Jay-Z just made history at the Grammys. At the 2025 Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 2nd, Beyoncé finally secured the coveted Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter, marking a milestone in her career. While the win is significant on its own, it also holds special weight for Jay-Z. With a writing credit on the album, Hov now officially claims the Grammy as well, making him the most awarded rapper in Recording Academy history with 25 wins. This breaks his tie with Kanye West, who sits at 24.
Speaking of Kanye, he earned a nomination this year for VULTURES 1 track “CARNIVAL” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Rich The Kid, and Playboi Carti. However, it lost out in the Best Rap Song category to Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us, which dominated across multiple categories. While some may see Jay-Z’s Cowboy Carter Grammy as more of a technical win, it still cements The Throne duo’s influence at the top of the Recording Academy’s rap legacy.
But Jay-Z and Kanye have serious competition. Kendrick Lamar could surpass them both as early as next year, with GNX poised to rack up multiple nominations. If he wins just four more awards, he’ll take the top spot. Despite longstanding skepticism toward the Grammys, particularly regarding Black artists and genres, these wins still hold cultural weight and influence.
Still, Jay-Z’s record-breaking moment came under a shadow. His ongoing sexual assault lawsuit loomed over the night, making the arena’s speakers blasting “Not Like Us” feel eerily pointed. As the situation unfolds, questions remain about the broader implications of these victories. For now, though, Hov adds another milestone to his legendary career.
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