In 2004, the Grammys created a new award for Best Rap Song. Prior to that, there was an award for Best Rap Album, and one for Best Rap Performance, but there wasn’t a rap award for songwriters.
The Grammy for Rap Song of the Year goes to the songwriters. That allows behind the scenes folks like Matthew Samuels and Mike Dean to earn recognition alongside bigger names like Kendrick and Pharrell.
Kanye has the most career noms in this category, followed by Jay-Z and Drake, who amassed 13 noms before he stopped submitting his work for the Grammys.
Most career Best Rap Song nominations
Kanye West 17
Jay-Z 14
Drake 13
Kendrick Lamar 11
Mike Dean 9
Matthew Samuels (Boi-1da) 8
Lil Wayne 7
Pharrell Williams 6
Most career Best Rap Song winners
Kanye West 7
Kendrick Lamar 6
Jay-Z 4
Grammy Awards: Best Rap Song Winners and Nominees By Year
Winners in bold; other nominees listed beneath. The performing artists are listed in parenthesis for reference, but they are not part of the nomination, since the nomination goes only to the songwriters.
2026: TV Off, Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington (Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay)
•The Birds Don’t Sing, Gene Elliott Thornton Jr., Terrence Thornton, Pharrell Williams & Stevie Wonder (Clipse featuring John Legend & Voices of Fire)
•Sticky, Aaron Bolton, Dudley Alexander Duverne, Gloria Woods, Dwayne Carter Jr., Janae Wherry, Tyler Okonma & Rex Zamor (Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne)
•TGIF, Lucas Alegria, Dillon Brophy, Yakki Davis, Jess Jackson, Ronnie Jackson, Mario Mims, Jorge M. Taveras & Gloria Woods (GloRilla)
•Anxiety, Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, Sam Barsh & William Tyler Kaplan (Doechii)
2025: Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar (Kendrick Lamar)
•Like That, Kendrick Lamar, Nayvadius Wilburn, Leland Wayne & Kobe Hood (Future & Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar)
•Yeah Glo!, Ronnie Jackson, Jaucquez Lowe, Timothy McKibbins, Kevin Andre Price, Julius Rivera III & Gloria Woods (GloRilla)
•Asteroids, Marlanna Evans & Chauncey Hollis Jr. (Rapsody featuring Hit-Boy)
•Carnival, Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign, Raul Cubina, Jordan Carter, Nasir Pemberton & Grant Dickinson (¥$ featuring Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti)
2024: Scientists & Engineers, Michael Render, André Benjamin, Nayvadius Wilburn, Eryn Allen Kane & Paul White (Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane)
•Attention, Amala Zandile Dlamini, Rogét Chahayed & Ari Starace (Doja Cat)
•Barbie World, Onika Maraj, Isis Naija Gaston, Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr. (Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice featuring Aqua)
•Just Wanna Rock, Mohamad Camara, Symere Woods and Javier Mercado (Lil Uzi Vert)
•Rich Flex, Tay Keith, Isaac “Zac” De Boni, Aubrey Graham, J. Gwin, Anderson Hernandez, Michael “Finatik” Mule and Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (Drake & 21 Savage)
2023: The Heart Part 5, Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar & Matt Schaeffer (Kendrick Lamar)
•Alex Ernewein, Ryan Bakalarczyk, Matthew Samuels, Tahrence Brown, Rogét Chahayed & Aubrey Graham (Jack Harlow featuring Drake)
•God Did, Tarik Azzouz, E. Blackmon, Khaled Khaled, F. LeBlanc, Shawn Carter, John Stephens, Dwayne Carter, William Roberts & Nicholas Warwar (DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay‑Z, John Legend & Fridayy)
•Pushin P, Lucas Depante, Nayvadius Wilburn, Sergio Kitchens, Wesley Tyler Glass & Jeffery Lamar Williams (Gunna & Future featuring Young Thug)
•Wait for U, Tejiri Akpoghene, Floyd E. Bentley III, Jacob Canady, Isaac De Boni, Aubrey Graham, Israel Ayomide Fowobaje, Nayvadius Wilburn, Michael Mule, Oluwatoroti Oke & Temilade Openiyi (Future featuring Drake & Tems)
