Best Rap Song

The Grammy Award for Best Rap Song is a songwriter's award, recognizing excellence in rap music songwriting that reflects the broad spectrum of rap music style and culture. Eligible songs must comprise music and lyrics.

53rd Annual Grammy Awards • 2011

Honoring recordings released between Aug 31, 2009 and Aug 30, 2010

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Rap Song with "Empire State Of Mind"

Winners & Nominees 2011

Winner

Nominees

Empire State Of Mind

Jay Z, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Janet Sewell, Alexander Shuckburgh
Love The Way You Lie

Alex Da Kid, Skylar Grey, Eminem
Not Afraid

Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans, Eminem, Luis Resto, Matthew Samuels

Nothin' On You

Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars, B.o.B.
On To The Next One

Jay Z, J. Chaton, Swizz Beatz

Previous Winners

Year	Winner	Work
2026	Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Sounwave, Kamasi Washington	tv off	All Nominees
2025	Kendrick Lamar	Not Like Us	All Nominees
2024	André "3000" Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Bryan Jones, Eryn Allen Kane, Killer Mike, Tim Moore, No I.D.	SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS	All Nominees
2023	Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar, Matt Schaeffer	The Heart Part 5	All Nominees
2022	Dwayne Abernathy Jr., Warryn Campbell, Jay Z, Raul Cubina, Mike Dean, Charles Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West, Mark Williams	Jail	All Nominees
2021	Beyoncé Knowles, Jay Z, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius "The Dream" Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session, Jr., Jordan Thorpe, J White	Savage	All Nominees
2020	J. Cole, Dahi, 21 Savage, Anthony H. White	A Lot	All Nominees
2019	Drake, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Cardo, Matthew Samuels, Noah "40" Shebib	God's Plan	All Nominees
2018	Kendrick Lamar, Asheton Hogan, Michael L. Williams II, A. Tiffith	HUMBLE.	All Nominees
2017	Drake, Paul Jefferies	Hotline Bling	All Nominees
2016	Kendrick Lamar, Kawan Prather, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams	Alright	All Nominees
2015	Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Isley, Rahki	I	All Nominees
2014	Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis	Thrift Shop	All Nominees
2013	Jay Z, Mike Dean, Hit-Boy, Kanye West	N****s In Paris	All Nominees
2012	Jeff Bhasker, Fergie, Malik Yusef Jones, Terius "The Dream" Nash, Warren Trotter, Kanye West	All Of The Lights	All Nominees
2011	Jay Z, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Janet Sewell, Alexander Shuckburgh	Empire State Of Mind	All Nominees
2010	Jeff Bhasker, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, No I.D.	Run This Town	All Nominees
2009	Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Lil Wayne, James Scheffer, Static Major, Rex Zamor	Lollipop	All Nominees
2008	Aldrin Davis, Mike Dean, T-Pain, Kanye West	Good Life	All Nominees
2007	Ludacris, Pharrell Williams	Money Maker	All Nominees
2006	DeVon Harris, Kanye West	Diamonds From Sierra Leone	All Nominees
2005	Miri Ben Ari, Che Smith, Kanye West	Jesus Walks	All Nominees
2004	Jeff Bass, Eminem, L Resto	Lose Yourself	All Nominees