Best Rap Song Grammy Winners: Every Winner From 2004 to 2026

The Grammy Award for Best Rap Song recognizes the songwriting behind a rap recording. The category honors the writers who helped create the winning song.

Since the category was introduced, the Best Rap Song Grammy winners have included some of the biggest names in hip-hop. Eminem, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Drake and Kendrick Lamar are among the artists connected to winning songs.

In this guide, we have compiled every Best Rap Song Grammy winner from 2004 to 2026. You will find the winning song, performing artist and Grammy year. We also cover the history of the category and explain how Best Rap Song differs from Best Rap Performance.

The latest winner is Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off”, featuring Lefty Gunplay. The song won Best Rap Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy credits Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Sounwave and Kamasi Washington as songwriters.

2026 — “tv off” — Kendrick Lamar Featuring Lefty Gunplay

Winner: “tv off”

Artist: Kendrick Lamar Featuring Lefty Gunplay

Grammy Year: 2026

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards with “tv off,” featuring Lefty Gunplay.

The winning song was written by Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Sounwave and Kamasi Washington. The 2026 victory made “tv off” the latest addition to the Best Rap Song Grammy winners list.

2025 — “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar

Winner: “Not Like Us”

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Grammy Year: 2025

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards with “Not Like Us.”

The song became one of the biggest rap records of the year and earned Lamar another major Grammy for his songwriting. “Not Like Us” also won Record Of The Year and Best Rap Performance at the 2025 Grammys.

2024 — “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” — Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane

Winner: “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS”

Artist: Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane

Grammy Year: 2024

Killer Mike won Best Rap Song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards with “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS.”

The song brought together Killer Mike, André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane. It became one of the standout Grammy-winning rap songs of 2024 and also received recognition for its production and songwriting.

2023 — “The Heart Part 5” — Kendrick Lamar

Winner: “The Heart Part 5”

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Grammy Year: 2023

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards with “The Heart Part 5.”

The song was written by Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar and Matt Schaeffer. The win added another Best Rap Song honor to Lamar’s growing Grammy legacy.

2022 — “Jail” — Kanye West Featuring Jay-Z

Winner: “Jail”

Artist: Kanye West Featuring Jay-Z

Grammy Year: 2022

Kanye West won Best Rap Song at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards with “Jail,” featuring Jay-Z.

The official Grammy credits list Dwayne Abernathy Jr., Warryn Campbell, Jay Z, Raul Cubina, Mike Dean, Charles Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West and Mark Williams as the songwriters.

2021 — “Savage Remix” — Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

Winner: “Savage Remix”

Artist: Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

Grammy Year: 2021

Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé won Best Rap Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards with “Savage Remix.”

The winning song was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Jay Z, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius “The Dream” Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Thorpe and J White.

“Savage Remix” also won Best Rap Performance at the same Grammy ceremony, giving Megan Thee Stallion two major wins for the song.

2020 — “A Lot” — 21 Savage Featuring J. Cole

Winner: “A Lot”

Artist: 21 Savage Featuring J. Cole

Grammy Year: 2020

21 Savage won Best Rap Song at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards with “A Lot,” featuring J. Cole.

The song appeared on 21 Savage’s I Am > I Was album. The official Grammy credits list J. Cole, Dahi, 21 Savage and Anthony H. White as the songwriters.

2019 — “God’s Plan” — Drake

Winner: “God’s Plan”

Artist: Drake

Grammy Year: 2019

Drake won Best Rap Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards with “God’s Plan.”

The song became one of Drake’s biggest hits and earned recognition for its songwriting. The official Grammy credits list Drake, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Cardo, Matthew Samuels and Noah “40” Shebib as the songwriters.

2018 — “HUMBLE.” — Kendrick Lamar

Winner: “HUMBLE.”

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Grammy Year: 2018

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards with “HUMBLE.”

The song came from Lamar’s DAMN. album and became one of the project’s biggest records. “HUMBLE.” also won Best Rap Performance at the same ceremony.

