Grammy Award for Best Rap Song

The Grammy Award for Best Rap Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,^[1] to recording artists for quality songs in the rap music genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".^[2]

Grammy Award for Best Rap Song
"Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar is the most recent recipient
Awarded for	Quality rap songs
Country	United States
Presented by	National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First award	2004
Currently held by	Kendrick Lamar for "Not Like Us" (Kendrick Lamar) (2025)
Website	grammy.com

The award was first presented to Eminem along with Jeff Bass and Luis Resto for the song "Lose Yourself" from the soundtrack 8 Mile in 2004. According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide, the award honors the songwriter(s) of new songs (containing both music and lyrics) or songs "first achieving prominence during the period of eligibility". Songs containing prominent samples may be eligible.^[3] The award goes to the songwriter(s), not to the artist except when the artist is also a songwriter of the winning song.

Kanye West holds the records for the most wins and nominations in this category, having won seven times out of sixteen nominations. West, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, Drake and Kendrick Lamar are the only songwriters to have won the category more than once. Cyhi the Prynce holds the record for most nominations without a win, with six.

Recipients

Eminem was the first recipient of the award in 2004 alongside Jeff Bass and Luis Resto.

Kanye West holds the records of most wins in the category with seven, as well as most nominations for the award with sixteen.

2007 winner Ludacris.

Two-time winner Pharrell Williams.

Four-time winner Jay-Z.

Five-time winner Kendrick Lamar.

Two-time winner Drake.

2020 winner 21 Savage.

