Kendrick Lamar has made history at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, surpassing JAY-Z to grow the rapper with the most Grammy wins of all time, with a total of 27 awards.
A Record-Breaking Night
Lamar’s success at the February 1, 2026, ceremony included wins for Best Rap Album for GNX and Record of the Year for “luther,” a collaboration with SZA. He previously won five Grammys in February 2025 for his song “Not Like Us.”
Before the televised portion of the awards show, Lamar had already secured three wins: Best Rap Performance for his verse on Clipse’s “Chains & Whips,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “luther,” and Best Rap Song for “tv off.”
Competition and Collaboration
GNX won Best Rap Album, defeating albums by Tyler, The Creator (CHROMAKOPIA) and Clipse (Let God Sort Em Out). “luther” beat out songs by Bad Bunny (“DtMF”), Doechii (“Anxiety”), and Lady Gaga (“Abracadabra”) to claim Record of the Year.
Lamar noted that securing clearance to sample Luther Vandross’ “If This World Were Mine” for “luther” required that the song contain no curse words. He stated that the Vandross estate granting permission “proves that we were somewhat worthy to be just as great as them individuals.”
Despite his success, Lamar did not win Album of the Year, which went to Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who currently holds the record for most Grammy Awards won by a rapper?
Kendrick Lamar currently holds the record with 27 Grammy Awards.
What song won Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards?
“luther” by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA won Record of the Year.
What was a condition set by Luther Vandross’ estate for the employ of his song sample?
The lyrics of the song featuring the sample could not contain any curse words.
As Kendrick Lamar continues to evolve as an artist, what new heights might he reach in future Grammy ceremonies?
