Kendrick Lamar becomes the Grammys’ most awarded rapper, overtaking Jay-Z

Kendrick Lamar rewrote Grammy history by becoming the most awarded rapper the ceremony has ever seen.
The rapper arrived at the 68th Grammy Awards with 22 wins and nine nominations on the night, chasing Jay-Z’s long-standing record. By the time the main ceremony began, Lamar had already narrowed the gap, picking up multiple trophies during the pre-show to draw level with the hip-hop icon.

The decisive moment came when Lamar won best rap album for ‘GNX’, taking his career tally to 26 Grammys and placing him alone at the top.

Accepting the award, Lamar framed the moment as a celebration of the genre rather than a personal milestone. ‘It is hip-hop as usual,’ he said, adding that he prefers letting his music speak for him. He also credited the culture and community that continue to define hip-hop, calling the honour bigger than any individual win.

The latest milestone adds to an already formidable Grammy run. Lamar has now won best rap album four times, with earlier victories for ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’, ‘DAMN.’ and ‘Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers’. Beyond the numbers, his career has been marked by albums that consistently spark conversation and influence the direction of contemporary hip-hop.