Kendrick Lamar stands as a towering figure in modern music, his lyrical prowess and impactful storytelling earning him widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades. Among these, the GRAMMY Awards hold a special significance, recognizing excellence in the music industry. With a staggering 57 career nominations and 22 wins, Lamar’s journey through the GRAMMYs is a compelling narrative of artistic evolution and consistent recognition, particularly in the rap categories. This article explores Kendrick Lamar’s extensive history with the GRAMMYs, highlighting his wins and nominations, and examining his place among the best rap songs recognized by the Recording Academy.
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Kendrick Lamar’s career has been marked by consistent praise, with albums frequently topping “best of” lists across years, decades, and even centuries. His groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize win – a first for a rapper – further cemented his status as a significant cultural voice. This widespread acclaim naturally extends to the Recording Academy, resulting in an impressive 57 GRAMMY nominations and 22 wins to date. At the 2025 GRAMMYs, Lamar garnered several more nominations, predominantly for his Drake diss track “Not Like Us,” a song that dominated cultural conversations and earned nods for both Record and Song Of The Year.
Read more: 2025 GRAMMYs: See The OFFICIAL Full Winners & Nominations List
Music’s Biggest Night on February 2nd, 2025, saw Lamar achieve a significant sweep, claiming victory in all nominated categories, including the highly coveted Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for “Not Like Us.” Following this historic night, it’s essential to revisit Kendrick Lamar’s extensive GRAMMY history. Let’s delve into the peaks, the valleys, the major awards that eluded him, and even the moments of controversy surrounding his GRAMMY journey.
2014 — 56th GRAMMY Awards: Emergence on the National Stage
Nominations: Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (good kid, m.A.A.d city), Album Of The Year (good kid, m.A.A.d city), Best Rap Performance (“Swimming Pools (Drank)”), Best Rap Song (“F—kin’ Problems” with A$AP Rocky, Drake, and 2 Chainz), Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (“Now or Never” with Mary J. Blige), Best R&B Performance (“How Many Drinks?” with Miguel).
Kendrick Lamar’s presence had been building within underground rap circles for years. However, the release of good kid, m.A.A.d city in October 2012 marked his explosive entry into mainstream consciousness. This album was almost universally lauded as the best of the year, solidifying Lamar’s position as a leading artist. His seven GRAMMY nominations were therefore widely anticipated. His rising star power was evident in the nearly six minutes of stage time he was granted alongside Imagine Dragons at the GRAMMY ceremony. While their duet was a powerful performance, it would be overshadowed by even more impactful GRAMMY moments in the years to come.
Read more: For The Record: Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Good Kid, M.A.A.d City’ Launched A New Era In Storytelling & West Coast Rap
Despite the widespread acclaim and nominations, the 56th GRAMMYs became a point of contention for Lamar and his fans. He was shut out in every category, including Best Rap Album, a loss that resonated deeply within the hip-hop community. Adding fuel to the fire, Macklemore, who won Best Rap Album, publicly acknowledged Kendrick’s deserving status. The day after the ceremony, Macklemore shared a text message sent to Lamar, stating, “You got robbed. I wanted you to win. You should have. It’s weird and sucks that I robbed you.” This public apology ignited widespread discussion and debate, with opinions divided on Macklemore’s gesture. Drake, notably, voiced his disapproval of Macklemore’s public apology at the time, adding further complexity to the narrative.
2015 — 57th GRAMMY Awards: Victories Amidst Absence
Wins: Best Rap Song (“i”), Best Rap Performance (“i”)
In his second GRAMMY appearance, Kendrick Lamar secured two golden gramophones. However, neither he nor any member of his Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) crew, including fellow nominee ScHoolboy Q, attended the ceremony. While never officially declared a boycott, their absence was widely noted by the press, sparking speculation about a deliberate statement.
Despite his absence, Lamar’s victories were celebrated by many, including Taylor Swift, who expressed her joy on Twitter, stating that Lamar’s wins brought her to tears. This public support from a major pop star highlighted the growing mainstream recognition of Lamar’s artistry and the impact of “i,” a song that would ultimately be recognized as one of the best rap songs of the year by the GRAMMYs.