Year[I]	Recipient(s)	Work	Performing artist(s)	Nominees (Performer(s) in parentheses)[II]	Ref.
2004	Jeff Bass Eminem Luis Resto	"Lose Yourself"	Eminem	Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams – "Beautiful" (Snoop Dogg and Pharrell) Shawn Carter, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams – "Excuse Me Miss" (Jay-Z and Pharrell) Mike Elizondo, C. Jackson and A. Young – "In da Club" (50 Cent) Missy Elliott and Tim Mosley – "Work It" (Missy Elliott)	[4]
2005	Miri Ben-Ari Che Smith Kanye West	"Jesus Walks"	Kanye West	Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo, Scott Thomas and Pharrell Williams – "Drop It Like It's Hot" (Snoop Dogg and Pharrell) Will Adams and Anthony Henry – "Hey Mama" (The Black Eyed Peas) Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Jaime Gomez, George Pajon, Jr., Allan Pineda and Terence Yoshiaki – "Let's Get It Started" (The Black Eyed Peas) Shawn Carter and Rick Rubin – "99 Problems" (Jay-Z)	[5]
2006	Devon Harris Kanye West	"Diamonds from Sierra Leone"	Kanye West	50 Cent and Scott Storch – "Candy Shop" (50 Cent featuring Olivia) William Adams, Printz Board, Stacy Ferguson and George Pajon Jr. – "Don't Phunk With My Heart" (The Black Eyed Peas) Jayceon Taylor and 50 Cent – "Hate It Or Love It" (The Game featuring 50 Cent) Missy Elliott, Ciara Harris and Isaac Freeman – "Lose Control" (Missy Elliott featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop)	[6]
2007	Ludacris Pharrell Williams	"Money Maker"	Ludacris featuring Pharrell	Chadron Moore and Jasiel Robinson – "It's Goin' Down" (Yung Joc) Wasalu Muhammad Jaco – "Kick, Push" (Lupe Fiasco) Hakeem Seriki, Juan Salinas, Oscar Salinas, Anthony Henderson – "Ridin'" (Chamillionaire) Adrian Davis and Clifford Harris – "What You Know" (T.I.)	[7]
2008	Aldrin Davis Faheem Najm Kanye West	"Good Life"	Kanye West featuring T-Pain	Curtis Jackson, Nathaniel Hills, Timothy Mosley and Justin Timberlake – "Ayo Technology" (50 Cent featuring Justin Timberlake) Clifford Harris and Byron Thomas – "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)" (T.I.) Aldrin Davis and Kanye West – "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (Kanye West) Soulja Boy – "Crank That" (Soulja Boy)	[8]
2009	Dwayne Carter Stephen Garrett Darius Harrison Jim Jonsin Rex Zamor	"Lollipop"	Lil Wayne featuring Static Major	Tramar Dillard and Faheem Najm – "Low" (Flo Rida featuring T-Pain) C. Broadus, S. Lovejoy and D. Stewart – "Sexual Eruption" (Snoop Dogg) Wasalu Muhammad Jaco – "Superstar" (Lupe Fiasco featuring Soundtrak) Mathangi Arulpragasam, Dwayne Carter, Shawn Carter, Clifford Harris, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Wesley Pentz, Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer and Kanye West – "Swagga Like Us" (T.I. featuring Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West & M.I.A.)	[9]
2010	Shawn Carter R. Fenty M. Riddick Kanye West E. Wilson	"Run This Town"	Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West	Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Drake Graham & Matthew Samuels – "Best I Ever Had" (Drake) S. Mescudi and O. Omishore – "Day 'n' Nite" (Kid Cudi) Clifford Harris and Justin Timberlake – "Dead and Gone" (T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake) Shawn Carter and Ernest Wilson – "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" (Jay-Z)	[10]
2011	Shawn Carter Angela Hunter Alicia Keys Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic Alexander Shuckburgh	"Empire State of Mind"	Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys	Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey and Marshall Mathers – "Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem featuring Rihanna) Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans, Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto & Matthew Samuels – "Not Afraid" (Eminem) Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars and Bobby Simmons Jr. – "Nothin' On You" (B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars) Shawn Carter, J. Chaton and K. Dean – "On to the Next One" (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)	[11]
2012	Jeff Bhasker Stacy Ferguson Malik Jones Warren Trotter Kanye West	"All of the Lights"	Kanye West featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi	Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Cameron Thomaz – "Black and Yellow" (Wiz Khalifa) Andre Young, Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey and Marshall Mathers – "I Need a Doctor" (Dr. Dre, Eminem and Skylar Grey) Chris Brown, Wesley Pentz, Jean Baptiste, Ryan Buendia, Dwayne Carter, Trevor Smith, Nick van de Wall (Afrojack) – "Look at Me Now" (Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne) Shawn Carter and Kanye West – "Otis" – (Jay-Z and Kanye West) Dustin William Brower, Jonathon Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson, Kane and Wasalu Muhammad Jaco – "The Show Goes On" (Lupe Fiasco)	[12]
2013	Shawn Carter Mike Dean Chauncey Hollis Kanye West	"Niggas in Paris"	Jay-Z and Kanye West	Nasir Jones and Ernest Wilson – "Daughters" (Nas) Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson and Miguel Jontel Pimentel – "Lotus Flower Bomb" (Wale featuring Miguel) Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton and Kanye West – "Mercy" (Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz) Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham and Michael Stevenson – "The Motto" (Drake featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga) Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Peter Hernandez and Cameron Thomaz – "Young, Wild & Free" (Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars)	[13]
2014	Ben Haggerty Ryan Lewis	"Thrift Shop"	Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz	Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar, Rakim Mayers and Noah Shebib – "Fuckin' Problems" (ASAP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar) Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley, Justin Timberlake and Ernest Wilson – "Holy Grail" (Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake) Christopher Breaux, Benjamin Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye West and Cydel Young – "New Slaves" (Kanye West) William Coleman, Aubrey Graham and Noah Shebib – "Started from the Bottom" (Drake)	[14]
2015	Kendrick Duckworth Columbus Smith Ronald Isley	"i"	Kendrick Lamar	Ernest Clark, Jamal Jones, Onika Maraj, Marcos Palacios and J. Solone Myvett – "Anaconda" (Nicki Minaj) Mike Dean, Malik Jones, Che Pope, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, John Stephens, Kanye West, Charlie Wilson and Cydel Young – "Bound 2" (Kanye West featuring Charlie Wilson) Noel Fisher and Cameron Thomaz – "We Dem Boyz" (Wiz Khalifa) A. Feeney, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, P. Jefferies, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib – "0 to 100 / The Catch Up" (Drake)	[15]
