Kendrick Lamar made history at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, securing victories in all four rap categories and claiming the prestigious Record of the Year award. His achievements propel him past Jay-Z as the most awarded rapper in Grammy history.
Lamar’s album GNX won Best Rap Album. His collaboration with Lefty Gunplay, “TV Off,” earned Best Rap Song, while the SZA-assisted track “Luther” won Best Melodic Rap Performance. His collaboration with Clipse, “Chains & Whips,” took the award for Best Rap Performance. The win for “Luther” in the Record of the Year category, awarded to the performing artist, producer, and engineer, marks a significant milestone in an already dominant night.
With 27 career Grammy wins, Lamar now holds the record for the most awards by a rapper, surpassing Jay-Z’s previous tally of 25.
In other major categories, Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for “Wildflower,” a recognition for songwriting. Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny made history as Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year. The Best New Artist award was presented to Olivia Dean, continuing a streak of female winners in that category since 2017.
Beyoncé remains the most awarded artist in Grammy history with 35 wins, a record unaffected by the night’s results.
The ceremony, held in Los Angeles, also saw Pharrell Williams honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. Lamar’s sweep of the rap field, coupled with his Record of the Year victory, underscores a pivotal moment in contemporary music, highlighting both artistic versatility and the continued evolution of hip-hop’s mainstream recognition.
