22 Grammys And Counting: The Full, Updated List Of Kendrick Lamar's Historic Wins (2025 Sweep & 2026 Nods)
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth has solidified his status as one of the most decorated and critically acclaimed artists in music history, boasting a staggering 22 Grammy Awards as of late 2025. This article provides the definitive, updated list of his wins, highlighting his incredible momentum that includes a historic sweep at the 2025 Grammy Awards and a leading position for the upcoming 2026 ceremony.
As of December 22, 2025, the Compton-born rapper’s career total has tied him with legendary acts like U2 and Vince Gill for the fifteenth-most Grammy prizes ever. His recent success, particularly his domination of the major categories, proves his lyrical genius and artistic vision continue to resonate deeply with both critics and the Recording Academy.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth: Biographical Profile
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is not just a rapper; he is a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist, a songwriter, and a record producer whose work has consistently pushed the boundaries of hip-hop and contemporary music. His albums are often viewed as cultural events, blending jazz, funk, soul, and spoken word into complex narratives about life, race, and spirituality.
- Full Name: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
- Born: June 17, 1987
- Birthplace: Compton, California, U.S.
- Occupation: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
- Active Years: 2003–present
- Labels: Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Aftermath, Interscope Records, PGLang
- Career Grammy Total (as of Dec 2025): 22 Wins
- Career Grammy Nominations (as of Dec 2025): 57–66 (depending on ceremony cutoff)
- Notable Accolade: Winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music (for the album Damn)
The Historic 2025 Grammy Sweep: The "Not Like Us" Phenomenon
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards in early 2025 proved to be Kendrick Lamar’s most dominant night to date, where he converted every single one of his nominations into a win. This clean sweep was driven entirely by his viral, culture-shifting diss track, "Not Like Us."
The song, which dominated streaming platforms and became a cultural touchstone, secured major wins in the 'Big Four' categories, a feat rarely accomplished by a rap single.
The five Grammys won for "Not Like Us" are listed below, dramatically increasing his career total to 22.
- Record of the Year (for "Not Like Us")
- Song of the Year (for "Not Like Us")
- Best Rap Performance (for "Not Like Us")
- Best Rap Song (for "Not Like Us")
- Best Music Video (for "Not Like Us")
This unprecedented success for a standalone track cemented his ability to not only deliver critically acclaimed albums but also to create singles that capture the zeitgeist and achieve commercial and critical success simultaneously.
A Chronology of Lyrical Dominance: All 22 Grammy Wins
Kendrick Lamar's Grammy journey began with his major label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, and has grown steadily over a decade, with his albums consistently being recognized as masterpieces of the genre. His 22 wins span across multiple categories, showcasing his versatility as a writer, performer, and collaborator.
The Early Years: 57th & 58th Grammy Awards (2015 & 2016)
Lamar secured his first two Grammys at the 57th ceremony for "i," and followed up with a massive five wins for his seminal album, To Pimp a Butterfly.
- 2015 (57th Grammys): Best Rap Performance (for "i")
- 2015 (57th Grammys): Best Rap Song (for "i")
- 2016 (58th Grammys): Best Rap Album (for To Pimp a Butterfly)
- 2016 (58th Grammys): Best Rap Performance (for "Alright")
- 2016 (58th Grammys): Best Rap Song (for "Alright")
- 2016 (58th Grammys): Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (for "These Walls")
- 2016 (58th Grammys): Best Music Video (for Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood")
The Damn and Black Panther Era: 60th & 61st Grammy Awards (2018 & 2019)
His fourth studio album, Damn, was a commercial and critical juggernaut, earning him five awards at the 60th Grammys. He later contributed heavily to the Black Panther soundtrack, which also earned him significant recognition.
- 2018 (60th Grammys): Best Rap Album (for Damn)
- 2018 (60th Grammys): Best Rap Performance (for "Humble")
- 2018 (60th Grammys): Best Rap Song (for "Humble")
- 2018 (60th Grammys): Best Rap/Sung Performance (for "Loyalty" ft. Rihanna)
- 2018 (60th Grammys): Best Music Video (for "Humble")
- 2019 (61st Grammys): Best Rap Performance (for "King's Dead" with Jay Rock, Future & James Blake)
- 2019 (61st Grammys): Best Rap/Sung Performance (for "All the Stars" with SZA)
- 2019 (61st Grammys): Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (for Black Panther: The Album)
The New Chapter: 65th Grammy Awards (2023)
After a five-year hiatus, Kendrick returned with the deeply personal and reflective album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, proving his artistry had only deepened, earning him three more Grammys.
- 2023 (65th Grammys): Best Rap Album (for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers)
- 2023 (65th Grammys): Best Rap Performance (for "The Heart Part 5")
- 2023 (65th Grammys): Best Rap Song (for "The Heart Part 5")
The 2025 Historic Sweep
These five wins for "Not Like Us" bring his total to 22. (See previous section for the full list of the 2025 wins).
Looking Ahead: Kendrick Lamar Leads 2026 Grammy Nominations
The conversation about Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy legacy is far from over. In a powerful demonstration of his continued relevance, he is currently the leading nominee for the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards in 2026.
His surprise-released sixth studio album, GNX, which dropped on November 22, 2024, has earned him a staggering nine total nominations.
Key nominations for the 2026 Grammys include:
- Album of the Year (for GNX)
- Record of the Year (for "luther" featuring SZA)
- Song of the Year (for "luther" featuring SZA)
- Best Rap Album (for GNX)
Should Kendrick Lamar convert a significant number of these nominations into wins, he will climb even higher on the all-time Grammy winners list. His consistent ability to blend commercial success with critical depth ensures that every new release, and every subsequent Grammy season, is a major event in the music world. The anticipation for the 2026 ceremony is high, as his GNX album is poised to continue his reign of lyrical dominance.
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