Kendrick Lamar Smashes Records, Dominates 2025 with GNX Album, Luther Single, and Epic World Tour

Kendrick Lamar BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Kendrick Lamar remains the most talked-about name in hip-hop right now, and for good reason. In just the past few days, his impact has rippled across the industry with historic milestones, headline-making performances, and business innovation. On July 5, 2025, Billboard confirmed that Kendrick’s latest album GNX soared back to No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart for a record-breaking 22nd week, formally dethroning Pop Smoke’s previous record and cementing GNX as the longest-running No. 1 rap album in chart history. This isn’t just a chart blip; GNX, released in November 2024, was already riding a wave of critical acclaim, with Stereogum even dubbing it Kendrick’s “greatest work.” The momentum is far from over, as the album just picked up Album of the Year at the 2025 BET Awards, where Kendrick made a rare but electric appearance, reminding everyone that his influence on the culture is unmatched, and fueling Grammy season speculation—could this be his next big Grammy sweep, adding to his already staggering 22 wins, five of which came in 2025 alone according to Forbes and BET.

But it’s not just albums making headlines. Kendrick and SZA’s single “Luther” also set a new record for the longest run at No. 1 on the Hot Pop Songs chart, clinching 27 weeks at the top and outpacing his own previous hit “Not Like Us.” The duo recently wrapped up the North American leg of their Grand National Tour, which pulled in $256.6 million across 23 sold-out shows, making it the highest-grossing joint tour of all time as reported by BET and HotNewHipHop. The tour now heads through Europe and beyond, with capacity crowds in Germany and upcoming dates at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 10 and London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 23. The Latin American leg kicks off in September, notably without SZA, and will feature Argentine openers Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso.

Kendrick’s business moves are also drawing buzz. At select tour stops, fans have exclusive access to limited-edition Nike Cortez Kenny IIIs via augmented reality through the SNKRS app, a tech-savvy, hype-building strategy that sold out in minutes at the Los Angeles show according to AfroTech. Meanwhile, his 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance had the world watching, with over 100 million viewers, and while he earned no direct fee—per traditional NFL policy—the promo has only added to his estimated $140 million net worth and driven streams, merchandise, and ticket sales even higher. Social media is ablaze with fan reactions from each show, and industry analysts are predicting another massive run for Kendrick, both on the charts and at the box office. For Kendrick Lamar, it’s not just another chapter—it’s the peak of an artist at the absolute height of his powers, rewriting the record books while the world watches.

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