It’s Kendrick Lamar’s world, and we’re just tuning in. The 2025 American Music Awards nominations are in, and Kendrick Lamar is leading the charge with a staggering 10 nods, largely thanks to his chart-topping hit “Not Like Us.”
The Compton legend is up for Song of the Year, Favorite Music Video, and Favorite Hip Hop Song for “Not Like Us,” which helped fuel his dominance this past year. His project GNX is also nominated for the newly introduced Album of the Year and Favorite Hip Hop Album.
Another major contender is “luther,” his collab with SZA, which landed noms for Favorite Hip Hop Song and Collaboration of the Year where it’s going head-to-head with heavyweights like Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift & Post Malone, and Post Malone & Morgan Wallen.
In addition to Artist of the Year, Kendrick is also gunning for Favorite Male Hip Hop Artist, a category he’s heavily favored to win after a landmark year that included:
- His Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show with SZA
- A career-defining Juneteenth “Pop Out: Ken and Friends” performance
- A viral feud with Drake that cemented his lyrical dominance
Meanwhile, SZA holds six nominations, tying with Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and others. Future and The Weeknd follow with four nods each, while Beyoncé surprisingly scored just three. Rising star Shaboozey stunned fans by earning seven nominations, shaking up the R&B and country scenes.
The 2025 AMAs will broadcast live from Las Vegas on May 26 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Below are the major Hip Hop and R&B categories:
🏆 FAVORITE MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
- Drake
- Eminem
- Future
- Kendrick Lamar
- Tyler, The Creator
🏆 FAVORITE FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
- Doechii
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Sexyy Red
🏆 FAVORITE HIP HOP ALBUM
- Eminem – The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)
- Future & Metro Boomin – WE DON’T TRUST YOU
- Gunna – One of Wun
- Kendrick Lamar – GNX
- Tyler, The Creator – CHROMAKOPIA
🏆 FAVORITE HIP HOP SONG
- Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
- Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “luther”
- Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”
- GloRilla – “TGIF”
- GloRilla & Sexyy Red – “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME”
🏆 FAVORITE MALE R&B ARTIST
- Bryson Tiller
- Chris Brown
- PARTYNEXTDOOR
- The Weeknd
- Usher
🏆 FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST
- Kehlani
- Muni Long
- Summer Walker
- SZA
- Tyla
🏆 FAVORITE R&B ALBUM
- Bryson Tiller – Bryson Tiller
- PARTYNEXTDOOR – PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)
- PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake – $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
- SZA – SOS Deluxe: LANA
- The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
🏆 FAVORITE R&B SONG
- Chris Brown – “Residuals”
- Muni Long – “Made For Me”
- SZA – “Saturn”
- The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
- Tommy Richman – “MILLION DOLLAR BABY”
Who do you think will win big on AMA night?
