Kendrick Lamar is officially the most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history. With wins including Best Rap Song for “TV Off,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Luthier,” and Best Rap Performance for his feature on Clipse’s “Chains & Whips,” Lamar has brought his total Grammy count to 26.
This achievement allows him to surpass previous record holder Jay-Z, who has 25 Grammys, and Kanye West, who holds 24 trophies. Lamar still has the opportunity to increase his tally further, with categories such as Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year yet to be announced.
Going into the night, Lamar had 22 Grammy wins and 57 nominations. This year, he was nominated for nine Grammys, including the major categories of Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. Prior to the 68th annual ceremony, he was the third-most awarded rapper, and he won three awards before the live telecast on CBS.
Last year, Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us,” a diss track targeting Drake, swept its categories by winning five Grammys alone. He has also won Best Rap Album three times for 2016’s *To Pimp a Butterfly*, 2018’s *DAMN.*, and 2023’s *Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers*.
Lamar’s 2012 breakthrough album, *good kid, m.A.A.d city*, famously lost to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ *The Heist*, a decision that drew sharp backlash. Macklemore even sent a text admitting, “You got robbed.”
Kendrick Lamar’s continued success at the Grammys cements his legacy as one of the most influential and acclaimed artists in hip-hop history.
https://variety.com/2026/music/news/kendrick-lamar-breaks-grammys-record-most-awarded-rapper-1236642301/
