Kendrick Lamar surpasses Jay-Z to become most awarded rapper in Grammy history

Kendrick Lamar has become the most awarded rapper in Grammy history after a landmark night at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday, February 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Entering the ceremony with 22 career wins, Lamar collected five additional awards from nine nominations, bringing his total to 27 Grammys. The achievement moves him past Jay Z, who previously held the record with 25 wins.

Lamar’s victories this year continued a run that has defined his career over the past decade.

His win for Best Rap Album marked another moment where his work was recognised not only for its musical strength but for its cultural impact. 

While accepting the award, Lamar reflected on the longevity of the genre, saying that hip hop would always remain present and stressing the need to keep the culture intact and protected by those who create it.

With these latest wins, Lamar also joined Stevie Wonder as one of the only artists to earn five or more Grammy awards in consecutive years. 

This followed his major sweep in 2025 with “Not Like Us”, a release that dominated rap categories and reaffirmed his influence within the genre. The back-to-back success places Lamar in rare company across all genres, not only within hip hop.

Lamar’s discography charts a steady evolution in sound and storytelling. He broke through with “Section.80" in 2011, a project that introduced his focus on identity, social pressure and personal struggle.

“good kid, m.A.A.d city” followed in 2012 and became a defining album of the decade, blending narrative songwriting with West Coast traditions.

“To Pimp a Butterfly”, released in 2015, expanded his reach further by weaving jazz, funk and spoken word into a body of work that addressed race, power and self-worth. The album earned widespread acclaim and multiple Grammy awards. 

In 2017, Lamar released "DAMN.”, a more direct and stripped approach that still carried layered themes of faith, loyalty and consequence. The album went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, a a first for a hip hop artist.

His later releases, including “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” and subsequent projects, continued to explore vulnerability, accountability and growth, reinforcing his reputation as an artist willing to challenge both himself and his audience.

Beyond the awards, Lamar’s role in hip hop has been defined by his ability to balance mainstream success with depth and intention.

He has remained rooted in the traditions of rap while pushing its boundaries, opening doors for wider recognition of the genre as an art form.

His work has influenced a generation of artists who see honesty and social awareness as central to their craft.