Kendrick Lamar sets a new standard at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, inspiring artists for years to come. The Compton rapper’s monumental achievement has solidified his position as a trailblazer in the hip-hop genre. Lamar has etched his name in the history books, surpassing Jay-Z with his recent wins.
Kendrick Lamar becomes rapper with most Grammy awards
Kendrick Lamar has made history at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, becoming the most-awarded rapper with 27 wins. The milestone surpassed Jay-Z’s previous record of 26 wins, showcasing his enduring impact on the music industry.
At the 2026 Grammy Awards held in downtown Los Angeles, Kendrick Lamar secured four prestigious awards: Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance for his collaboration with SZA on Luther, Best Rap Album for his 2024 release, GNX, Best Rap Song for tv off, and Best Rap Performance for Chains and Whips.
Moreover, with nine nominations, he entered the ceremony as the most-nominated artist of the year, tied with Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff.
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX won the first televised award of the night, Best Rap Album, presented by Queen Latifah and Doechii.
“It’s an honor to be here,” he said during his acceptance speech. “Hip-hop is always going to be right here … We’re gonna be having the culture with us.”
Cher presented the Record of the Year award, mistakenly announcing that it went to Luther Vandross instead of Kendrick Lamar and SZA for their song Luther.
To Cher’s credit, the song does sample Vandross’s hit, If This World Were Mine. Sounwave, one of the song’s producers, acknowledged this in the acceptance speech, saying, “Let’s give a shoutout to the late and great Luther Vandross.”
The achievement marks a significant milestone not only for Kendrick Lamar but also for the hip-hop genre. With this win, the Hood Politics hitmaker has surpassed popular industry legends to cement his position as one of the most decorated artists of all time.
