Rap

68th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Rap Performance

Chains & Whips. Terrence Thornton, Malice

68th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Melodic Rap Performance

luther. Kendrick Lamar, SZA

68th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Rap Song

tv off. Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Sounwave, Kamasi Washington

68th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Rap Album

GNX. Kendrick Lamar

67th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Rap Performance

Not Like Us. Kendrick Lamar

67th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Melodic Rap Performance

3:AM. Rapsody, Erykah Badu

67th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Rap Song

Not Like Us. Kendrick Lamar

67th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Rap Album

Alligator Bites Never Heal. Doechii

66th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Rap Performance

SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS. Killer Mike, André "3000" Benjamin, Future, Eryn Allen Kane

66th Annual Grammy Awards

Best Melodic Rap Performance

All My Life. Durk Banks, J. Cole

About Rap

Music Facts: Rap

The origins of rapping can be traced back centuries to griots — traveling poets, storytellers and musicians from West Africa.
Rap in popular music started in the Bronx in New York City in the 1970s. It has since gone through multiple evolutions throughout the decades including: the emergence of "new school hip-hop" in the mid-'80s; the "golden age" of hip-hop and the rise of gangsta rap and West Coast rap in the late '80s and early '90s; the commercialization of mainstream rap in the late '90s; the alternative rap movement in the 2000s; and the global explosion of trap music and the so-called "SoundCloud rap" era in the 2010s.
In 2017, rap and R&B became the biggest music genre in the U.S., in terms of total consumption, surpassing rock for the first time ever.
Rap legends include JAY-Z, Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, and the Notorious B.I.G.
The GRAMMY Award for Best Rap Album was first presented in 1996 at the 38th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
At the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2021, the Recording Academy introduced the Best Melodic Rap Performance category, formerly known as the Best Rap/Sung Performance category, to "represent the inclusivity of the growing hybrid performance trends within the rap genre."

Every Rap category, ceremony by ceremony.

