Kendrick Lamar just won't quit. Honestly, looking at the music landscape in early 2026, it feels like we’ve been living in a Kendrick-coded simulation for the last two years. He didn't just win; he cleared the floor.
Remember the 2025 Grammys? It was a bloodbath. When Diana Ross stepped onto that stage at the Crypto.com Arena to announce Song of the Year, the tension was thick enough to cut with a dull butter knife. Kendrick’s "Not Like Us" wasn't just a song at that point. It was a cultural event. It was the "Mustard on the beat, hoe" heard 'round the world.
When he took home that trophy—alongside Record of the Year and three other Grammys that same night—he did something almost no one in hip-hop ever does. He turned a diss track into the definitive Kendrick Lamar song of the year winner. Most people think of beef as petty or transient. Kendrick turned it into a Pulitzer-caliber victory lap.
The Anatomy of a Masterclass: "Not Like Us" and the 2025 Sweep
You've probably heard the stats, but let's be real—the numbers only tell half the story. "Not Like Us" won all five of its nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. That’s Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.
He tied a record with the 5th Dimension’s "Up, Up and Away" for the most-awarded song in the history of the ceremony. Think about that. A track that calls out a rival’s alleged extracurricular activities is now sitting on the same pedestal as "Bridge Over Troubled Water." It’s wild.
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During his speech, Kendrick was rocking a "Canadian tuxedo"—a denim-on-denim look that felt like a subtle, cheeky nod to his Toronto rival. He didn't spend his time gloating, though. Instead, he shouted out Black Hippy—Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul—and reminded everyone that "at the end of the day, nothing’s more important than rap music."
Why the Song of the Year Win Mattered Most
There is a huge difference between Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and most casual fans get them mixed up. Record is about the whole vibe—the performance, the production, the engineering. Song of the Year? That’s for the songwriters.
Winning this specifically for a rap track is rare. In fact, "Not Like Us" was only the second hip-hop song ever to win in this category, following Childish Gambino’s "This Is America." It proves the Academy finally stopped looking at rap as just "catchy beats" and started respecting the pen. Kendrick didn't just out-rap his competition; he out-wrote the biggest pop stars on the planet, including Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
2026: The "Luther" Era and the GNX Dominance
If you thought he'd take a break after the 2025 sweep, you clearly haven't been paying attention. As we sit here in January 2026, Kendrick is currently leading the pack for the 68th Grammy Awards with nine nominations.
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His latest album, GNX, has basically become the soundtrack of the last six months. While the 2025 wins were about the beef, the 2026 nominations are about the craft. He’s back in the Song of the Year conversation, this time for "Luther," his collaboration with SZA.
Breaking Down the 2026 Competition
It’s a different vibe this year. "Luther" isn't an aggressive club anthem; it’s a masterclass in chemistry. It’s been sitting on the Billboard Hot 100 for ages—peaking at number one for thirteen consecutive weeks.
- "Luther" (Kendrick Lamar & SZA): The heavy favorite. It’s got the commercial legs and the critical respect.
- "Abracadabra" (Lady Gaga): A massive pop comeback that the Academy loves to reward.
- "Anxiety" (Doechii): The dark horse. A raw, vulnerable track that hits the emotional notes voters crave.
- "APT." (Rosé & Bruno Mars): A global juggernaut that's hard to ignore.
Most industry insiders, including the folks over at Billboard and The Guardian, are betting on Kendrick to pull off a back-to-back win. If he does, it’ll be unprecedented. No rapper has ever held this kind of sustained dominance over the "Big Four" categories two years in a row.
What This Means for Hip-Hop’s Future
We're seeing a shift. For years, rap fans complained that the Grammys relegated hip-hop to the "urban" categories (a term they finally ditched) and ignored them for the night's biggest prizes.
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Kendrick changed the math. By winning Song of the Year with a track that was birthed in a feud, he forced the industry to acknowledge that rap is the culture. It’s not a sub-genre anymore. It’s the standard.
His 2025 BET Awards win for Album of the Year with GNX further solidified this. He told the crowd that night, "I always kept in my heart BET... representing the culture right." He’s playing both sides—winning the "prestige" awards while staying rooted in the community that built him.
Practical Takeaways for the Fan and the Critic
If you're trying to keep up with the Kendrick lore or just want to understand why your Twitter feed is constantly screaming about him, here’s the gist:
- Watch the credits: Kendrick isn't just a rapper; he's a composer. His wins in "Song of the Year" categories highlight his ability to structure narratives, not just rhyme words.
- Context is king: To understand "Not Like Us," you have to understand the Juneteenth "Pop Out" show and the 2024 beef timeline. It wasn't just a song; it was a movement.
- Expect a "GNX" Sweep: The 2026 Grammys (happening February 1st) are likely going to be another big night for him. Keep an eye on "Luther" and "Squabble Up."
The reality is that we are witnessing a peak that might not be replicated for decades. Kendrick Lamar hasn't just found a winning formula; he's rewritten the rules of what a "Song of the Year" is supposed to sound like. Whether it's a West Coast bop or a soulful duet with SZA, the pen remains undisputed.
Next Steps for the Super-Fan:
Keep a close watch on the 68th Grammy Awards results on February 1, 2026. If you want to dive deeper into his writing process, go back and listen to the GNX deep cuts like "Peekaboo" or "TV Off"—they offer a much better look at his current mental state than the radio hits ever could. Check the official Grammy site for the full list of his nine nominations to see exactly where he might make history next.