Kendrick Lamar officially became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026. By securing five trophies, Lamar brought his career total to 27 wins, surpassing the previous record of 25 held by Jay-Z.
Lamar entered the night with nine nominations and achieved a clean sweep of the rap field. His 2024 album GNX won Best Rap Album, while “TV Off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay, took Best Rap Song. He also secured Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Luther” with SZA and Best Rap Performance for his feature on Clipse’s “Chains & Whips.” In a major general field victory, “Luther” also clinched Record of the Year.
Accepting the award for Best Rap Album, Kendrick Lamar addressed the milestone while highlighting the genre’s endurance. “It is hip-hop as usual, man. I’m not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music. It’s an honor to be here. … Hip-hop is going to always be right here. We are going to be in these suits looking good, having our folks with us. We are going to be having the culture with us. So I appreciate y’all. God is to glory. Love y’all,” Lamar stated.
Earlier in the evening, while accepting Record of the Year, Lamar spoke on the significance of sampling Luther Vandross. “Luther Vandross is one of my favorite artists of all time. They granted us the privilege to do our version of it. When we got that clearance, I promise you we damn near all dropped a tear because we know how much him and Cheryl Lynn poured into that record,” he noted, adding that the estate’s only condition was that the duo “couldn’t curse” on the track.
Lamar’s sweep reinforced his dominance in rap and the broader music landscape, solidifying his legacy as a record-breaking artist and champion of hip-hop culture.
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