Year	Category	Winner	Work	Actions
2026	Best Rap Performance	Terrence Thornton, Malice	Chains & Whips	All Nominees
2026	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar, SZA	luther	All Nominees
2026	Best Rap Song	Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Sounwave, Kamasi Washington	tv off	All Nominees
2026	Best Rap Album	Kendrick Lamar	GNX	All Nominees
2025	Best Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar	Not Like Us	All Nominees
2025	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Rapsody, Erykah Badu	3:AM	All Nominees
2025	Best Rap Song	Kendrick Lamar	Not Like Us	All Nominees
2025	Best Rap Album	Doechii	Alligator Bites Never Heal	All Nominees
2024	Best Rap Performance	Killer Mike, André "3000" Benjamin, Future, Eryn Allen Kane	SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS	All Nominees
2024	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Durk Banks, J. Cole	All My Life	All Nominees
2024	Best Rap Song	André "3000" Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Bryan Jones, Eryn Allen Kane, Killer Mike, Tim Moore, No I.D.	SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS	All Nominees
2024	Best Rap Album	Killer Mike	MICHAEL	All Nominees
2023	Best Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar	The Heart Part 5	All Nominees
2023	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Future, Drake, Tems	WAIT FOR U	All Nominees
2023	Best Rap Song	Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar, Matt Schaeffer	The Heart Part 5	All Nominees
2023	Best Rap Album	Kendrick Lamar	Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers	All Nominees
2022	Best Rap Performance	Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar	Family Ties	All Nominees
2022	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Kanye West, The Weeknd, Dominique Armani Jones	Hurricane	All Nominees
2022	Best Rap Song	Dwayne Abernathy Jr., Warryn Campbell, Jay Z, Raul Cubina, Mike Dean, Charles Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West, Mark Williams	Jail	All Nominees
2022	Best Rap Album	Tyler, The Creator	Call Me If You Get Lost	All Nominees
2021	Best Rap Performance	Megan Pete, Beyoncé Knowles	Savage	All Nominees
2021	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Anderson .Paak	Lockdown	All Nominees
2021	Best Rap Song	Beyoncé Knowles, Jay Z, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius "The Dream" Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session, Jr., Jordan Thorpe, J White	Savage	All Nominees
2021	Best Rap Album	Nas	King’s Disease	All Nominees
2020	Best Rap Performance	Nipsey Hussle, Rodrick Moore, Hit-Boy	Racks In The Middle	All Nominees
2020	Best Melodic Rap Performance	DJ Khaled, Nipsey Hussle, John Legend	Higher	All Nominees
2020	Best Rap Song	J. Cole, Dahi, 21 Savage, Anthony H. White	A Lot	All Nominees
2020	Best Rap Album	Tyler, The Creator	Igor	All Nominees
2019	Best Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, James Blake	King's Dead	All Nominees
2019	Best Rap Performance	Anderson .Paak	Bubblin	All Nominees
2019	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Childish Gambino	This Is America	All Nominees
2019	Best Rap Song	Drake, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Cardo, Matthew Samuels, Noah "40" Shebib	God's Plan	All Nominees
2019	Best Rap Album	Cardi B	Invasion Of Privacy	All Nominees
2018	Best Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar	HUMBLE.	All Nominees
2018	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna	LOYALTY.	All Nominees
2018	Best Rap Song	Kendrick Lamar, Asheton Hogan, Michael L. Williams II, A. Tiffith	HUMBLE.	All Nominees
2018	Best Rap Album	Kendrick Lamar	DAMN.	All Nominees
2017	Best Rap Performance	Chancelor Bennett, Lil Wayne, Tauheed Epps	No Problem	All Nominees
2017	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Drake	Hotline Bling	All Nominees
2017	Best Rap Song	Drake, Paul Jefferies	Hotline Bling	All Nominees
2017	Best Rap Album	Chancelor Bennett	Coloring Book	All Nominees
2016	Best Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar	Alright	All Nominees
2016	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar, Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat	These Walls	All Nominees
2016	Best Rap Song	Kendrick Lamar, Kawan Prather, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams	Alright	All Nominees
2016	Best Rap Album	Kendrick Lamar	To Pimp A Butterfly	All Nominees
2015	Best Rap Performance	Kendrick Lamar	I	All Nominees
2015	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Eminem, Rihanna	The Monster	All Nominees
2015	Best Rap Song	Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Isley, Rahki	I	All Nominees
2015	Best Rap Album	Eminem	The Marshall Mathers LP2	All Nominees
2014	Best Rap Performance	Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis	Thrift Shop	All Nominees
2014	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Jay Z, Justin Timberlake	Holy Grail	All Nominees
2014	Best Rap Song	Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis	Thrift Shop	All Nominees
2014	Best Rap Album	Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis	The Heist	All Nominees
2013	Best Rap Performance	Jay Z, Kanye West	N****s In Paris	All Nominees
2013	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Jay Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Terius "The Dream" Nash	No Church In The Wild	All Nominees
2013	Best Rap Song	Jay Z, Mike Dean, Hit-Boy, Kanye West	N****s In Paris	All Nominees
2013	Best Rap Album	Drake	Take Care	All Nominees
2012	Best Rap Performance	Jay Z, Kanye West	Otis	All Nominees
2012	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Fergie	All Of The Lights	All Nominees
2012	Best Rap Song	Jeff Bhasker, Fergie, Malik Yusef Jones, Terius "The Dream" Nash, Warren Trotter, Kanye West	All Of The Lights	All Nominees
2012	Best Rap Album	Kanye West	My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy	All Nominees
2011	Best Rap Solo Performance	Eminem	Not Afraid	All Nominees
2011	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Jay Z, Swizz Beatz	On To The Next One	All Nominees
2011	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Jay Z, Alicia Keys	Empire State Of Mind	All Nominees
2011	Best Rap Song	Jay Z, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Janet Sewell, Alexander Shuckburgh	Empire State Of Mind	All Nominees
2011	Best Rap Album	Eminem	Recovery	All Nominees
2010	Best Rap Solo Performance	Jay Z	D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)	All Nominees
