The 68th Grammy Awards celebrated a landmark achievement for hip-hop. Kendrick Lamar became the most awarded rapper in Grammy history. He surpassed Jay-Z’s long-standing record. This historic moment occurred at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony. Lamar now holds 27 Grammy Awards. Jay-Z previously held the record with 25 wins. Kanye West is also among the top rappers, with 24 wins.
A Record-Breaking Night for Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar received multiple accolades at the 2026 Grammy Awards. He won Best Rap Album for his release ‘GNX’. Additionally, he secured Record of the Year for his collaboration with SZA, titled ‘Luther’. Lamar also took home awards for Best Rap Song for ‘TV Off’. He further won Best Melodic Rap Performance for ‘Luther’. Clipse also received a Grammy for Best Rap Performance for their collaboration ‘Chains & Whips,’ featuring Lamar. These wins brought his career total to 27 Grammys. Lamar had 66 nominations throughout his career. He is now the fifth most awarded artist in Grammy history overall.
Context of the 68th Grammy Awards
The 68th annual Grammy Awards took place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. This year’s ceremony recognized music released between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025. Kendrick Lamar entered the night as the most nominated artist with nine nominations. Comedian Trevor Noah hosted the event for his sixth and final consecutive time.
Other notable achievements at the ceremony included Bad Bunny making history. He became the first Spanish-language artist to win Album of the Year for “Debà Tirar Más Fotos”. Billie Eilish and Finneas also won Song of the Year. Olivia Dean was awarded Best New Artist.
Lamar’s Perspective on Hip-Hop Culture
During his acceptance speeches, Kendrick Lamar emphasized the cultural significance of his wins. He stated that his achievements celebrate hip-hop as a culture. Lamar expressed pride in hip-hop’s enduring presence. He mentioned, “Hip-hop is gonna always be right here. We gonna be in these suits, we gonna be looking good, we gonna be having our folks with us, we gonna be having the culture with us”. He noted that he is not good at talking about himself. Instead, he lets his music express his feelings.
Career Milestones and Comparisons
Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy journey began with his first wins in 2015 for his single “I”. His album DAMN. (2017) won five awards at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album. He received a record 11 Grammy nominations in a single night for his work and collaborations in one year. Jay-Z, a titan in the hip-hop music industry, has accumulated 25 Grammy Awards from 89 nominations. He was also honored with a Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award and a Global Impact Award. Drake holds 5 Grammy Awards from 51 nominations.
Conclusion
Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking night at the 68th Grammy Awards solidified his status. He is now the most awarded rapper in Grammy history. His numerous wins for albums and songs like ‘GNX’ and ‘Luther’ highlight his immense talent. This achievement is a testament to his influence on hip-hop music. It also underscores the growing recognition of rap music within mainstream award ceremonies.
