Kendrick Lamar Breaks Billboard Records with 13-Week No.1, Kicks Off GNX Tour in Mexico City
Kendrick Lamar is gearing up to relaunch his Grand National World Tour in Mexico City on September 23, carrying momentum from a record-breaking 2025 filled with Grammy triumphs and sustained chart domination. After sweeping key categories at the Grammy Awards in February with his diss track “Not Like Us,” Lamar brought the same fierce energy to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, delivering one of his most striking performances to date.
The Compton rapper’s partnership with SZA on “luther” shattered expectations, holding the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 straight weeks. That run represents the longest reign for a hip-hop track in chart history, and marks the first time a male-female solo collaboration has led the chart for more than 11 weeks. Their follow-up single, “30 For 30,” from the deluxe edition of SZA’s SOS, remains on the Hot 100, extending Lamar’s unprecedented presence.
Data from Bars shows Lamar is the only rapper in 2025 to appear on the Hot 100 in nearly every week of the year. Roughly one quarter of that presence comes from “luther,” while other cuts from his GNX project—such as “Not Like Us,” “tv off” and “peekaboo”—also made regular appearances. His output has kept him at the center of streaming playlists and radio rotation worldwide.
Fans witnessed Lamar’s critical acclaim match his commercial success at the Grammy Awards earlier this year. He took home multiple trophies, including Best Rap Song for “Not Like Us,” a pointed rebuttal to Drake. That track became the centerpiece of his Super Bowl halftime set and sparked conversations across music media about its sharp lyricism.
The rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake dates back to 2013, when Lamar stood out on Big Sean’s “Control” verse by calling out peers and vowing to raise the bar in rap. Publicly they downplayed any feud, but each has continued to exchange subliminal shots in their music. In 2024, Lamar challenged the notion of rap’s “Big Three” on Future & Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” declaring himself the genre’s leading voice.
That declaration triggered a volley of diss tracks that played out over spring 2024. Drake responded with “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle,” while Lamar countered with “Euphoria,” “6:16 in LA” and the explosive “Not Like Us.” Each cut raised the stakes with personal lyrics and pointed allegations. The dispute escalated to the point where Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group, accusing his own label of unfairly promoting Lamar’s attacks.
Observers note the back-and-forth has captured wide attention for its raw emotion and cultural impact, with some critics comparing it to rap’s most storied battles. Even as Kendrick Lamar remains selective about solo releases, he made a surprise appearance in Los Angeles earlier this month, joining Clipse onstage to perform “Chains & Whips” from Let God Sort Em Out.
The Grand National World Tour has already crossed multiple continents. After Mexico City, the trek enters its penultimate leg, bringing shows across South America and Mexico. Fevered anticipation has followed every announcement, as Lamar continues to turn his recording achievements into electrifying live performances.
