Kendrick Lamar Breaks Grammy Record With Historic Wins

Kendrick Lamar has once again made history, this time at the 68th annual Grammy Awards, held on February 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. The rapper, known for his sharp lyricism and cultural commentary, shattered records and set new milestones, becoming the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history. The night was filled with anticipation, glitz, and a sense that something monumental was on the horizon—and Lamar delivered.

Arriving at the star-studded event in a Chanel tuxedo and Cartier jewelry, Kendrick Lamar looked every bit the part of a cultural icon. He accessorized with a hair pick and a white bandage on his right hand, a subtle but striking detail that caught the eyes of onlookers and photographers alike, as reported by i-D and The Hollywood Reporter. The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah for the sixth and final time, was held at the Crypto.com Arena and produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy.

Lamar entered the night as the most-nominated artist, leading the pack with nine nominations across major categories, according to AP News and Variety. His 2025 album GNX was a focal point of the evening, earning nods for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album, while his collaborations and singles racked up additional nominations in categories like Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

The first televised award of the night set the tone: Kendrick Lamar clinched Best Rap Album for GNX, beating out formidable competitors Clipse (Let God Sort Em Out), GloRilla (Glorious), JID (God Does Like Ugly), and Tyler, the Creator (Chromakopia). As Pitchfork noted, this marked Lamar’s fourth win in the Best Rap Album category, adding to his previous victories for To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Last year’s winner, Doechii, had made headlines as only the third woman to win the category in its 36-year history.

But Lamar’s night was just getting started. During the non-televised Grammy premiere ceremony, he picked up three more awards: Best Rap Performance for "Chains & Whips" (as a featured artist alongside Clipse, Pusha T, Malice, and Pharrell Williams), Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Luther" with SZA, and Best Rap Song for "TV Off" featuring Lefty Gunplay. Later, he would add Record of the Year for "Luther" with SZA to his haul, bringing his total Grammy count to a staggering 27—surpassing Jay-Z’s previous record of 25 and Kanye West’s 24, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Complex.

In his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album, Kendrick Lamar was humble yet proud, stating, "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." (Variety and AP News)

Lamar’s dominance at the 2026 Grammys wasn’t just about numbers. It was a testament to his enduring influence and the respect he commands across both genre-specific and general categories. His creative partnership with pgLang co-founder Dave Free continued to bear fruit, with Free emphasizing their commitment to storytelling and visual innovation: "We were always focused on telling our story. We felt like it was a different perspective on growing up in the neighborhood." He added, "If we’re spending this much time on the music, we gotta spend a sufficient amount of time on the creative too. You can’t just do the music and phone in the creative." (i-D)

The night was also notable for the abundance of first-time winners. The Dalai Lama earned his first Grammy for audio book narration, while K-pop group Golden made history as the first K-pop act to win a Grammy for song written for visual media. Yungblud, Turnstile, FKA twigs, and Lefty Gunplay (for his role on Lamar’s "TV Off") were among the other artists celebrating their first wins, according to AP News.

Meanwhile, Clipse, who had only one previous Grammy nomination before this year (for their feature on Justin Timberlake’s "Like I Love You," produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo), found themselves in direct competition with Lamar in several categories. Despite their hopes, Lamar’s sweep could bode poorly for their chances in Album of the Year, a sentiment echoed in Pitchfork’s coverage. GloRilla and JID, both seeking their first Grammys after multiple nominations, also came up short this year.

Beyond the awards, the ceremony was a celebration of music’s global reach and the diverse voices shaping its future. Performances by Rosé and Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, and a host of other stars underscored the event’s eclectic spirit. Presenters included Queen Latifah, Doechii, and Carole King, while Ms. Lauryn Hill paid tribute to legends D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. The show also featured moments of social awareness, with artists like Shaboozey dedicating their wins to immigrant parents and wearing "ICE Out" pins in protest of immigration enforcement policies.

For Kendrick Lamar, the 2026 Grammys were more than just another awards ceremony—they were a coronation. With 66 nominations over his career and a record-breaking 27 wins, his journey from the streets of Compton to the heights of the music industry is now cemented in Grammy lore. The ceremony highlighted not only his individual achievements but also the collective power and resilience of hip-hop culture, which, as Lamar declared, "is always going to be right here."

As the lights dimmed and the last award was handed out, it was clear: Kendrick Lamar’s legacy had reached a new peak, inspiring a generation and redefining what it means to lead in music’s most competitive arena.