Song of the Year 2025: Kendrick Lamar’s Historic Win with ‘Not Like Us’
Kendrick Lamar Claims Song of the Year 2025
Kendrick Lamar takes home the golden gramophone at the 2025 GRAMMYs, winning over fellow nominees, Shaboozey, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Beyoncé. The victory represents a significant milestone not only for Lamar’s career but for the rap genre as a whole in the prestigious awards ceremony.
A Historic Achievement for Hip-Hop
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar are the only ones to ever win the award, alongside Childish Gambino’s “This is America”. This marks only the second time in GRAMMY history that a rap song has secured the Song of the Year honour, underscoring the growing recognition of hip-hop’s artistic merit within the Recording Academy.
Shortly after taking home the Grammy for record of the year, Kendrick Lamar returned to the stage at Crypto.com Arena to accept his second Big Four Grammy for song of the year on Sunday night (Feb. 2) for hit breakout hit “Not Like Us.” The double win at the 2025 GRAMMYs solidified Lamar’s dominance during Music’s Biggest Night.
The Competition
The Song of the Year category featured an impressive lineup of contemporary music’s biggest stars. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Sean Cook, Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, Chibueze Collins Obinna, Nevin Sastry & Mark Williams, songwriters (Shaboozey) “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” — Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) “Die With A Smile” — Dernst Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars) “Fortnight” — Jack Antonoff, Austin Post & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone) “Good Luck, Babe!” were among the nominated tracks, showcasing the diversity of sounds that defined 2024’s musical landscape.
Significance for Music and Culture
The Song of the Year award differs from Record of the Year as it specifically honours the songwriters and composers behind the music, celebrating the artistry of songwriting itself. Lamar’s win recognises not just the song’s commercial success and cultural impact, but also its craftsmanship and artistic vision. “Not Like Us” emerged as a defining track that captured the public imagination, resonating across demographics and demonstrating rap music’s continued evolution and mainstream acceptance.
For readers and music enthusiasts, this victory signals the Recording Academy’s ongoing commitment to recognising diverse musical expressions. It reinforces that excellence in songwriting transcends genre boundaries, and that hip-hop’s narrative power deserves equal standing alongside traditional pop, rock, and other established musical forms in the industry’s highest honours.