Lamar's wins included:
- Best Rap Album for his 2024 surprise release GNX, which marked his fifth consecutive studio album nominated for Album of the Year.
- Record of the Year for "Luther" (featuring SZA), making him the first rapper to win the category twice and the first male artist (and rapper) to claim it in consecutive years, following his 2025 win for "Not Like Us."
- Best Rap Song for "tv off" (featuring Lefty Gunplay), with songwriters including Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Dijon McFarlane (Mustard), Sean Momberger, Mark Anthony Spears (Sounwave), and Kamasi Washington.
- Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Luther" (with SZA).
- Best Rap Performance for his feature on Clipse's "Chains & Whips" (alongside Pusha T, Malice, and Pharrell Williams).
Three of these wins came during the non-televised Premiere Ceremony, with the remaining two—including the high-profile Record of the Year—presented during the main telecast.
In his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album, Lamar emphasized hip-hop's enduring presence and cultural pride. “It is hip-hop as usual, man. I’m not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music. It’s an honor to be here,” he said. “Hip-hop is going to always be right here. We are going to be in these suits looking good, having our folks with us. We are going to be having the culture with us.”
He shouted out fellow nominees in the category, saying, "It's Tyler [the Creator], Clipse. These are my brothers to be in this category. What's up Push man, Malice man. Every time I tell you this, hip hop is gonna always be right here. We gonna be in these suits. We gonna be looking good. We gonna be having our folks with us. We gonna be having the culture with us."
Lamar concluded by giving thanks: "So I appreciate y'all, God is the glory. Love y'all."
During his Record of the Year acceptance for "Luther"—a soulful duet built on a sample of Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 track "If This World Were Mine"—Lamar paid tribute to the late Vandross, noting the estate's approval and the emotional weight of the clearance. Presenter Cher initially misread the winner as "Luther Vandross" before correcting to Lamar and SZA, adding a lighthearted moment to the presentation.
"Luther Vandross is one of my favorite artists of all time," Lamar said. "They granted us the privilege to do our version of it. When we got that clearance, I promise you we all near dropped to tears…. It proved we were somewhat worthy to be just as great as them individuals."
The wins capped a dominant run for Lamar, who has now been nominated in the "Big Three" categories (Record, Album, and Song of the Year) multiple times, with GNX earning Album of the Year consideration. While he did not win Album of the Year (which went to Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos) or Song of the Year, his five trophies made him the night's biggest winner for the second consecutive year.
Industry outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, People, Variety, and the official Grammy site confirmed the record-breaking total of 27 wins, highlighting Lamar's consistent excellence and influence in elevating rap's artistic standing.
The achievement arrives amid Lamar's recent cultural dominance, including his 2025 Grammy sweep for "Not Like Us" and high-profile performances. Fans and peers celebrated the milestone as a testament to hip-hop's evolution and Lamar's unparalleled run in the awards era.
As one of the few acts to win Record of the Year back-to-back (joining Billie Eilish, U2, and Roberta Flack), Lamar's 2026 performance further cements his legacy as a transformative force in music.
