Kendrick Lamar has won Song of the Year at the 2025 Grammy Awards for “Not Like Us.” The seismic diss track against Drake beat out Taylor Swift and Post Malone’s “Fortnight,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’Em,” Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please,” Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ duet “Die With a Smile.”
Diana Ross presented the award to Lamar, who opened his speech by saying, “Come on, man, Diana Ross? I’m star struck.” He continued: “This for Compton, straight up…My mom and pop out there doing front flips on the couch right now. My son is six years old. Go to sleep, it’s past your bedtime right now.”
Lamar added: “This is what it’s about because at the end of the day, nothing is more powerful than rap music. We are the culture. It’s always gonna stay here and live forever. Respect the art form and get you where you need to go. I appreciate you all and love you all.”
Lamar has already been victorious this evening, sweeping numerous categories with “Not Like Us.” The massive single won Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video. His Future and Metro Boomin collaboration “Like That” was also up for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, respectively.
Following Lamar’s back-and-forth with Drake last summer, the Compton rapper surprise released his sixth album, GNX, in November.
Revisit “Kendrick Lamar’s Pop Out Concert: A West Coast Reunion and Unforgettable Haters’ Ball” on the Pitch and follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2025 Grammys.
