Kendrick Lamar & Beyoncé Make Grammy History
The 2025 Grammy Awards were nothing short of historic, as two cultural icons, Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé, cemented their legacies with groundbreaking wins that transcended music and further impacted the industry.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Makes Grammy History
Kendrick Lamar and his scathing anthem, “Not Like Us“, didn’t just dominate the charts and ignite a cultural movement—it shattered Grammy records, securing an unprecedented five wins. In fact, the trendy track, which served as the knockout punch in his lyrical battle against Drake last summer, became the first-ever diss song to win a Grammy. In addition to now being the most-awarded Rap song in the award’s history. Maintaining the momentum, the Compton lyricist took home Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video, making him only the second rapper ever to win both Record and Song of the Year — following in the footsteps of Childish Gambino in 2019.
With that being said, Kendrick used his moment in the spotlight to pay homage to West Coast legends who paved the way for him, shouting out Glasses Malone, JasonMartin (f.k.a. Problem), and his TDE label mates Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul. He also delivered an emotional tribute to his late aunt, who passed away just a day before the ceremony. In addition to expressing solidarity with the people of Los Angeles as they recover from the devastating January wildfires.
Beyoncé Finally Claims Album Of The Year
After years of anticipation and public outcry over previous snubs, Beyoncé finally secured Album of the Year for her genre-blending masterpiece, “Cowboy Carter.” In doing so, she became the first Black woman to win the award since Lauryn Hill in 1999 — a moment that resonated deeply with fans and industry influencers alike. Queen Bey didn’t stop there. “Cowboy Carter” also won Best Country Album, while her collaboration with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted,” earned Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
With these victories, she extended her record as the most decorated artist in Grammy history, now boasting 35 GRAMMYs to her name.
During her heartfelt acceptance speech, Bey paid tribute to Linda Martell, the trailblazing Black country artist. In doing so, she emphasizes the importance of breaking barriers and pushing genres forward. Meanwhile, her husband, Jay-Z, quietly made history himself—his songwriting credit on “Jolene” from “Cowboy Carter” pushed his career total to 25 Grammy wins. As a result, it made him the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing his longtime peer Kanye West.
A Night Of Surprises And Well-Deserved Wins
Beyond the night’s two biggest victors, the 2025 Grammys provided moments of triumph for rising stars and hip-hop heavyweights alike. Doechii, the genre-defying Florida rapper, scored Best Rap Album for “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” surpassing industry titans like Future, Metro Boomin, Eminem, and J. Cole.
Meanwhile, Rapsody earned her first Grammy with a win for Best Melodic Rap Performance alongside Erykah Badu for “3:AM.” Nonetheless, Kendrick’s words during his acceptance speech summed up the essence of the night:
“Nothing more powerful than rap music, I don’t care what it is. We are the culture, it’s gon’ always stay here and live forever. And to the young artists, like my man Punch say, respect the artform. I appreciate y’all, I love y’all.”
The 2025 Grammy Awards were more than just a celebration of talent; they were a testament to music’s power to break barriers, shape culture, and inspire generations. With historic wins for Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Doechii, and Rapsody, this year’s ceremony will be remembered as a defining moment for hip-hop and beyond.
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