2017 — “Hotline Bling” — Drake

Winner: “Hotline Bling”

Artist: Drake

Grammy Year: 2017

Drake won Best Rap Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards with “Hotline Bling.”

The song became a major cultural moment and one of Drake’s most recognizable records. The official Grammy credits list Drake and Paul Jefferies as the songwriters. “Hotline Bling” also won Best Rap/Sung Performance at the ceremony.

2016 — “Alright” — Kendrick Lamar

Winner: “Alright”

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Grammy Year: 2016

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards with “Alright.”

The song appeared on Lamar’s acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly. It also won Best Rap Performance at the same ceremony, giving Lamar two Grammy wins for the song.

2015 — “i” — Kendrick Lamar

Winner: “i”

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Grammy Year: 2015

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards with “i.”

The official Grammy records credit Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Isley and Rahki as the songwriters. “i” also won Best Rap Performance at the same ceremony.

2014 — “Thrift Shop” — Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

Winner: “Thrift Shop”

Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

Grammy Year: 2014

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won Best Rap Song at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards with “Thrift Shop.”

The song became one of the biggest crossover rap hits of the early 2010s. The Recording Academy credits Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis as the songwriters.

2013 — “N****s In Paris” — Jay-Z & Kanye West

Winner: “N****s In Paris”

Artist: Jay-Z & Kanye West

Grammy Year: 2013

Jay-Z and Kanye West won Best Rap Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards with “N****s In Paris.”

The song appeared on their joint album Watch the Throne. The Recording Academy credits Jay Z, Mike Dean, Hit-Boy and Kanye West as the songwriters.

2012 — “All Of The Lights” — Kanye West Featuring Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie

Winner: “All Of The Lights”

Artist: Kanye West Featuring Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie

Grammy Year: 2012

Kanye West won Best Rap Song at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards with “All Of The Lights.”

The song appeared on West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album. The Recording Academy credits Jeff Bhasker, Fergie, Malik Yusef Jones, Terius “The Dream” Nash, Warren Trotter and Kanye West as the songwriters.

2011 — “Empire State Of Mind” — Jay-Z Featuring Alicia Keys

Winner: “Empire State Of Mind”

Artist: Jay-Z Featuring Alicia Keys

Grammy Year: 2011

Jay-Z won Best Rap Song at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards with “Empire State Of Mind.”

The New York anthem became one of Jay-Z’s most recognizable songs. The Recording Academy credits Jay Z, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Janet Sewell and Alexander Shuckburgh as the songwriters.

2010 — “Run This Town” — Jay-Z Featuring Rihanna & Kanye West

Winner: “Run This Town”

Artist: Jay-Z Featuring Rihanna & Kanye West

Grammy Year: 2010

Jay-Z won Best Rap Song at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards with “Run This Town.”

The song featured Rihanna and Kanye West and appeared on Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 album. The Recording Academy credits Jeff Bhasker, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West and No I.D. as the songwriters.

2009 — “Lollipop” — Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major

Winner: “Lollipop”

Artist: Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major

Grammy Year: 2009

Lil Wayne won Best Rap Song at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards with “Lollipop,” featuring Static Major.

The song became one of the biggest hits from Lil Wayne’s breakthrough era. The official Grammy credits list Darius “Deezle” Harrison, Lil Wayne, James Scheffer, Static Major and Rex Zamor as the songwriters.

2008 — “Good Life” — Kanye West Featuring T-Pain

Winner: “Good Life”

Artist: Kanye West Featuring T-Pain

Grammy Year: 2008

Kanye West won Best Rap Song at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards with “Good Life,” featuring T-Pain.

The song appeared on West’s Graduation album and became one of its most recognizable tracks. The Recording Academy credits Aldrin Davis, Mike Dean, T-Pain and Kanye West as the songwriters.

2007 — “Money Maker” — Ludacris Featuring Pharrell Williams

Winner: “Money Maker”

Artist: Ludacris Featuring Pharrell Williams

Grammy Year: 2007

Ludacris won Best Rap Song at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards with “Money Maker,” featuring Pharrell Williams.