2016	Kendrick Duckworth Kawan Prather Mark Spears Pharrell Williams	"Alright"	Kendrick Lamar	Ernest Brown, Tyler Bryant, Sean Combs, Mike Dean, Rennard East, Noah Goldstein, Malik Yusef Jones, Karim Kharbouch, Allan Kyariga, Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Victor Mensah, Charles Njapa, Che Pope, Patrick Reynolds, Allen Ritter, Kanye West, Mario Winans and Cydel Young – "All Day" (Kanye West Featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom and Paul McCartney) Richard Dorfmeister, A. Graham, Markus Kienzl, M. O'Brien, M. Samuels and Phillip Thomas – "Energy" (Drake) Lonnie Lynn, Che Smith and John Stephens – "Glory" (Common and John Legend) Tony Fadd and Willie J. Maxwell – "Trap Queen" (Fetty Wap)	[16]
2017	Aubrey Graham Paul Jefferies	"Hotline Bling"	Drake	Joseph Cartagena, Edward Davadi, Shandel Green, Karim Kharbouch, Andre Christopher Lyon, Reminisce Mackie & Marcello Valenzano – "All the Way Up" (Fat Joe & Remy Ma featuring French Montana & Infared) Chancellor Bennett, Ross Birchard, Ernest Brown, Andrew Dawson, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Kejuan Muchita, Patrick Reynolds, Kanye West & Cydel Young – "Famous" (Kanye West featuring Rihanna) Chancellor Bennett, Dwayne Carter & Tauheed Epps – "No Problem" (Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz) Chancellor Bennett, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Goldstein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico "Donnie Trumpet" Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West & Cydel Young – "Ultralight Beam" (Kanye West featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream)	[17]
2018	K. Duckworth Asheton Hogan M. Williams II	"HUMBLE."	Kendrick Lamar	Dieuson Octave, Klenord Raphael, Shaftizm, Jordan Thorpe, Belcalis Almanzar & J White – "Bodak Yellow" (Cardi B) Judah Bauer, Brian Burton, Hector Delgado, Jaime Meline, Antwan Patton, Michael Render, Russell Simins & Jon Spencer – "Chase Me" (Danger Mouse featuring Run the Jewels and Big Boi) E. Gabouer & M. Evans – "Sassy" (Rapsody) Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson – "The Story of O.J." (Jay-Z)	[18]
2019	Aubrey Graham Ronald LaTour Daveon Jackson Brock Korsan Matthew Samuels Noah Shebib	"God's Plan"	Drake	Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II – "King's Dead" (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake) R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels & J. Sweet – "Lucky You" (Eminem featuring Joyner Lucas) Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, John Edward Hawkins, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young – "Sicko Mode" (Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee) K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels & C. Thompson – "Win" (Jay Rock)	[19]
2020	Jermaine Cole Dacoury Natche 21 Savage Anthony White	"A Lot"	21 Savage featuring J. Cole	Chancelor Bennett, Cordae Dunston, Uforo Ebong & Daniel Hackett – "Bad Idea" (YBN Cordae featuring Chance the Rapper) Noel Cadastre, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, William Leonard Roberts II, Joshua Quinton Scruggs, Leon Thomas III & Ozan Yildirim – "Gold Roses" (Rick Ross featuring Drake) Ermias Asghedom, Dustin James Corbett, Greg Allen Davis, Chauncey Hollis, Jr. & Rodrick Moore – "Racks in the Middle" (Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy) DaBaby, JetsonMade & Pooh Beatz – "Suge" (DaBaby)	[20]
2021	Beyoncé Shawn Carter Brittany Hazzard Derrick Milano Terius Nash Megan Pete Bobby Session Jr. Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe Anthony White	"Savage"	Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé	Dominique Jones, Noah Pettigrew & Rai'shaun Williams – "The Bigger Picture" (Lil Baby) Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore – "The Box" (Roddy Ricch) Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ronald LaTour & Ryan Martinez – "Laugh Now Cry Later" (Drake featuring Lil Durk) Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro IV & Rodrick Moore – "ROCKSTAR" (DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch)	[21]
2022	Dwayne Abernathy, Jr. Shawn Carter Raul Cubina Michael Dean Charles M. Njapa Sean Solymar Kanye West Mark Williams	"Jail"	Kanye West featuring Jay-Z	Shawn Carter, Kasseem Dean, Michael Forno, Nasir Jones and Earl Simmons – "Bath Salts" (DMX featuring Jay-Z and Nas) Amala Zandile Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Randall Avery Hammers, Diamonté Harper, Asia Smith, Theron Thomas and Rocco Valdes – "Best Friend" (Saweetie featuring Doja Cat) Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Hykeem Carter, Tobias Dekker, Colin Franken, Jasper Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Latour and Dominik Patrzek – "Family Ties" (Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar) Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, Jacob Dutton and Jermaine Cole – "My Life" (J. Cole featuring 21 Savage and Morray)	[22]
2023	Jake Kosich Johnny Kosich Kendrick Lamar Matt Schaeffer	"The Heart Part 5"	Kendrick Lamar	Alex Ernewein, Ryan Bakalarczyk, Matthew Samuels, Tahrence Brown, Rogét Chahayed & Aubrey Graham – "Churchill Downs" (Jack Harlow featuring Drake) Tarik Azzouz, E. Blackmon, Khaled Khaled, F. LeBlanc, Shawn Carter, John Stephens, Dwayne Carter, William Roberts and Nicholas Warwar – "God Did" (DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend and Fridayy) Lucas Depante, Nayvadius Wilburn, Sergio Kitchens, Wesley Tyler Glass and Jeffery Lamar Williams – "Pushin P" (Gunna and Future featuring Young Thug) Tejiri Akpoghene, Floyd E. Bentley III, Jacob Canady, Isaac De Boni, Aubrey Graham, Israel Ayomide Fowobaje, Nayvadius Wilburn, Michael Mule, Oluwatoroti Oke and Temilade Openiyi – "Wait for U" (Future featuring Drake and Tems)	[23]
2024	Andre Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Michael Render, Tim Moore & Dion Wilson	"Scientists & Engineers"	Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future And Eryn Allen Kane	Rogét Chahayed, Amala Zandile Dlamini and Ari Starace – "Attention" (Doja Cat) Isis Naija Gaston, Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr. & Onika Maraj – "Barbie World" (Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice featuring Aqua) Mohamad Camara, Symere Woods and Javier Mercado – "Just Wanna Rock" (Lil Uzi Vert) Tay Keith, Isaac "Zac" De Boni, Aubrey Graham, J. Gwin, Anderson Hernandez, Michael "Finatik" Mule and Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph – "Rich Flex" (Drake and 21 Savage)	[24]
2025	Kendrick Lamar	"Not Like Us"	Kendrick Lamar	Marlanna Evans – "Asteroids" (Rapsody featuring Hit-Boy) Jordan Carter, Raul Cubina, Grant Dickinson, Samuel Lindley, Nasir Pemberton, Dimitri Roger, Tyrone Griffin Jr., Kanye West, and Mark Carl Stolinski Williams – "Carnival" (¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) featuring Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti) Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Kobe Hood, Leland Wayne, and Nayvadius Wilburn – "Like That" (Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar) Ronnie Jackson, Jaucquez Lowe, Timothy McKibbins, Kevin Andre Price, Julius Rivera III, and Gloria Woods – "Yeah Glo!" (GloRilla)	[25]

