Kendrick Lamar wins Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammys
photo taken by Kevin Mazur for Getty Images during the 67th Grammy Awards, February 2, 2025
By Bridget Arnwine
Rapper Kendrick Lamar, the only hip-hop artist to have won a Pulitzer Prize, made Grammy history last night, becoming the most awarded rapper of all time with his twenty-sixth win. The milestone breaks a record previously held by hip-hop icon Jay-Z, who has earned twenty-five Grammys. Lamar won the award for his song “luther,” featuring Grammy winning R&B songstress SZA, in a crowded field that included “DtMF” by Bad Bunny, “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Anxiety” by Doechii, “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish, “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga, “The Subway” by Chappell Roan, and “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars.
His Record of the Year win was less about reaching a specific number of awards and more about further establishing/cementing his legacy as one of hip-hop’s finest. Along with his Record of the Year win, Lamar also won Best Rap performance for his contribution to The Clipse’s song “Chains and Whips” along with Pharrell Williams, Best Melodic Rap for “luther,” Best Rap Song for “tv off” (jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington contributed to this song as a producer), and Best Rap Album for GNX. Lamar became the only artist other than legendary singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder to win five Grammy Awards in consecutive years. That’s quite a milestone for a guy from Compton, California, who got his start battle-rapping in school.
Billie Eilish won Song of the Year honors for her hit song “Wildflower,” an award she will share with her longtime writing partner, her brother Finneas O’Connell. Nominated in the same category at the 2025 ceremony, Eilish previously lost to Lamar for his viral hit “Not Like Us,” linking her win this year to a night otherwise dominated by his achievements. When Eilish took the stage this year, however, she shifted the focus beyond accolades, using her acceptance speech to highlight injustices facing citizens and immigrants across the country—underscoring how the Grammy stage continues to serve as a platform for conscience as much as celebration.
Producer, songwriter, performer, and newly minted Creative Director of Louis Vuitton menswear, Pharrell Williams was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. An award meant to celebrate Black music creators and innovators, this year’s prize recognized the Virginia Beach, Virginia native for a career defined not only by chart-topping success but by creative reach and cultural influence. In his vast career, Williams has shaped the sound of modern popular music across hip-hop, R&B, pop, film scores, and fashion, leaving an imprint that extends far beyond individual accomplishments. In accepting the award, Williams reflected on the benefits of hard work and collaboration as the keys to a career that one can love.
In a ceremony often defined by what’s popular, this year’s Grammys were a celebration of doing what’s right and of community. From artists openly expressing anti-ICE sentiment to historic wins by Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny – the first Spanish-language artist to win Album of the Year – and Pharrell Williams, to a star-studded tribute honoring the late Roberta Flack alongside neo-soul luminary D’Angelo, the evening reflected an industry momentarily aligned around legacy, conscience, and the power of music to mean something beyond the charts.
