Kendrick Lamar Dethroned at American Music Awards

In a surprising turn of events, rap superstar Kendrick Lamar was defeated at the 2025 American Music Awards, ending his seemingly unstoppable winning streak. Despite being nominated in six categories, including coveted awards like Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, Lamar only managed to secure one victory - for Favorite Hip Hop Song with "Not Like Us."

The biggest upsets came in the hip-hop categories, where Lamar was bested by none other than Eminem. The Detroit legend took home both Favorite Hip Hop Artist and Favorite Hip Hop Album, denying Lamar the chance to further cement his dominance in the genre.

Lamar's loss to Billie Eilish in the Artist of the Year and Album of the Year categories was also a surprise, given his recent chart-topping success and record-breaking live performances. Eilish's wins over the Compton rapper showcased the continued mainstream appeal of pop music.

While Lamar may have left the AMAs empty-handed in several key categories, he has continued to shatter records on the live circuit. His recent Grand National Tour stop in Seattle grossed an astounding $14.8 million, making Lamar the first rapper to ever surpass the $14 million mark for a single concert.

Additionally, Lamar's hit single "Not Like Us" made history by becoming the first rap song ever to spend an entire year on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These achievements solidify his status as one of the most dominant forces in hip-hop, despite his AMAs setback.

As the music industry looks ahead to the 2026 awards season, all eyes will be on Kendrick Lamar to see if he can regain his throne and reassert his dominance over his peers. The competition at the top of the rap game has never been fiercer, but Lamar has proven time and again that he has the talent and drive to come out on top.