Kendrick Lamar breaks Grammy record for most wins by a Rapper

Rapper Kendrick Lamar won his 26th Grammy Award — GNX for Best Album — passing Jay-Z for rapper with the most Grammys.  Lamar on Sunday took an early lead at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles with four prizes, as he, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga looked to make history on the biggest night of the year for music. Lamar took four trophies including best rap album, while Lady Gaga won for best dance pop recording and Bad Bunny snapped up a gramophone for best global music performance.

Kendrick Lamar won his 26th Grammy Award — GNX for Best Album — passing Jay-Z for rapper with the most Grammys pic.twitter.com/sZeD1rJboN

— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) February 2, 2026

All three are angling to take home the gala's most coveted award, Album of the Year, for the first time. K-pop singer Rose and Bruno Mars kicked off the proceedings with a high-octane performance of "APT.," before comedian Trevor Noah took to the stage. Lamar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, had nine nominations going into Sunday, the most of any artist, on the strength of his album "GNX." The 38-year-old California native, who won five Grammys last year thanks to his smash diss track "Not Like Us," is also up for Record and Song of the Year for "Luther" featuring R&B artist SZA.