2010	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent	Crack A Bottle	All Nominees
2010	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West	Run This Town	All Nominees
2010	Best Rap Song	Jeff Bhasker, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, No I.D.	Run This Town	All Nominees
2010	Best Rap Album	Eminem	Relapse	All Nominees
2009	Best Rap Solo Performance	Lil Wayne	A Milli	All Nominees
2009	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Jay Z, T.I., Kanye West, Lil Wayne	Swagga Like Us	All Nominees
2009	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Estelle, Kanye West	American Boy	All Nominees
2009	Best Rap Song	Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Lil Wayne, James Scheffer, Static Major, Rex Zamor	Lollipop	All Nominees
2009	Best Rap Album	Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III	All Nominees
2008	Best Rap Solo Performance	Kanye West	Stronger	All Nominees
2008	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Common, Kanye West	Southside	All Nominees
2008	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Rihanna, Jay Z	Umbrella	All Nominees
2008	Best Rap Song	Aldrin Davis, Mike Dean, T-Pain, Kanye West	Good Life	All Nominees
2008	Best Rap Album	Kanye West	Graduation	All Nominees
2007	Best Rap Solo Performance	T.I.	What You Know	All Nominees
2007	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Chamillionaire, Anthony "Krazie Bone" Henderson	Ridin	All Nominees
2007	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Justin Timberlake, T.I.	My Love	All Nominees
2007	Best Rap Song	Ludacris, Pharrell Williams	Money Maker	All Nominees
2007	Best Rap Album	Ludacris	Release Therapy	All Nominees
2006	Best Rap Solo Performance	Kanye West	Gold Digger	All Nominees
2006	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Black Eyed Peas	Don't Phunk With My Heart	All Nominees
2006	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Jay Z, Linkin Park	Numb/Encore	All Nominees
2006	Best Rap Song	DeVon Harris, Kanye West	Diamonds From Sierra Leone	All Nominees
2006	Best Rap Album	Kanye West	Late Registration	All Nominees
2005	Best Rap Solo Performance	Jay Z	99 Problems	All Nominees
2005	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Black Eyed Peas	Let's Get It Started	All Nominees
2005	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Usher, Lil Jon, Ludacris	Yeah!	All Nominees
2005	Best Rap Song	Miri Ben Ari, Che Smith, Kanye West	Jesus Walks	All Nominees
2005	Best Rap Album	Kanye West	The College Dropout	All Nominees
2004	Best Female Rap Solo Performance	Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott	Work It	All Nominees
2004	Best Male Rap Solo Performance	Eminem	Lose Yourself	All Nominees
2004	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Nelly, Murphy Lee	Shake Ya Tailfeather	All Nominees
2004	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Jay Z	Crazy In Love	All Nominees
2004	Best Rap Song	Jeff Bass, Eminem, L Resto	Lose Yourself	All Nominees
2004	Best Rap Album	OutKast	Speakerboxxx/The Love Below	All Nominees
2003	Best Female Rap Solo Performance	Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott	Scream a.k.a. Itchin'	All Nominees
2003	Best Male Rap Solo Performance	Nelly	Hot In Herre	All Nominees
2003	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	OutKast, Killer Mike	The Whole World	All Nominees
2003	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Nelly	Dilemma	All Nominees
2003	Best Rap Album	Eminem	The Eminem Show	All Nominees
2002	Best Rap Solo Performance	Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott	Get Ur Freak On	All Nominees
2002	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	OutKast	Ms. Jackson	All Nominees
2002	Best Melodic Rap Performance	Eve, Gwen Stefani	Let Me Blow Ya Mind	All Nominees
2002	Best Rap Album	OutKast	Stankonia	All Nominees
2001	Best Rap Solo Performance	Eminem	The Real Slim Shady	All Nominees
2001	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Dr. Dre, Eminem	Forgot About Dre	All Nominees
2001	Best Rap Album	Eminem	The Marshall Mathers LP	All Nominees
2000	Best Rap Solo Performance	Eminem	My Name Is	All Nominees
2000	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	The Roots, Erykah Badu, Eve	You Got Me	All Nominees
2000	Best Rap Album	Eminem	The Slim Shady LP	All Nominees
1999	Best Rap Solo Performance	Will Smith	Gettin' Jiggy Wit It	All Nominees
1999	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Beastie Boys	Intergalactic	All Nominees
1999	Best Rap Album	Jay Z	Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life	All Nominees
1998	Best Rap Solo Performance	Will Smith	Men In Black	All Nominees
1998	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Faith Evans, 112	I'll Be Missing You	All Nominees
1998	Best Rap Album	Puff Daddy & The Family	No Way Out	All Nominees
1997	Best Rap Solo Performance	LL Cool J	Hey Lover	All Nominees
1997	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Bone Thugs-N-Harmony	Tha Crossroads	All Nominees
1997	Best Rap Album	Fugees	The Score	All Nominees
1996	Best Rap Solo Performance	Coolio	Gangsta's Paradise	All Nominees
1996	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Method Man, Mary J. Blige	I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By	All Nominees
1996	Best Rap Album	Naughty By Nature	Poverty's Paradise	All Nominees
1995	Best Rap Solo Performance	Queen Latifah	U.N.I.T.Y.	All Nominees
1995	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Salt-N-Pepa	None Of Your Business	All Nominees
1994	Best Rap Solo Performance	Dr. Dre	Let Me Ride	All Nominees
1994	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Digable Planets	Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)	All Nominees
1993	Best Rap Solo Performance	Sir Mix-A-Lot	Baby Got Back	All Nominees
1993	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Arrested Development	Tennessee	All Nominees
1992	Best Rap Solo Performance	LL Cool J	Mama Said Knock You Out	All Nominees
1992	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	D.J. Jazzy Jeff, Will Smith	Summertime	All Nominees
1991	Best Rap Solo Performance	M.C. Hammer	U Can't Touch This	All Nominees
1991	Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group	Melle Mel, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, Quincy Jones, Quincy D. III	Back On The Block	All Nominees
1990	Best Rap Performance	Young MC	Bust A Move	All Nominees
1989	Best Rap Performance	D.J. Jazzy Jeff, Will Smith	Parents Just Don't Understand	All Nominees