Kendrick Lamar, the Compton-born hip-hop visionary whose music has persistently redefined the style, continued his reign over rap on the 2025 Grammys. Along with his 2024 anthem “Not Like Us,” Lamar swept 5 awards, together with track of the 12 months, report of the 12 months, finest rap track, finest music video and finest rap efficiency. The night time marked not only a celebration of his music, however a reminder of his unmatched capability to bridge artistry, business success and cultural commentary.
As Lamar walked to the stage to simply accept his report of the 12 months Grammy for “Not Like Us,” a legion of viewers members, together with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, danced and sang alongside to a number of the track’s most incendiary lyrics as they blasted triumphantly from the home audio system. For nevertheless controversial the track could also be to some, it’s price noting Kendrick didn’t make “A minorrrrr” right into a chorus till after Drake levied quite a lot of damaging insinuations about Lamar’s associate and kids in “Household Issues.”
Lamar’s Grammy sweep serves as the newest FAFO second for the observe’s meant goal. Cementing the tip of Lamar’s long-simmering rivalry with Drake, the track debuted Might 4, 2024, with staggering numbers, racking up 96 million streams in its first week and crossing a billion Spotify streams in simply three months. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100 and have become a cultural phenomenon.
Within the days following its launch, followers went to work deciphering Lamar’s razor-sharp lyrics. Among the many allegations Ok.Dot calmly laid out had been the Toronto rapper’s fame for inappropriate conduct, low ethical character, questionable credibility and cultural colonization. After calling out his foe’s flaws, Lamar subsequent took goal at Drake’s associates earlier than introducing the refrain that’s change into a rallying cry for standing out from the favored crowd in favor of staying true to artistry, tradition and a powerful ethical code.
With an irresistible hook and a number of catchphrases, the track that began as mic-drop on a a number of track rap beef has now been solely additional magnified after being cemented as essentially the most winningest battle report within the historical past of hip-hop (paradoxically, Drake’s Meek Mill diss “Again to Again” misplaced out on the perfect rap efficiency Grammy to Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly single “Alright” in 2016).
Regardless of his dominance at this 12 months’s awards, Lamar saved his time on the Grammys podium humble. Except for being fitted in a Canadian tuxedo — head-to-toe denim, a playful nod to his Toronto-born adversary — the Compton rapper steered away from beef. As a substitute of gloating on the podium, Lamar used the chance to shine a highlight on his hometown and the tradition he so proudly represents in his acceptance speech for report of the 12 months.
“We gonna dedicate this one to town — Compton, Watts, Lengthy Seashore, Inglewood, Hollywood, out to the Valley, the IE, San Bernadino — that is my neck of the woods that held me down since I used to be a younger pup, since I used to be within the studio scrapping to write down the perfect raps and all that, to do data like these,” he advised the group. “I can’t give sufficient thanks to those locations that I’ve rolled round since highschool, most significantly the individuals and the households out within the Palisades and Altadena, this the true testomony that we will proceed to revive town. We gonna hold rocking.”
The second was an unbelievable callback to the Grammy’s deal with rebuilding, simply weeks after wildfires devastated Los Angeles. Lamar’s love for his metropolis has additionally been evident in the way in which he injected a lot of the West Coast into the video for “Not Like Us.” He ended the night’s win streak by dedicating his track of the 12 months Grammy to his associate and the West Coast rappers who impressed him arising.
“Whitney within the video Crip strolling,” Lamar famous, after taking the mic from his collaborators. “We gonna dedicate that one… All of the West Coast artists early on: G. Malone, Drawback, Dangerous Lucc, Ok-Boy, Daylyt, Mykestro… These the cats that impressed me to be the MC I’m as we speak. Schoolboy, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul… that is what it’s about, as a result of on the finish of the day, ain’t nothing extra highly effective than rap music. We’re the tradition. It’s gonna keep. And to the younger artists, I simply hope you respect the artform. It’s gonna get you the place it’s worthwhile to go.”
That closing sentiment really helps spotlight the explanation Lamar has been in a position to unify legions of followers. Very similar to his award-winning track, he’s rightfully being celebrated for his capability to raise hip-hop whereas protecting its roots intact. In a music trade more and more outlined by tendencies and algorithms, Lamar stays steadfastly genuine. His Grammy wins function a reaffirmation of his function as a torchbearer for the tradition.
