Kendrick Lamar Named Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Artist Of The Yr

Billboard has named Kendrick Lamar the Prime R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Yr. It marks the primary time in his profession he is been honored with the title. The choice is decided by exercise from the weekly Prime R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Scorching R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts dated Oct. 26, 2024, via Oct. 18, 2025. Whereas Lamar did not drop an album in 2025, his 2024 undertaking, GNX, continued to dominate the charts nicely after its launch.

GNX debuted at No. 1 on the Prime R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart dated Dec. 7 of final 12 months and spent seven weeks on the high. The week marked Oct. 11, 2025, was the one time it fell outdoors of the highest 10.

Lamar held a number of of the preferred rap songs all year long as nicely, together with the highest monitor, which was his collaboration with SZA, “luther.” On the highest 10 checklist, that was adopted by “TV Off,” “Not Like Us,” and “Squabble Up.” He additionally held the ninth spot with “Peekaboo.”

Whereas he dropped GNX in late 2024, he and SZA launched into the Grand Nationwide Tour in promotion of the undertaking in April of this 12 months. The tour has been a large success with the 2 setting a number of data. They’ve additionally introduced out numerous noteworthy company, together with AZ Chike, Child Keem, Doja Cat, Justin Bieber, Kaytranada, Lizzo, and Playboi Carti.

Along with the Grand Nationwide Tour, Kendrick Lamar and SZA additionally carried out collectively on the Tremendous Bowl LIX Halftime Present. He applied a number of photographs at Drake into the efficiency, because it was broadly seen as a climactic finish to their battle. He carried out “Not Like Us,” “Luther,” “TV Off,” and extra hits.

Regardless of GNX’s dominance, it ended the 12 months at No. 2 on the Prime R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for 2025. As an alternative, SZA’s SOS completed as the highest undertaking with the assistance of its deluxe model, SOS Deluxe: LANA. SOS beforehand completed as the highest undertaking in 2023.