Grammy Awards: Kendrick Lamar takes Record of the Year

3 February 2025

Kendrick Lamar celebrated the city of Los Angeles as he picked up the Record of the Year Grammy on Sunday (02.02.25).

Kendrick Lamar accepts Record of the Year

The 38-year-old rapper scooped the prestigious accolade for his Drake diss track 'Not Like Us', and in keeping with the theme of the evening, he celebrated his favourite places in the city and paid tribute to the families affected by the devasating recent wildfires in his acceptane speech.

Speaking on stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, he said: "What’s up? First and foremost, praise to the most high we woke up this morning. Dre, what's up? Swiss what's up?

"We gonna dedicate this one to this city: Compton, Long Beach, Englewood, Hollywood, out to the Valley, San Bernardino, all that. This is my neck of the woods that held me down since a young pup, since I was in the studio scrapping to write the best raps and all that to write ones like these.

"I can’t give enough thanks to these places that I rolled around since high school.

"Most importantly, the people and the families out in the Palisades and Altadena. This is a true testament that we can change and restore this city. Keep rocking. My boy Mustard, where you at?”

To scoop his fourth Record of the Year prize in five nominations, he had to beat off competition from The Beatles ('Now and Then'),Beyonce ('Texas Hold 'Em'), Sabrina Carpenter ('Espresso), Charli XCX ('360'), Billie Eilish ('Birds of a Feather'), Chappell Roan ('Good Luck, Babe!') and Taylor Swift ('Fortnight').

Following a musical performance by Shakira, Kendrick was then back on stage accepting Song of the Year - which honours songwriters -for the same track, which he won ahead of 'Birds of a Feather' , Good Luck, Babe!', 'Fortnight', and 'Texas Hold 'Em', as well as Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)', and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' 'Die with a Smile'.

He said in part: "This is what it's about because at the end of the day, nothing is more powerful than rap music. I don't care what it is, we are the culture."

Kendrick had earlier taken the prizes for Best Music Video, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance.