It remains one of the most-searched facts about his career, and the number sits at 5 wins from 55 nominations.
How many Grammys does Nicki Minaj have comes up just as often, and her total is 0 wins from 12 nominations.
These two numbers sit side by side in music trivia, especially since both artists built their names on the same Young Money label.
Drake’s trophies came from “Take Care, “Hotline Bling,” “God’s Plan,” and “Wait For U,” spanning more than a decade of nominations.
Drake Grammy Wins Overview
Drake’s 5 Grammy wins arrived in four separate ceremonies over roughly a decade, a slower pace than his nomination count would suggest.
All five wins fall within the rap or melodic rap categories, with no crossover into pop, R&B, or the top general fields like Album of the Year.
This shows a pattern in which the Recording Academy rewards his work within genre lanes but rarely allows it to compete at the top level.
His wins also align with major turning points in his sound, shifting from straight rap toward more melodic and collaborative records.
That shift mirrors how his music evolved commercially, too. The result is a Grammy record built on genre strength rather than broad, all-category recognition.
Complete List of Drake’s Grammy Wins
Drake’s five Grammy wins span four ceremonies and four different releases. This table shows each win by song, category, and year for quick reference.
| Song/Album | Category | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Take Care | Best Rap Album | 2013 |
| Hotline Bling | Best Rap Song | 2017 |
| Hotline Bling | Best Rap/Sung Performance | 2017 |
| God’s Plan | Best Rap Song | 2019 |
| Wait For U | Best Melodic Rap Performance | 2023 |
Five wins, four ceremonies, one steady climb through the rap and melodic rap categories.
Drake Grammy Nominations
Drake has earned 55 Grammy nominations, placing him behind only Jay-Z and Kanye West among rap artists.
His nomination pace picked up sharply after 2010, with almost every studio album and major single earning at least one nod since then.
Several categories have nominated him repeatedly without ever handing him a win, including Album of the Year and Best Rap Performance.
Features and collaborations make up a growing share of his recent nominations, showing how his role in the genre has shifted from lead artist to sought-after collaborator.
This nomination volume also reflects how consistently his music charts, since Grammy voters often nominate based on commercial reach alongside critical reception.
The number keeps growing each year, with his 2026 nod extending the streak further.
Drake vs Nicki Minaj Grammy Record
Drake and Nicki Minaj share a label history, but their Grammy paths look very different.
| Artist | Grammy Wins | Grammy Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| Drake | 5 | 55 |
| Nicki Minaj | 0 | 12 |
Both artists remain top forces in rap, even though their Grammy outcomes differ sharply.
Why Drake Has More Nominations Than Wins
Several factors explain why Drake earns nominations far more often than wins.
His albums and singles perform well commercially, which keeps him in the running year after year and continues to grow his overall net worth.
Grammy voters in the rap and melodic rap fields often favor different types of projects, splitting votes among strong competitors.
Drake has also competed against other major rap artists during their strongest years, including Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, and Kanye West.
The rise of streaming, formally addressed through the Music Modernization Act, has changed how the Recording Academy weighs chart success against critical praise.
Drake has also skipped the ceremony for several years and even asked to be removed from a nomination list, which may affect how voters view his campaigns compared to those of artists who show up in person.
Timeline of Drake’s Grammy Wins and Nominations
Drake’s Grammy story stretches back more than a decade, with wins and losses shaping his reputation at the ceremony.
1. First Grammy Nominations and Debut Performance (2010)
Drake earned his first two Grammy nominations for “Best I Ever Had,” up for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Solo Performance.
He lost both awards but made his first Grammy stage appearance, performing “Forever” alongside Eminem, Lil Wayne, and Travis Barker.
This early exposure set the stage for years of steady nominations.
2. Breakthrough Nominations (2011)
Drake picked up four nominations tied to his debut album Thank Me Later, including Best New Artist and Best Rap Album.
He lost Best New Artist to jazz artist Esperanza Spalding in a widely discussed upset, a moment he has since referenced in his own lyrics.
3. First Grammy Win (2013)
Drake earned his first Grammy win at this ceremony, taking Best Rap Album for Take Care.
The same year brought nominations for “HYFR” and “The Motto,” both alongside Lil Wayne.
The win ended a run of nominations without a trophy and marked a turning point in his Grammy standing.
4. Heavy Nominations, No Wins (2016)
Drake received five Grammy nominations this year, including Best Rap Album for his mixtape If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
He lost every category, pushing his career record to one win from 27 nominations at the time. Chart success did not translate into Grammy wins.
5. Hotline Bling Wins (2017)
Drake’s biggest Grammy night came with eight total nominations, his highest count in a single year.
He won Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Performance for “Hotline Bling,” while Views earned nods for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album.
His feature on Rihanna’s “Work” added a Record of the Year nomination.
6. Career Best Nominations (2019)
Drake landed seven nominations, one shy of his career best, and reached the top categories for the first time.
Scorpion, part of his full studio album catalog, earned an Album of the Year nod, while “God’s Plan” picked up nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. He also won Best Rap Song for “God’s Plan” that night.
7. Wait For U Win (2023)
Drake picked up his fifth career Grammy win at this ceremony, taking Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Wait For U” alongside Future and Tems.
The win came in a feature-heavy category, showing how collaborations now play a bigger role in his Grammy success than solo work.
8. Her Loss Era Nominations (2024)
Drake’s project Her Loss with 21 Savage brought several nominations, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song for “Rich Flex.”
“Spin Bout U” added a nod for Best Melodic Rap Performance. None of these nominations turned into a win, keeping his nomination-to-win ratio wide.
9. Somebody Loves Me Nomination (2026)
Drake’s most recent Grammy nomination came for “Somebody Loves Me” with PartyNextDoor in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category at the 2026 ceremony.
The award went to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “Luther,” keeping Drake’s career total at five wins from 55 nominations. The loss still maintains his standing as one of the most-nominated artists in Grammy history.
Drake’s Grammy Impact on Hip-Hop
Drake’s Grammy history goes beyond wins and losses. His nominations reflect broader shifts in rap and hip-hop.
- Streaming Era Attention: His nomination streak helped push the Grammys to notice streaming-driven hits, not just album sales.
- Melodic Rap Growth: His wins in melodic rap categories helped that style gain more Grammy attention.
- Consistency Benchmark: Few artists match his steady nomination count across more than a decade.
Award recognition is only part of the picture, since Drake also draws constant media scrutiny over everything from his fashion to his public appearances.
These shifts show how one artist’s career can shape award categories over time.
What Drake’s Grammy Record Says About His Legacy
Knowing how many Grammys Drake has gives fans a clearer lens for judging his place in rap history, beyond just streaming numbers or chart records.
Awards alone do not define an artist’s impact, but they do offer a useful benchmark for comparing careers across generations.
Drake’s mix of wins and near misses shows that consistency over time can matter just as much as trophy count.
For anyone following the Grammys each year, his name is worth watching, since new nominations keep arriving with almost every project he releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Drake Ever Won Album of the Year at the Grammys?
No, Drake has never won Album of the Year. He has multiple nominations in the category, mostly as a featured artist rather than the lead act.
Why Did Drake Withdraw His 2022 Grammy Nominations?
Drake asked the Recording Academy to remove his Certified Lover Boy and “Way 2 Sexy” nominations in 2022, reportedly in solidarity with snubbed artists like The Weeknd.
What is Drake’s Highest Number of Grammy Nominations in One Year?
Drake’s biggest single year came in 2017, when Views and “Hotline Bling” helped him rack up eight total nominations across rap and pop categories.
