Kendrick Lamar Reigns at BET Awards 2025: Five Wins, One Unstoppable Legacy

 

Kendrick Lamar made a resounding statement at the 2025 BET Awards, held on June 9 at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater. Leading with 10 nominations, he became the night’s most celebrated artist—walking away with five major wins that underscored his creative dominance.

Major Wins

• Album of the Year for GNX — cementing his place alongside Beyoncé as one of only two artists to win the category twice.

• Best Male Hip-Hop Artist — a testament to his enduring impact, especially notable as he claimed this title again without releasing a new album in 2024.

• Video of the Year for his cinematic Drake-diss track “Not Like Us”.

• Video Director of the Year shared with Dave Free — a nod to his visual ingenuity crafting narrative-driven music videos.

• Best Collaboration for “Luther” featuring SZA — the award continues its evolution as a celebration of artistic synergy.

Why It Matters

Cultural & Artistic Triumph

Kendrick's five wins solidify his status as a cultural juggernaut. GNX isn’t just a commercial hit—it’s a creative masterpiece whose depth echoes long after its release, validated by sweeping five Grammy wins earlier this year.

Visual Storytelling

The Video of the Year and Video Director awards highlight Lamar’s prowess beyond music—his visuals tell bold, provocative stories, forging a cinematic voice that actively shapes the aesthetic of modern hip-hop.

Historical Milestone

By joining Beyoncé as the only artist to win Album of the Year twice, he underscores his lasting influence and sets a new benchmark for excellence tied to Black culture’s most prestigious stages.

Onstage Highlights

Accepting his trophies, Kendrick praised BET for authentically representing Black culture and thanked God, his PGLang collective, and SZA—his collaborator and fellow tour mate on the Grand National Tour.

Host Kevin Hart joked that Lamar had “been winning all year,” playfully presenting some of his awards while the rapper showed humility in handling multiple trophies.

In Context

• Most-nominated artist of the evening (10 nods)

• His visual and musical artistry continues the legacy of Black storytelling on screen and stage.

• The ceremony marked BET's 25th anniversary—an event steeped in nostalgia, from throwback performances to honoring icons like Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Kirk Franklin, and Jamie Foxx.

Final Word

At Culture’s Biggest Night, Kendrick Lamar wasn’t just an award-winner—he was a cultural force. His sweeping victories, from sonic depth to visual innovation, reaffirmed his role as a generational artist shaping the narrative and aesthetic of modern hip-hop.