Kendrick Lamar has ascended to the pinnacle of both commercial triumph and critical acclaim within the contemporary music scene, solidifying his position as a leading voice of his generation and, by many accounts, one of the greatest rappers of all time. His journey, commencing from Compton, California, is marked by a consistent evolution from underground mixtapes to dominating the Billboard charts.
Lamar’s initial foray into the music industry involved building a regional fanbase through a series of mixtapes in the 2000s. His breakthrough to a wider audience began with the Overly Dedicated mixtape, which marked his debut on the Billboard charts, reaching No. 72 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in October 2010. This early success paved the way for his debut album, Section.80, which further expanded his reach, entering the Billboard 200 chart for the first time and peaking at No. 113 in June 2011.
The trajectory of Kendrick Lamar’s career shifted dramatically with his subsequent album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, released in 2012. This album, his first under a major label, Aftermath/Interscope Records, immediately resonated with audiences, debuting and peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It also spawned three top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “Swimming Pools (Drank)” (No. 17), “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” (No. 32), and “Poetic Justice” featuring Drake (No. 26). The album’s critical acclaim was underscored by seven Grammy Award nominations, including the prestigious Album of the Year.
Kendrick Lamar’s breakthrough album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” cover art, showcasing his storytelling and musical depth.
Since the good kid, m.A.A.d city era, every project released by Kendrick Lamar has become a highly anticipated cultural event. His studio albums that followed – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), DAMN. (2017), Mr. Morale & The Good Steppers (2022), and GNX (2024) – all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. This streak of chart-topping albums also includes his experimental demo collection Untitled Unmastered (2016) and Black Panther: The Album (2018), a soundtrack he curated which featured multiple artists.
Initially, Lamar’s singles success didn’t entirely mirror the chart-topping dominance of his albums. However, he steadily evolved into a significant presence on the Hot 100 chart. His first No. 1 single came as a featured artist on Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” in 2015. He then achieved his first solo No. 1 with “Humble.” in 2017. Further cementing his singles success, Lamar accumulated multiple top 10 hits with solo tracks such as “DNA.” and “N95,” and through collaborations with prominent artists like Maroon 5 (“Don’t Wanna Know”), The Weeknd (“Pray for Me”), and SZA (“All the Stars”).
The artwork for Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning album “DAMN.”, reflecting his introspective and impactful songwriting.
In 2024, Kendrick Lamar’s chart performance reached new heights, fueled by a highly publicized feud with Drake that captivated the attention of pop culture enthusiasts globally. His verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” ignited the feud and propelled the track to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100. The ensuing exchange of diss tracks between Lamar and Drake further amplified Lamar’s momentum. Among these tracks, “Not Like Us” emerged as the most commercially successful, earning Lamar his second No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Riding this wave of public attention, Lamar released GNX in November 2024. The album’s single “Squabble Up” became his third Hot 100 No. 1 for the year, making him the artist with the most No. 1 hits in 2024. Moreover, during its debut week, tracks from GNX occupied the entire top five of the Hot 100, an achievement that placed Lamar among an elite group of artists – The Beatles, Drake, and Taylor Swift – to monopolize this chart region.
Album cover of “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”, showcasing Kendrick Lamar’s continued artistic evolution and conceptual depth.
Kendrick Lamar’s accomplishments extended into 2025, marked by five wins at the Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Not Like Us.” Looking ahead, he is set to headline the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025, further cementing his status as a global icon.
As Kendrick Lamar prepares to take the stage at the Super Bowl, one of the world’s largest platforms, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on his journey and celebrate his most successful songs. The following list recaps Kendrick Lamar’s 20 biggest hits on the Hot 100, highlighting his evolution from early underground favorites to chart-topping anthems.
Kendrick Lamar’s Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits ranking is based on weekly performance on the Hot 100 from its Aug. 4, 1958, start through Feb. 8, 2025. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods.
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“Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 32Hot 100 Peak Date: June 1, 2023 -
“King’s Dead” (with Jay Rock, Future and James Blake)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 21Hot 100 Peak Date: March 24, 2018 -
“Poetic Justice” (featuring Drake)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 26Hot 100 Peak Date: March 16, 2013 -
“Euphoria”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 3Hot 100 Peak Date: May 18, 2024 -
“Loyalty.” (featuring Rihanna)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 14Hot 100 Peak Date: May 6, 2017 -
“Squabble Up”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 (one week)Hot 100 Peak Date: Dec. 7, 2024 -
“TV Off”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 2Hot 100 Peak Date: Dec. 7, 2024 -
“The Greatest” (Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 18Hot 100 Peak Date: Dec. 10, 2016 -
“DNA.”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 4Hot 100 Peak Date: May 6, 2017 -
“Swimming Pools (Drank)”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 17Hot 100 Peak Date: Dec. 15, 2012 -
“All the Stars” (with SZA)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 7Hot 100 Peak Date: March 3, 2018 -
“Love.” (featuring Zacari)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 11Hot 100 Peak Date: Jan. 6, 2018 -
“Luther” (with SZA)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 3Hot 100 Peak Date: Dec. 7, 2024 -
“F**kin Problems” (A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 8Hot 100 Peak Date: Feb. 16, 2013 -
“Pray for Me” (with The Weeknd)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 7Hot 100 Peak Date: Feb. 17, 2018 -
“Like That” (with Future & Metro Boomin)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 (three weeks)Hot 100 Peak Date: April 6, 2024 -
“Don’t Wanna Know” (Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 6Hot 100 Peak Date: Feb. 18, 2017 -
“Bad Blood” (Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 (one week)Hot 100 Peak Date: June 6, 2015 -
“Humble.”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 (one week)Hot 100 Peak Date: May 6, 2017 -
“Not Like Us”
Hot 100 Peak Position: No. 1 (two weeks)Hot 100 Peak Date: May 18, 2024