The song appeared on Ludacris’ Release Therapy album. The official Grammy records credit Ludacris and Pharrell Williams as the songwriters.

2006 — “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” — Kanye West

Winner: “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”

Artist: Kanye West

Grammy Year: 2006

Kanye West won Best Rap Song at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards with “Diamonds From Sierra Leone.”

The song appeared on West’s Late Registration album. The Recording Academy credits DeVon Harris and Kanye West as the songwriters.

2005 — “Jesus Walks” — Kanye West

Winner: “Jesus Walks”

Artist: Kanye West

Grammy Year: 2005

Kanye West won Best Rap Song at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards with “Jesus Walks.”

The song became one of the defining records from West’s debut album, The College Dropout. The official Grammy credits list Miri Ben Ari, Che Smith and Kanye West as the songwriters.

2004 — “Lose Yourself” — Eminem

Winner: “Lose Yourself”

Artist: Eminem

Grammy Year: 2004

Eminem won the first Best Rap Song Grammy at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards with “Lose Yourself.”

The song became a landmark moment in Grammy and hip-hop history. The official Grammy records credit Jeff Bass, Eminem and Luis Resto as the songwriters.

Artists With the Most Best Rap Song Wins

Some of hip-hop’s biggest artists have won the Best Rap Song Grammy multiple times. Kendrick Lamar currently leads the list, followed by Kanye West, Jay-Z and Drake.

Because Best Rap Song is a songwriting category, these totals should not be confused with an artist’s total Grammy wins. The Grammy is awarded to the credited songwriter or songwriters behind the winning recording.

Kendrick Lamar — 6 Wins

Kendrick Lamar has the most Best Rap Song wins in this period.

His winning songs are “i,” “Alright,” “HUMBLE.,” “The Heart Part 5,” “Not Like Us” and “tv off.”

Lamar’s wins span more than a decade. They also show the Recording Academy’s continued recognition of his songwriting across different stages of his career.

Kanye West — 5 Wins

Kanye West has five Best Rap Song wins.

His winning songs are “Jesus Walks,” “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” “Good Life,” “All Of The Lights” and “Jail.”

These wins cover several different periods of West’s career. They also highlight his work as both a rapper and songwriter.

Jay-Z — 3 Wins

Jay-Z has three Best Rap Song wins.

His winning songs are “Run This Town,” “Empire State Of Mind” and “N****s In Paris.”

All three wins came from major collaborations. Together, they show Jay-Z’s long-running influence on rap songwriting and mainstream hip-hop.

Drake — 2 Wins

Drake has two Best Rap Song wins.

His winning songs are “Hotline Bling” and “God’s Plan.”

Both songs became major commercial successes. They also earned Drake recognition for his songwriting at different stages of his career.

Best Rap Song vs. Best Rap Performance

Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance are two different Grammy categories. Both recognize rap music, but they focus on different parts of a recording.

What Does Best Rap Song Recognize?

The Best Rap Song Grammy is a songwriter’s award. It recognizes excellence in rap songwriting and considers the music and lyrics of an eligible song.

The award goes to the credited songwriter or songwriters behind the winning recording. The performing artist is included with the song to identify the recording.

What Does Best Rap Performance Recognize?

Best Rap Performance focuses on the performance itself. The category recognizes excellence in a performance by a solo rap artist, collaborating rap artists, an established rap duo or an established rap group.

Unlike Best Rap Song, the Grammy for Best Rap Performance is awarded to the artist or artists who performed the recording.

Can One Song Win Both Categories?

Yes. A song can win both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the same Grammy ceremony.

For example, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” won both categories at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Lamar received the Best Rap Song recognition as the songwriter, while he also won Best Rap Performance for the recording.

The same has happened with other major rap records. However, winning one category does not automatically mean a song will win the other.

History of the Best Rap Song Grammy

The Best Rap Song Grammy is one of the Recording Academy’s major rap categories. It recognizes the songwriting behind a rap recording rather than focusing only on the artist’s performance.

