The 68th Annual Grammy Awards has witnessed a seismic shift in hip-hop history. American rap titan Kendrick Lamar has officially surpassed Jay-Z’s long-standing record of 25 Grammy awards, solidifying his status as the most-decorated rapper in the history of the Recording Academy with a career total of 27 wins.
The New King of the Grammys: Kendrick Lamar holds the record for most wins by a rapper after the 2026 ceremony.
Entering the night with nine nominations, the Compton-born lyricist dominated the rap categories with his critically acclaimed 2024 album, GNX. The milestone was reached during the 2026 ceremony held at the Crypto.com Arena, where Kendrick’s haul of five trophies pushed him past both Jay-Z and Kanye West.
A Night of Pure Dominance for GNX
Kendrick’s path to the record began early during the non-televised premiere ceremony, where he picked up three awards: Best Rap Performance for his feature on Clipse’s “Chains & Whips,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Luther” (featuring SZA), and Best Rap Song for “TV Off.”
The momentum continued into the live broadcast, where he secured the Best Rap Album trophy for GNX and the prestigious Record of the Year for “Luther.”
“I’m not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music. Hip-hop is going to always be right here. We’re going to be having the culture with us,” Lamar stated during his humble acceptance speech.
Surpassing the Throne
For over a decade, Jay-Z held the crown with 25 wins, followed closely by Kanye West with 24. Kendrick’s rapid ascent—achieving 27 wins with only six studio albums—highlights an unprecedented level of critical success. This victory follows his monumental 2025, where his chart-topping hit “Not Like Us” also swept multiple categories.
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