Kendrick Lamar reached a historic milestone at the 2026 Grammy Awards, officially becoming the most awarded rapper in the ceremony’s history. With his latest wins at the 68th annual GRAMMYs, held on February 1 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, Lamar surpassed Jay-Z’s long-standing record to claim a total of 26 career Grammy Awards.
The Compton-born artist entered the night with 22 wins and led all nominees with nine nods, driven largely by the success of his 2024 album GNX. Over the course of the main telecast and the Premiere Ceremony, Lamar added at least four new trophies to his collection. He won Best Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips,” alongside Clipse, Pusha T, Malice, and Pharrell Williams. “luther,” his collaboration with SZA, earned Best Melodic Rap Performance. “TV Off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay, took Best Rap Song. The night culminated with GNX winning Best Rap Album.
While accepting the album award, Lamar reflected on the genre’s resilience, stating, “Hip-Hop is always going to be right here.” The moment underscored both his personal achievement and his broader influence on rap’s evolving legacy. Jay-Z, who previously held the record with 25 wins, now sits just behind, followed by Kanye West with 24.
The success of GNX marks a defining chapter in Lamar’s career. Named after the Buick Regal GNX, the album was his first release following his departure from longtime homes Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment. Commercially, GNX became Lamar’s fifth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and topped charts across multiple countries. Supported by hit singles including “Squabble Up,” “luther,” and “TV Off,” the album has remained a cultural force well into 2025.
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