Best Melodic Rap Performance

The Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance recognizes excellence in performances that use the delivery of rap and melody over modern production. Eligible recordings require a strong and clear presence of melody combined with rap cadence, and may include elements from non-rap genres.

68th Annual Grammy Awards • 2026

Honoring recordings released between Aug 31, 2024 and Aug 30, 2025

Kendrick Lamar With SZA won the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance with "luther"

Winners & Nominees 2026

Winner
Nominees

Previous Winners

Year Winner Work
2026 Kendrick Lamar, SZA luther All Nominees
2025 Rapsody, Erykah Badu 3:AM All Nominees
2024 Durk Banks, J. Cole All My Life All Nominees
2023 Future, Drake, Tems WAIT FOR U All Nominees
2022 Kanye West, The Weeknd, Dominique Armani Jones Hurricane All Nominees
2021 Anderson .Paak Lockdown All Nominees
2020 DJ Khaled, Nipsey Hussle, John Legend Higher All Nominees
2019 Childish Gambino This Is America All Nominees
2018 Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna LOYALTY. All Nominees
2017 Drake Hotline Bling All Nominees
2016 Kendrick Lamar, Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat These Walls All Nominees
2015 Eminem, Rihanna The Monster All Nominees
2014 Jay Z, Justin Timberlake Holy Grail All Nominees
2013 Jay Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Terius "The Dream" Nash No Church In The Wild All Nominees
2012 Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Fergie All Of The Lights All Nominees
2011 Jay Z, Alicia Keys Empire State Of Mind All Nominees
2010 Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West Run This Town All Nominees
2009 Estelle, Kanye West American Boy All Nominees
2008 Rihanna, Jay Z Umbrella All Nominees
2007 Justin Timberlake, T.I. My Love All Nominees
2006 Jay Z, Linkin Park Numb/Encore All Nominees
2005 Usher, Lil Jon, Ludacris Yeah! All Nominees
2004 Jay Z Crazy In Love All Nominees
2003 Nelly Dilemma All Nominees
2002 Eve, Gwen Stefani Let Me Blow Ya Mind All Nominees
Show More