Honestly, if you're asking has Kendrick Lamar won a Grammy, you might be underestimating just how much the Recording Academy obsesses over the man. We aren't just talking about a couple of statues tucked away on a dusty mantle in a Compton mansion. We are talking about a generational haul that has fundamentally shifted how hip-hop is viewed by the "elites" in suits.
As of early 2026, the short answer is a resounding yes. Kendrick hasn't just won; he has dominated. After his massive sweep at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2025, his total count sits at 22 Grammy Awards.
But numbers don't tell the full story. The history of Kendrick at the Grammys is a weird, sometimes frustrating, and ultimately triumphant saga that mirrors his path from "K-Dot" to a Pulitzer Prize-winning icon.
The Massive 2025 Sweep: "Not Like Us"
If you blinked during 2024, you missed the most explosive year in rap history. The beef between Kendrick and Drake didn't just live on social media; it translated directly into Grammy gold.
At the February 2025 ceremony, Kendrick’s culture-shifting anthem "Not Like Us" did something rare for a diss track. It swept all five categories it was nominated for. Imagine a song specifically designed to dismantle a rival winning Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It was only the second time a hip-hop song won Record of the Year, following Childish Gambino's "This Is America."
He walked away that night with:
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- Record of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Best Rap Performance
- Best Rap Song
- Best Music Video
Seeing him on stage dedicated those wins to the city of Los Angeles felt like a victory lap for the entire West Coast. It effectively brought his career total to 22, placing him just two behind heavyweights like Jay-Z and Kanye West.
That Infamous 2014 Snub
You can't talk about Kendrick's Grammys without bringing up the trauma of 2014. It’s the elephant in the room. This was the year good kid, m.A.A.d city—an album many consider a flawless masterpiece—lost Best Rap Album to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s The Heist.
Even Macklemore knew it was a mistake.
He famously texted Kendrick after the show saying, "You got robbed. I wanted you to win." Then he posted the screenshot on Instagram, which was... a choice. It sparked a years-long debate about race, commercialism, and whether the Grammy voters actually listen to the music or just look at the sales charts. At the time, Kendrick had zero wins despite seven nominations. It felt like the Academy was out of touch.
The Redemption and the Pulitzer Era
The "snub" didn't last. By 2015 and 2016, the Academy tried to make it right.
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To Pimp a Butterfly was a juggernaut. At the 2016 Grammys, Kendrick received 11 nominations—the most for any rapper in a single night, ever. He won five. His performance that night, where he came out in chains and a prison uniform, is still cited as one of the greatest live televised moments in music history.
Then came DAMN. in 2018. It won Best Rap Album, though it famously lost Album of the Year to Bruno Mars. However, Kendrick got the ultimate "last laugh" when DAMN. won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. He was the first non-classical or non-jazz artist to get it. Suddenly, whether or not the Grammys gave him the "big" trophy felt a lot less important. He had already achieved immortality.
Breaking Down the 22 Wins
It's easy to lose track of where all these trophies came from. They aren't all for his solo albums. Kendrick is a notorious "feature" king, often winning for his contributions to other people's projects.
- "Bad Blood" (2016): He won Best Music Video with Taylor Swift.
- "Family Ties" (2022): A win for Best Rap Performance alongside his cousin, Baby Keem.
- "Loyalty" (2018): Best Rap/Sung Performance with Rihanna.
- "Humble" (2018): A triple-threat win for Performance, Song, and Video.
His 2023 wins for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers proved he could still win while being deeply experimental and, frankly, a bit uncomfortable. He took home Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song (for "The Heart Part 5"), and Best Rap Performance.
The 2026 Outlook: GNX and the Next Chapter
As we look at the current landscape in 2026, the momentum hasn't slowed down. His latest project, GNX, has already pushed him into new territory. He recently became the first artist ever to have five consecutive studio albums nominated for Album of the Year.
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Think about that. Consistency is harder than a one-time peak.
There is a lot of chatter about whether GNX will finally be the one to secure the Album of the Year win. Despite 22 trophies, he has never won the "big one" for an album. He’s lost to Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, and Harry Styles. To many fans, that’s the final boss he needs to defeat to settle the "G.O.A.T." conversation once and for all.
Why It Matters
When people ask has Kendrick Lamar won a Grammy, they are usually looking for a "yes" or "no." But the "why" is more interesting. Kendrick wins because he bridges the gap between high-art lyricism and massive commercial appeal. He makes the Recording Academy feel "cool" and "relevant" for acknowledging him, while he continues to use their platform to deliver some of the most politically charged performances in the show's history.
Basically, Kendrick doesn't need the Grammys. The Grammys need Kendrick.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
- Track the 2026 Season: Keep a close eye on the GNX tour dates and the upcoming Grammy nominations in November. He is currently leading the pack in early predictions for the 68th ceremony.
- Listen Chronologically: To understand why he wins, listen to good kid, m.A.A.d city followed by To Pimp a Butterfly. You can hear the evolution of a writer who went from local storyteller to global philosopher.
- Watch the 2016 Performance: If you want to see why he is considered the greatest live performer in rap, find the high-definition footage of his 2016 Grammy medley. It's a masterclass in stagecraft.