The 68th Grammy Awards once again highlighted just how competitive modern hip-hop has become. Among the biggest matchups of the night was JID going head-to-head with Kendrick Lamar in two major categories: Best Rap Album and Best Melodic Rap Performance. While the nominations alone signaled JID’s growing stature, the night ultimately belonged to Lamar.
Kendrick entered the ceremony as the most nominated artist, leading the field with nine nods. His album GNX had dominated charts and conversations throughout the year, especially after arriving in the aftermath of his highly publicized battle with Drake. With that momentum, Lamar proved nearly unstoppable, collecting five wins and cementing another historic Grammy run.
Still, much of the online discussion centered on JID’s on-camera reaction after losing Best Rap Album. As Lamar exited the stage, cameras caught JID clapping with a reserved, stoic expression. Some viewers on social media interpreted it as bitterness or even resentment toward Kendrick, while others pushed back, arguing that disappointment doesn’t equal hate—especially in a category as competitive as this one.
https://twitter.com/Rap/status
Context matters. JID has never shown animosity toward Kendrick. In fact, during an interview last year, he openly said he wants to collaborate with him, even acknowledging how complicated that might look amid rap’s “Big 3” discourse. That history makes the idea of personal tension far less convincing.
JID would later lose again to Lamar in Best Melodic Rap Performance, where Kendrick’s “luther” edged out JID’s “Wholeheartedly.” The win was part of a larger sweep that also included Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance.
With these victories, Kendrick surpassed Jay-Z to become the most awarded rapper in Grammy history, reaching 27 wins. For JID, the losses sting, but the nominations alone confirm what fans already know: he’s firmly in hip-hop’s elite conversation.