Artists with multiple wins and nominations

Multiple wins 7 wins Kanye West 5 wins Kendrick Lamar 4 wins Jay-Z 2 wins Rihanna Drake

Multiple nominations 17 nominations Kanye West 14 nominations Jay-Z 13 nominations Drake 11 nominations Kendrick Lamar 6 nominations Lil Wayne 5 nominations Eminem 4 nominations Snoop Dogg Pharrell Williams 50 Cent T.I. Rihanna Future 3 nominations 21 Savage 2 Chainz The Black Eyed Peas Chance the Rapper Lupe Fiasco Wiz Khalifa Roddy Ricch Justin Timberlake 2 nominations Missy Elliott Nicki Minaj T-Pain Kid Cudi Bruno Mars Nas John Legend Killer Mike/ (Run the Jewels nomination) Jay Rock J. Cole Rick Ross DaBaby Doja Cat Rapsody Hit-Boy

See also

• Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
• Grammy Award for Best Rap Album
• List of Grammy Award categories

References

1. "Grammy Awards at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
2. "Overview". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
3. "Category Mapper: Best Rap Song (S/T)". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
4. "Complete list of Grammy nominations". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. December 5, 2003. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
5. "Grammy Award nominees in top categories". USA Today. Gannett Company. February 7, 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
6. "Complete list of Grammy Award nominations". USA Today. Gannett Company. December 8, 2006. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
7. Kaufman, Gil (December 7, 2006). "Mary J. Blige, Chili Peppers Top Grammy Nominations List". MTV. Archived from the original on December 9, 2006. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
8. "2008 Grammy Award Winners and Nominees". The New York Times. February 9, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
9. "Complete List of Nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards". E! Online. December 3, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
10. Partridge, Kenneth (December 2, 2009). "Nominees for 2010 Grammy Awards Announced -- Full List". Spinner.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
11. "Nominees And Winners – GRAMMY.com". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
12. "2011 - 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: Rap Field". The Recording Academy. November 30, 2011.
13. List of 2013 nominees Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine
14. "2014 Nominees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
15. "57th Grammy Nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
16. "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
17. "Grammy Nominations 2017: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
18. Lynch, Joe (November 28, 2017). "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
19. Lynch, Joe (November 28, 2017). "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
20. Lynch, Joe (November 22, 2019). "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". Retrieved November 22, 2019.
21. 2021 Nominations List
22. 2022 Nominations List
23. "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". GRAMMYs. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
24. "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". GRAMMYs. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
25. "2025 GRAMMYs: See The Full Winners & Nominees List". GRAMMYs. 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2025-02-02.

External links

• Official site of the Grammy Awards