2022: Jail, Dwayne Abernathy, Jr.,Warryn Campbell, Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West & Mark Williams (Kanye West featuring Jay‑Z)
•Bath Salts, Shawn Carter, Kasseem Dean, Michael Forno, Nasir Jones & Earl Simmons (DMX featuring Jay‑Z & Nas)
•Best Friend, Amala Zandile Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Randall Avery Hammers, Diamonté Harper, Asia Smith, Theron Thomas & Rocco Valdes (Saweetie featuring Doja Cat)
•Family Ties, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Hykeem Carter, Tobias Dekker, Colin Franken, Jasper Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Latour & Dominik Patrzek (Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar)
•My Life, Shéyaa Bin Abraham‑Joseph, Jermaine Cole & Jacob Dutton (J. Cole featuring 21 Savage & Morray)
2021: Savage, Beyoncé Knowles‑Carter, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White (Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé)
•The Bigger Picture, Dominique Jones, Noah Pettigrew & Rai’shaun Williams (Lil Baby)
•The Box, Samuel Gloade, Larrance Dopson, Rodrick Moore, Adarius Moragne, Eric Sloan & Khirye Anthony Tyler (Roddy Ricch)
•Laugh Now Cry Later, Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ronald LaTour & Ryan Martinez (Drake featuring Lil Durk)
•Rockstar, Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro IV & Rodrick Moore (DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch)
2020: A Lot, Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage, Anthony White (21 Savage featuring J. Cole)
•Bad Idea, Chancelor Bennett, Cordae Dunston, Uforo Ebong & Daniel Hackett (YBN Cordae featuring Chance the Rapper)
•Gold Roses, Noel Cadastre, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, William Leonard Roberts II, Joshua Quinton Scruggs, Leon Thomas III & Ozan Yildirim (Rick Ross featuring Drake)
•Racks in the Middle, Ermias Asghedom, Dustin James Corbett, Greg Allen Davis, Chauncey Hollis, Jr. & Rodrick Moore (Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy)
•Suge, DaBaby, JetsonMade & Pooh Beatz (DaBaby)
2019: God’s Plan, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib (Drake)
•King’s Dead, Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake)
•Lucky You, R. Fraser, G. Lucas, Marshall Mathers, M. Samuels & J. Sweet (Eminem featuring Joyner Lucas)
•Sicko Mode, Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, John Edward Hawkins, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young (Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee)
•Win, Kendrick Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels & C. Thompson (Jay Rock)
2018: Humble, Kendrick Duckworth, Asheton Hogan, Michael Williams II & Anthony Tiffith (Kendrick Lamar)
•Bodak Yellow, Belcalis Almanzar, Dieuson Octave, Klenord Raphael, Shaftizm, Jordan Thorpe & J White (Cardi B)
•Chase Me, Brian Burton, Hector Delgado, Jaime Meline, Antwan Patton & Michael Render (Danger Mouse featuring Run the Jewels and Big Boi)
•Sassy, M. Evans, E. Gabouer, Jason Martin & Wyann Vaughn (Rapsody)
•The Story of O.J., Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson (Jay-Z)
2017: Hotline Bling, Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies (Drake)
•All the Way Up, Joseph Cartagena, Edward Davadi, Shandel Green, Karim Kharbouch, Andre Christopher Lyon, Reminisce Mackie & Marcello Valenzano (Fat Joe & Remy Ma featuring French Montana & Infared)
•Famous, Chancelor Bennett, Ross Birchard, Ernest Brown, Andrew Dawson, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Kejuan Muchita, Patrick Reynolds, Kanye West, Cydel Young & Malik Yusef (Kanye West featuring Rihanna)
•No Problem, Chancelor Bennett, Dwayne Carter, Rachel Cato, Tauheed Epps, Jonathan Hoard, Cameron Osteen, Ivan Rosenberg, Conor Szymanski, Peter Wilkins, Lakeithsha Williams & Jaime Woods (Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz)
