Kendrick Lamar’s Historic Grammys Night Meets an Awkward Drake Joke

Kendrick Lamar had every reason to celebrate at the 68th Grammy Awards, delivering one of the most dominant performances of the night. Yet even amid record-breaking wins, a brief moment of discomfort stole the spotlight when host Trevor Noah revived jokes about Lamar’s highly publicized feud with Drake, with Kendrick seated front and center.

By the midpoint of the ceremony, Kendrick Lamar had already secured four Grammy wins, including Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Melodic Rap Performance. Those victories pushed his career total to 26 Grammy Awards, officially surpassing Jay-Z as the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history.

Trevor Noah Revives the Drake Feud

While acknowledging Kendrick Lamar’s dominance, Trevor Noah leaned into crowd work that referenced the lingering tension from the Lamar-Drake rivalry that captivated hip-hop throughout 2024 and extended well into 2025. Noah joked that he had considered roasting Kendrick Lamar more aggressively but thought better of it after witnessing Kendrick Lamar’s planned diss attack on Drake.

“I remembered what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries,” Trevor Noah quipped, drawing laughter from the audience as Lamar smiled politely from his seat.

The jokes escalated as Trevor Noah connected the Kendrick Lamar-Drake feud to a broader trend in hip-hop, comparing it to 50 Cent’s investigative-style documentary takedowns, including recent cultural reckonings involving industry figures. As the humor veered into darker territory, cameras caught Lamar growing visibly stoic — a moment many viewers described as awkward but restrained.

 

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Kendrick Keeps It Cool

Rather than react, Kendrick Lamar maintained composure, choosing silence over spectacle. Observers noted that his reserved demeanor suggested a clear desire to move forward rather than reopen old rivalries. The crowd, however, appeared amused, and the moment quickly circulated across social media as one of the night’s most replayed clips.

Despite the tension, Kendrick Lamar didn’t let the moment overshadow his success. Moments later, he returned to the stage to accept Best Rap Album for GNX, delivering a heartfelt speech that emphasized unity, artistry, and the enduring strength of hip-hop culture.

“I express myself through the music,” Lamar said, thanking fellow artists and reaffirming hip-hop’s lasting place on the global stage.

A Night Defined by Wins — Not Jokes

Kendrick Lamar also entered the evening with nominations in Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year, reinforcing the sense that the Grammys were firmly in his favor.

While Trevor Noah’s jokes added a moment of unease, they ultimately served as a reminder of Lamar’s cultural impact — not just as a chart-topping artist, but as a figure capable of reshaping hip-hop narratives.

If the Grammys were meant to crown a defining artist of this era, Kendrick Lamar’s night made that message unmistakably clear.