Winners List Hollywood Life

May 2024 · 11 minute read

Hip-hop is arguably the most dominant music genre of the last half-century, eclipsing rock and roll to become the sound that makes the world go ’round. And some of the minds behind rap’s biggest songs get their flowers at the annual Grammy Awards, specifically in the Best Rap Song category. First held in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards (aka those golden turntables that winners take home), the Grammy Awards have changed and evolved with the times, now celebrating “honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency, and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position,” per the show’s website.

With that said, the Grammys’ treatment of hip-hop hasn’t been…great. The Recording Academy debuted the Best Rap Performance award in 1989 and the Best Rap Album category in 1996, many years after the genre developed. The Grammys unveiled the Best Rap Song category for the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004. Eminem won that inaugural award for “Lose Yourself,” as did the song’s writers – Luis Restro and Jeff Bass.

The Best Rap Song award is a songwriters award, one that recognizes the many hands that go into making a hit.

2023’s Nominees

The Best Rap Song category features some familiar names, with a few bright stars on the rise. DJ Khaled‘s “God Did,” featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy, is nominated. Kendrick Lamar‘s “The Heart Part 5” is also up for the award, as is “Pushin P” by Gunna and Future featuring Young Thug.

Future is one of the multiple nominees in this category. His “Wait For You,” featuring Tems and Drake, is also nominated. Drake pops back up again on “Churchill Downs,” the Jack Harlow song that also scored a nomination.

In a non-broadcast, pre-show ceremony, Kendrick Lamar won. He also won Best Rap Performance, and Best Melodic Rap Song.

Congrats Best Rap Song winner – "The Heart Part 5" Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar & Matt Schaeffer, songwriters (@KendrickLamar) #GRAMMYs
🎶 WATCH NOW https://t.co/OuKk34l332

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) February 5, 2023

BEST RAP SONG 🏆 @kendricklamar #GRAMMYS pic.twitter.com/5bBwFiLLpQ

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) February 5, 2023

Recent Winners Of The Grammy Award For Best Rap Song

2023: Kendrick Lamar, “The Heart Part 5”

2022: Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, “Jail”

Other Nominees:

2021: Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage (Remix)”

Other Nominees:

2020: 21 Savage ft. J. Cole, “A Lot”

2019: Drake, “God’s Plan”

2018: Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE”

2017: Drake, “Hotline Bling”

2016: Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”

2015: Kendrick Lamar, “i”

2014: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz, “Thrift Shop”

2013: Jay-Z and Kanye West, “N—– In Paris”

2012: Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie, “All of the Lights”

2011: Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”

2010: Jay-Z ft. Rihanna and Kanye West, “Run This Town”

2009: Lil Wayne ft. Static Major, “Lollipop”

2008: Kanye West ft. T-Pain, “Good Life”

2007: Ludacris ft. Pharrell, “Money Maker”

2006: Kanye West, “Diamonds from Sierra Leonne”

2005: Kanye West, “Jesus Walks”

2004: Eminem, “Lose Yourself”

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