•Ultralight Beam, Chancelor Bennett, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Goldstein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico “Donnie Trumpet” Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West, Cydel Young & Malik Yusef (Kanye West featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream)
2016: Alright, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Kawan Prather, Pharrell Williams & Mark Spears (Kendrick Lamar)
•All Day, Ernest Brown, Tyler Bryant, Sean Combs, Mike Dean, Rennard East, Noah Goldstein, Malik Yusef Jones, Karim Kharbouch, Allan Kyariga, Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Victor Mensah, Charles Njapa, Che Pope, Patrick Reynolds, Allen Ritter, Kanye West, Mario Winans & Cydel Young (Kanye West featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom & Paul McCartney)
•Energy, Aubrey Graham, Richard Dorfmeister, Markus Kienzl, M. O’Brien, & Phillip Thomas, Matthew Samuels (Drake)
•Glory, Lonnie Lynn, Che Smith, John Stephens (Common & John Legend)
•Trap Queen, Willie Maxwell II & Tony Fadd (Fetty Wap)
2015: I, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth & Columbus Smith (Kendrick Lamar)
•Anaconda, Ernest Clark, Jamal Jones, Onika Maraj, Marcos Palacios and J. Solone Myvett (Nicki Minaj)
•Bound 2, Mike Dean, Malik Jones, Che Pope, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, John Stephens, Kanye West, Charlie Wilson and Cydel Young (Kanye West featuring Charlie Wilson)
•We Dem Boyz, Cameron Thomaz & Noel Fisher (Wiz Khalifa)
•0 to 100 / The Catch Up, A. Feeney, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, P. Jefferies, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib (Drake)
2014: Thrift Shop, Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz)
•F—in’ Problems, Rakim Mayers, Aubrey Graham, Tauheed Epps, Noah Shebib & Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
•Holy Grail, Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley, Justin Timberlake and Ernest Wilson (Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake)
•New Slaves, Christopher Breaux, Benjamin Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye West and Cydel Young (Kanye West)
•Started from the Bottom, William Coleman, Aubrey Graham and Noah Shebib (Drake)
2013: N—as in Paris, Shawn Carter, Chauncey Hollis, Mike Dean & Kanye West (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
•Daughters, Nasir Jones & Ernest Wilson (Nas)
•Lotus Flower Bomb, Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson and Miguel Jontel Pimentel (Wale featuring Miguel)
•Mercy, Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton and Kanye West (Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)
•The Motto, Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham & Michael Stevenson (Drake featuring Lil Wayne & Tyga)
•Young, Wild & Free, Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Peter Hernandez & Cameron Thomaz (Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars)
2012: All of the Lights, Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Terius “The Dream” Nash, Warren Trotter & Kanye West (Kanye West featuring Rihanna & Kid Cudi)
•Black and Yellow, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Cameron Thomaz (Wiz Khalifa)
•I Need a Doctor, Alex Da Kid, Skylar Grey, Marshall Mathers & Andre Young (Dr. Dre featuring Eminem & Skylar Grey)
•Look at Me Now, Afrojack, Jean Baptiste, Chris Brown, Ryan Buendia, Dwayne Carter Jr., Wesley Pentz & Trevor Smith, Jr. (Chris Brown featuring Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne)
•Otis, Shawn Carter & Kanye West (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
•The Show Goes On, Dustin William Brower, Jonathon Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson & Lupe Fiasco (Lupe Fiasco)
2011: Empire State of Mind, Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Janet Sewell & Alexander Shuckburgh (Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys)