2016 — 58th GRAMMY Awards: A Landmark Performance and Multiple Wins
Wins: Best Rap Performance (“Alright”), Best Rap Song (“Alright”), Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (“These Walls” with Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat), Best Music Video (“Bad Blood” with Taylor Swift), Best Rap Album (To Pimp a Butterfly)
Nominations: Song Of The Year (“Alright”), Best Music Video (“Alright”), Best Rap Song (“All Day” by Kanye West [as songwriter]), Best Dance Recording (“Never Catch Me” with Flying Lotus), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Bad Blood” with Taylor Swift), Album Of The Year (To Pimp a Butterfly)
If good kid, m.A.A.d city was a breakthrough, To Pimp a Butterfly was a cultural phenomenon. Kendrick Lamar’s third studio album resonated deeply with critics and audiences alike, becoming a powerful political statement as Black Lives Matter protests adopted “Alright” as an anthem.
Read more: ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’: Kendrick Lamar shares history
The GRAMMY voters and the Academy acknowledged the album’s significance. “Alright” became central to the night’s narrative. Lamar collaborated with the Academy to create a short film celebrating his hometown of Compton, which was featured during the ceremony. His performance was a show-stopping moment, featuring “Alright” alongside “The Blacker the Berry” and an unreleased track from the TPAB sessions, later titled “Untitled 5.” This performance is often cited as one of the most impactful in GRAMMY history, showcasing the power of rap as a form of social commentary and artistic expression.
Read more: The Making Of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly
This year, Kendrick finally won Best Rap Album for To Pimp a Butterfly, a widely celebrated victory. However, he lost Album Of The Year to Taylor Swift’s 1989, sparking further debate about the GRAMMYs and their recognition of hip-hop in the top categories. Despite this, 2016 marked a significant turning point in Lamar’s GRAMMY narrative, solidifying his place among the best rap artists recognized by the academy, particularly for songs like “Alright” which won Best Rap Song.
2017 — 59th GRAMMY Awards: Supporting from Afar
Nominations: Album Of The Year (Lemonade by Beyoncé [as featured artist]), Best Rap/Sung Performance (“Freedom” with Beyoncé)
Kendrick Lamar seemingly did not attend the 59th GRAMMY Awards. However, he reportedly sent a congratulatory text message to Chance the Rapper after the Chicago artist won three golden gramophones, indicating his continued engagement with the GRAMMYs and his peers, even in absence.
2018 — 60th GRAMMY Awards: Opening the Show and More Wins for DAMN.
Wins: Best Rap Album (Damn), Best Rap Performance (“Humble”), Best Rap Song (“Humble”), Best Music Video (“Humble”), Best Rap/Sung Performance (“Loyalty” with Rihanna)
Nominations: Album Of The Year (Damn), Record Of The Year (“Humble”)
Drake’s now-famous line, “Kendrick just opened his mouth, someone go hand him a GRAMMY right now,” seemed particularly relevant in 2018. Lamar’s album DAMN., like its predecessors, garnered a slew of GRAMMY nominations. He opened the show with a powerful performance alongside U2 and Dave Chappelle, blending tracks from DAMN. and the Black Panther soundtrack, which was about to be released.
“It looks like he’s singing and dancing,” Dave Chappelle aptly remarked mid-performance, “But this brother’s taking enormous chances.”
Read more: GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Kendrick Lamar Accept Best Rap Album For ‘DAMN.’ At The 2018 GRAMMY Awards
These chances paid off. Kendrick won multiple GRAMMYs for DAMN., including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance for “Humble,” cementing its status as one of the best rap songs recognized that year. While he again missed out on Album and Record Of The Year, losing to Bruno Mars, DAMN. achieved even greater recognition shortly after the GRAMMYs by winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
2019 — 61st GRAMMY Awards: Top Nominations, Single Win
Wins: Best Rap Performance (“King’s Dead” with Jay Rock, Future, and James Blake)
Nominations: Album Of The Year (Black Panther: The Album), Record of the Year (“All of the Stars” with SZA), Song Of The Year (“All of the Stars” with SZA), Best Rap/Sung Performance (“All of the Stars” with SZA), Best Song Written for Visual Media (“All of the Stars” with SZA), Best Rap Song (“King’s Dead” with Jay Rock, Future, and James Blake), Best Rap Song (“Win” with Jay Rock)
Kendrick Lamar led the 61st GRAMMY nominations with eight nods, including two nominations in the Best Rap Song category. However, he only secured one win for his contribution to the Black Panther soundtrack. Lamar, along with Drake and Childish Gambino, reportedly declined the opportunity to perform at the ceremony. While none of the artists publicly commented on their decisions, some observers linked it to ongoing concerns about the lack of recognition for hip-hop in major categories like Album Of The Year.
