Kendrick Lamar Breaks Jay-Z’s Grammy Record, Becoming the Most Awarded Rapper in History
Kendrick Lamar made Grammy history at the 2026 Grammy Awards, officially surpassing Jay-Z to become the most decorated rapper of all time. Entering the night needing four wins to break the long-standing record, Lamar exceeded expectations—taking home an impressive five Grammy Awards.
With those victories, the “Not Like Us” artist now boasts a total of 27 Grammy Awards, overtaking Jay-Z’s previous record of 25 and cementing his legacy at the top of hip-hop history.
Lamar began his winning streak during the non-televised Grammy Premiere Ceremony, where he earned three awards. These included Best Rap Performance for his feature on “Chains & Whips,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “luther” with SZA, and Best Rap Song for “tv off.”
His historic night continued during the main televised ceremony. Lamar secured Best Rap Album for his 2024 release GNX, officially breaking the record early in the broadcast. Later, he closed out the evening with another major win, earning Record of the Year for “luther” alongside SZA.
Although Lamar was nominated in several additional top categories, he ultimately missed out on Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Even so, his five-win night marked one of the most dominant Grammy performances by a rapper in recent history.
Heading into the ceremony, Lamar led all artists with nine nominations, further underscoring his impact across the music industry. Over the course of his career, he has now amassed an extraordinary 66 Grammy nominations, a testament to his consistency and influence.
The 2026 Grammy Awards were hosted by Trevor Noah, who returned for his sixth consecutive—and final—year as host. The ceremony was produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy, with Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Jesse Collins, and Noah serving as executive producers.
Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking night not only reshaped Grammy history but also reaffirmed his position as one of the most influential and celebrated artists of his generation.