Kendrick Lamar Follows U2 With A Historic Grammy Win
Kendrick Lamar has reached a new milestone in his legendary career. At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, the Compton native became the most decorated rapper in Grammy history, officially surpassing Jay-Z’s long-standing record.
Lamar entered the night needing four wins to claim the title — and achieved it before the ceremony was halfway over. During the Grammy Premiere Ceremony, he won Best Rap Performance as a featured artist on “Chains & Whips,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Luther” with SZA, and Best Rap Song for “TV Off.” He later secured Best Rap Albumfor his 2024 release GNX, bringing his career total to 26 Grammy Awards.
“It’s hip-hop as usual,” Lamar said during his acceptance speech. “I express it through the music… hip-hop is always going to be right here.”
With nine nominations heading into the night, Lamar now holds 66 Grammy nominations across his career. His wins span more than a decade, from early breakout projects to recent releases that continue to shape mainstream rap. By breaking the record, he moves ahead of Kanye West and Eminem — and now stands alone at the top.
The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, aired live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on CBS and Paramount+, with performances from artists including Leon Thomas, Bruno Mars, and Olivia Dean.
Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” earned three Grammy nominations, winning both Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance. The two failed to claim Song of the Year, which went to Eilish’s “Wildflower.” Lamar’s GNX came in first place for Best Rap Album, and he also snagged Best Rap Performance for “Chains and Whips” with Clipse and Best Rap Song for “TV Off” featuring Lefty Gunplay.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth stands as one of hip-hop’s most impactful figures, often described as the voice of a generation. Through deeply layered lyricism, he confronts systemic issues including racial inequality, violence, and incarceration, transforming personal narratives into cultural commentary. His groundbreaking influence was cemented in 2018 when he became the first non-classical or jazz artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Thanks to his five new Grammys, Lamar rockets up the list of the musicians who have taken home the most hardware. The rapper is now tied with Alison Krauss and John Williams – who also added to his count with a Best Music Film award – as the three stars jointly claim the fifth-most Grammys of all time, with 27 apiece.
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Kendrick Lamar Follows U2 With A Historic Grammy Win
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