2022 — 64th GRAMMY Awards: Return with Baby Keem
Wins: Best Rap Performance (“Family Ties” with Baby Keem)
Nominations: Best Rap Song (“Family Ties” with Baby Keem)
After a period without new music releases, Kendrick Lamar returned to the GRAMMYs in 2022, bringing his cousin, rapper Baby Keem, with him. Their collaboration “Family Ties” marked Lamar’s first new release in several years and received two GRAMMY nominations, resulting in a win for Best Rap Performance.
Watch: Baby Keem Wins Best Rap Performance | 2022 GRAMMYs
2023 — 65th GRAMMY Awards: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Sweep
Wins: Best Rap Album (Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers), Best Rap Performance (“The Heart Part 5”), Best Rap Song (“The Heart Part 5”)
Nominations: Album Of The Year (Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers), Record of the Year (“The Heart Part 5”), Song Of The Year (“The Heart Part 5”), Best Music Video (“The Heart Part 5”), Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Die Hard” with Blxst and Amanda Reifer)
With his highly anticipated album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers eligible, Kendrick once again garnered eight nominations, second only to Beyoncé. Winning Best Rap Album for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers appeared deeply meaningful to him. In his acceptance speech, he spoke of the “courage and vulnerability” required to “share my truth.”
Read more: How Kendrick Lamar’s 2023 GRAMMYs Wins Bolstered His GRAMMYs Legacy
“We say things to provoke thoughts and feelings and emotions,” he continued, emphasizing the album’s personal and challenging nature. “This was one of my toughest records to make… I finally found imperfection with this album.” The multiple wins, particularly for “The Heart Part 5” as Best Rap Song, reaffirmed his consistent recognition in the rap categories and the GRAMMYs’ appreciation for his evolving artistry.
2024 — 66th GRAMMY Awards: Touring and Nominations
Nominations: Best Rap Performance (“The Hillbillies” with Baby Keem), Best Music Video (“Count Me Out”), Best Music Film (Live from Paris, The Big Steppers Tour)
During a year largely dedicated to touring Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, Kendrick still received three GRAMMY nominations. These nominations included recognition for his tour film and a music video from the album, as well as “The Hillbillies,” a collaboration with Baby Keem, who had opened for him on the Big Steppers Tour.
2025 — 67th GRAMMY Awards: Rap Beef Triumphs
Nominations: Record of the Year (“Not Like Us”), Song Of The Year (“Not Like Us”), Best Rap Performance (“Not Like Us”), Best Rap Performance (“Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin), Best Rap Song (“Not Like Us”), Best Rap Song (“Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin), Best Music Video (“Not Like Us”)
Wins: Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year
This year, a high-profile rap feud translated into GRAMMY success. “Like That,” the track that ignited the Kendrick Lamar/Drake beef, earned two nominations, while “Not Like Us,” considered by many to be the definitive diss track, received five, including nods for both Record and Song Of The Year. This demonstrated the song’s monumental cultural impact. After winning Best Rap Song and Performance, and Best Music Video earlier in the evening, Lamar ultimately triumphed on the GRAMMY stage, accepting the awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year.
“We gon’ dedicate this one to the city,” he declared, acknowledging his hometown of Compton and surrounding areas. “This is a true testament that we will continue to restore this city.” Lamar and producer Mustard returned to the stage to accept the Song Of The Year GRAMMY. “This is what it’s about man, because at the end of the day, nothing is more powerful than rap music,” Lamar stated, emphasizing the enduring power and cultural significance of rap.
Kendrick Lamar entered the 67th GRAMMY Awards with the second-most nominations, tying for second place with Billie Eilish, Post Malone, and Charli XCX. His wins for “Not Like Us,” particularly for Best Rap Song, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year, solidify his legacy as one of the most consistently recognized and celebrated rap artists in GRAMMY history. His journey showcases not only his individual talent but also the GRAMMYs’ evolving recognition of rap music as a dominant and culturally significant art form.
Learn more: Who Discovered Kendrick Lamar? 9 Questions About The ‘GNX’ Rapper Answered
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