The category’s first winner was Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004. The award went to Jeff Bass, Eminem and Luis Resto, who were credited as the songwriters.

Since then, the category has recognized a wide range of rap songs and songwriters. Its winners include Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

When Was Best Rap Song First Awarded?

The Best Rap Song category was first awarded at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004.

Eminem won the first award with “Lose Yourself,” his song from the 8 Mile soundtrack. The record also won Best Male Rap Solo Performance at the same ceremony.

How Has the Category Changed?

The sound of the winning songs has changed as hip-hop has developed. Early winners included major rap hits from Eminem and Kanye West. Later winners came from artists such as Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

The category has also recognized collaborations between rappers and other artists. Examples include Jay-Z’s “Empire State Of Mind” with Alicia Keys, Kanye West’s “All Of The Lights” with Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie, and Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” featuring Lefty Gunplay.

Why Is Best Rap Song Important?

Best Rap Song highlights the songwriting behind hip-hop. Rap places a strong focus on lyrics, storytelling, wordplay and musical composition. This category gives the Recording Academy a way to recognize that creative work.

Because it is a songwriting award, the winning Grammy goes to the credited songwriter or songwriters. This is what separates Best Rap Song from performance-focused categories such as Best Rap Performance.

From “Lose Yourself” to “tv off”

More than two decades separate the first winner from the latest one.

Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” became the first Best Rap Song winner in 2004. In 2026, Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” became the latest song to receive the honor.

Together, these winners show how rap songwriting has continued to evolve while remaining an important part of Grammy history.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Rap Song Grammy Winners

Who won Best Rap Song at the 2026 Grammys?

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards with “tv off.” The song features Lefty Gunplay and was recognized for its songwriting.

Who won Best Rap Song at the 2025 Grammys?

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song at the 2025 Grammy Awards with “Not Like Us.” The song also won Best Rap Performance at the same ceremony.

Who has won the most Best Rap Song Grammys?

Kendrick Lamar has six Best Rap Song wins through the 2026 Grammy Awards. His winning songs are “i,” “Alright,” “HUMBLE.,” “The Heart Part 5,” “Not Like Us” and “tv off.”

What does the Best Rap Song Grammy recognize?

The Best Rap Song Grammy recognizes songwriting in rap music. It is a songwriter’s award, so the Grammy goes to the credited songwriter or songwriters behind the winning recording.

What is the difference between Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance?

Best Rap Song recognizes the songwriting behind a rap recording. Best Rap Performance recognizes the performance itself.

In simple terms, Best Rap Song focuses on the writers, while Best Rap Performance focuses on the artist or artists who performed the recording.

Can a song win both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance?

Yes. A song can win both categories at the same Grammy ceremony.

For example, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” won both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

When did the Best Rap Song Grammy begin?

The Best Rap Song category was first awarded at the 2004 Grammy Awards. The first winner was Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”

Who won the first Best Rap Song Grammy?

Eminem won the first Best Rap Song Grammy with “Lose Yourself.” The official Grammy records credit Jeff Bass, Eminem and Luis Resto as the songwriters.

Is Best Rap Song awarded to the rapper?

Not always. Best Rap Song is a songwriting award. The Grammy is given to the credited songwriter or songwriters.

A rapper can receive the award if they are also credited as a songwriter on the winning song. Other credited writers can receive it as well.

How often is the Best Rap Song Grammy awarded?

The Best Rap Song Grammy is awarded annually as part of the Grammy Awards. Each year’s winner is selected from eligible recordings submitted for that Grammy cycle.

Why Trust This Best Rap Song Grammy Winners List?

Aswehiphop created this guide to make Grammy rap history easier to understand and reference in one place.

We organize each winner by Grammy year and include the winning song, performing artist and relevant songwriting information. The category details are checked against the Recording Academy’s official Grammy records, which identify Best Rap Song as a songwriter’s award.

The page is also designed to remain useful over time. When a new Grammy ceremony takes place, we can add the latest winner without removing the historical winners that make this list valuable to readers.

For the most authoritative award information, readers can also refer to the Recording Academy’s Best Rap Song archive.

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