Kendrick Lamar etched his name deeper into music history on Sunday night after becoming the most-awarded rapper in Grammy Awards history, overtaking Jay-Z’s long-standing record at the 2026 ceremony in Los Angeles.
The 38-year-old rapper entered the night with 22 Grammy wins and left the Crypto.com Arena with five more, taking his career total to 27 and moving him clear of Jay-Z’s previous mark of 25. The achievement cements Lamar’s position as one of the most influential and decorated figures in modern hip-hop.
Lamar’s success was driven by a dominant showing across major categories. He won Best Rap Album for GNX, setting the tone early in the evening, before claiming the prestigious Record of the Year award for Luther, his collaboration with SZA. He also picked up Best Rap Performance for Chains & Whips, featuring Clipse, Pusha T, Malice, and Pharrell Williams, Best Melodic Rap Performance for Luther, and Best Rap Song for tv off.
While accepting the Best Rap Album award, Lamar reflected on hip-hop’s enduring presence and cultural weight, noting that while he may not be comfortable talking about himself, his music speaks on his behalf. He described the moment as a privilege and stressed that hip-hop would always remain visible, respected, and rooted in its community.
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He went on to acknowledge his fellow nominees, including Tyler, The Creator and Clipse, describing them as brothers and reaffirming his belief that hip-hop would continue to thrive at the highest levels of the music industry. Lamar closed his remarks with gratitude, giving thanks to God and expressing appreciation to his supporters.
Beyond the record-breaking win count, Lamar also achieved another historic milestone by becoming the first rapper to win Record of the Year twice and the first male artist to claim the award in consecutive years, further underlining the scale of his dominance.
Ahead of the ceremony, Lamar led all nominees with nine nods in major categories. Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff followed with seven nominations each, while Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and Sabrina Carpenter earned six apiece. By the end of the night, however, it was Lamar who stood alone, rewriting Grammy history and reaffirming his legacy at the pinnacle of hip-hop.