•Love the Way You Lie, Alex Da Kid, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers (Eminem featuring Rihanna)
•Not Afraid, Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans, Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto & Matthew Samuels (Eminem)
•Nothin’ On You, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Ray Simmons (B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars)
•On to the Next One, Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & Swizz Beatz (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)
2010: Run This Town, Jeff Bhasker, Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson (Jay-Z featuring Rihanna & Kanye West)
•Best I Ever Had, Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham & Matthew Samuels (Drake)
•Day ’n’ Nite, Kid Cudi & Oladipo Omishore (Kid Cudi)
•Dead and Gone, Clifford Harris, Robin Tadross & Justin Timberlake (T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake)
•D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune), Shawn Carter & Ernest Wilson (Jay-Z)
2009: Lollipop, Darius “Deezle” Harrison, Lil Wayne, James Scheffer, Static Major & Rex Zamor (Lil Wayne featuring Static Major)
•Low, Tramar Dillard, Montay Humphrey, Faheem Najm, Korey Roberson & Howard Simmons (Flo Rida featuring T-Pain)
•Sexual Eruption, Calvin Broadus, Seneca Lovejoy & Demetrius Stewart (Snoop Dogg)
•Superstar, Lupe Fiasco & Soundtrakk (Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos)
•Swagga Like Us, Jeff Bhasker, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Plain Pat, T.I. & Kanye West (T.I. featuring Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West & M.I.A.)
2008: Good Life, Aldrin Davis, Mike Dean, Faheem Najm & Kanye West (Kanye West featuring T-Pain)
•Ayo Technology, Nate (Danja) Hills, Curtis Jackson, Tim Mosley & Justin Timberlake (50 Cent featuring Justin Timberlake)
•Big Things Poppin’, Clifford Harris & Mannie Fresh (T.I.)
•Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Kanye West & Aldrin Davis (Kanye West)
•Crank That, Soulja Boy (Soulja Boy)
2007: Money Maker, Christopher Bridges & Pharrell Williams (Ludacris featuring Pharrell)
•It’s Goin’ Down, Chadron Moore & Jasiel Robinson (Yung Joc)
•Kick, Push, Wasalu Jaco (Lupe Fiasco)
•Ridin’, Anthony Henderson, Juan Carlos Salinas, Oscar Salinas & Hakeem Seriki (Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone)
•What You Know, Gabriel Arillo, Aldrin Davis & Clifford Harris (T.I.)
2006: Diamonds from Sierra Leone, Kanye West & Devon Harris (Kanye West)
•Candy Shop, Curtis Jackson & Scott Storch (50 Cent featuring Olivia)
•Don’t Phunk With My Heart, Will Adams, Printz Board, Stacy Ferguson & George Pajon, Jr (The Black Eyed Peas)
•Hate It or Love It, Curtis Jackson, Andre Lyon, Jayceon Taylor & Marcello Valenzano (The Game featuring 50 Cent)
•Lose Control, Missy Elliott, Ciara Harris & G. Isaacs III (Missy Elliott featuring Ciara & Fatman Scoop)
2005: Jesus Walks, Kanye West, Che Smith & Miri Ben-Ari (Kanye West)
•Drop It Like It’s Hot, Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo & Pharrell Williams (Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell)
•Hey Mama, Will Adams & Anthony Henry (The Black Eyed Peas)
•Let’s Get It Started, Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Jaime Gomez, George Pajon, Jr., Allan Pineda & Terence Yoshiaki (The Black Eyed Peas)
•99 Problems, Shawn Carter & Rick Rubin (Jay-Z)
2004: Lose Yourself, Jeff Bass, Marshall Mathers & Luis Resto (Eminem)
•Beautiful, Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo & Pharrell Williams (Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell)
•Excuse Me Miss, Shawn Carter, Chad Hugo & Pharrell Williams (Jay-Z featuring Pharrell)
•In Da Club, Curtis Jackson, Andre Young & Mike Elizondo (50 Cent)
•Work It, Missy Elliott & Timbaland (Missy Elliott)
Find the Grammy Awards at grammy.com.
Last Updated on February 17, 2026