shifted focus to his upcoming album Iceman, his first solo project since the feud. He last appeared alongside PartyNextDoor on $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. Industry analysts expect Iceman to reassert Drake’s commercial strength, potentially setting up another indirect competition between the two stars in 2026.
Lamar’s exit from the Billboard Hot 100 closes a dominant chapter but not his impact. GNX remains one of the highest-selling rap albums of 2025, and his influence on rap culture continues to shape both mainstream and underground sounds. While fans debate whether this signals a slowdown, Kendrick Lamar’s legacy as one of hip-hop’s sharpest lyricists and most strategic artists remains secure.
