Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther,” now one of eight songs nominated for Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, was originally intended to be a brief interlude rather than a full-length single. The revelation appears in a GNX-focused Rolling Stone feature by Preezy Brown, published Monday (Dec. 15), offering new insight into the song’s unexpected evolution.
Producer Sounwave, who worked on the track alongside Jack Antonoff and others, explained that the early version of “luther” was drumless and built around a chopped Luther Vandross sample. At the time, the idea had been shelved, despite lingering interest in the sample. According to Sounwave, the breakthrough came when Kendrick Lamar began humming a specific melody that immediately changed the direction of the record.
Ink, a co-writer on the song and an artist herself, played a key role in helping the track grow beyond its original purpose. Once the core melody clicked, the team recognized the song’s potential to become something much larger than an interlude.
That instinct proved correct. “luther” went on to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it held the top spot for 13 weeks. In addition to its Record of the Year nomination, the song is also competing for Song of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2026 Grammys.
The success of “Luther” has further strengthened GNX’s award-season momentum. The album, previously named the best album of 2024 by Complex, is currently in contention for both Best Rap Album and Album of the Year. Kendrick Lamar enters the ceremony as a 22-time Grammy winner, while SZA holds five career wins, adding further weight to the project’s historic run.
