According to BET News, Kendrick Lamar has officially etched his name into the annals of music history at the 2026 Grammy Awards. By securing four additional trophies during the ceremony, the Compton-born lyricist has surpassed Jay-Z’s long-standing record to become the most-awarded rapper of all time. Lamar now boasts a career total of 27 Grammys, edging past Jay-Z’s 25.
Lamar’s dominant night included wins for Best Rap Album (GNX), Best Rap Song (“TV Off”), and Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Luther”). His acceptance speeches remained characteristically humble, focusing on the endurance of hip-hop culture. “It is hip-hop as usual, man,” Lamar remarked while accepting the Best Rap Album award, emphasizing that the culture will “always be right here.”
The night was also notable for a humorous mishap involving music icon Cher, who mistakenly announced the Record of the Year winner as “Luther Vandross” instead of Kendrick Lamar and SZA for their hit “Luther.” The producers took it in stride, using the moment to pay tribute to the late R&B legend before Lamar took to the stage to claim his record-breaking win.
This achievement marks a significant shift in the hip-hop hierarchy, as Lamar’s “GNX” era continues to dominate both critical charts and commercial airwaves. With his Super Bowl halftime show looming and his new status as the Grammy king, Kendrick Lamar’s influence on the genre has reached an all-time peak.
* PBS News (via AP): “The victory means Lamar broke Jay-Z’s record to become the rapper with the most career Grammys. Jay-Z has 25; Lamar’s total is 27.”
* Sounwave (Producer via Acceptance Speech): “Let’s give a shoutout to the late and great Luther Vandross.”
Echotitbits take:
Kendrick Lamar’s ascension to the top of the Grammy list is the definitive end of the “Old Guard” era in hip-hop. While Jay-Z remains a business titan, Lamar has become the Academy’s gold standard for artistic excellence. This record will likely stand for a long time, as Lamar shows no signs of slowing down his creative output.
Source: BET — https://www.bet.com/article/b3elkh/kendrick-lamar-makes-grammys-history-as-most-awarded-rapper February 2, 2026
Photo Credit: BET
