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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Male Rap Solo.

2 ceremonies, 2003–2004. 2 different winners.

Who won most recently?
Eminem in 2004 for Lose Yourself.
  1. Lose YourselfEminem
  2. Hot In HerreNelly
Years explored
2003–2004
Different winners
2
Category leader
No leader
About this record

Best Male Rap Solo Performance was first awarded in 2003, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was awarded for the last time in 2004.

From 2005 the Grammys awarded Best Rap Solo Performance instead.

It took over from Best Rap Solo Performance.

2003–2004

2 ceremonies

20032004

01 / The reigns

2 winners shaped this category.

The timeline turns the 2003–2004 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

One band per year, because no winner has gone back-to-back in the years on record. Colored by label; scroll sideways for the full run.
Nelly'03
Eminem'04

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2003–2004.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Ludacris
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Ludacris
    2L · 0W
  2. 02
    Eminem
    1L · 1W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2003–2004. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2004Eminem (Lose Yourself)
beat 4 others
  • Joe Budden (Pump It Up)
  • 50 Cent (In da Club)
  • Ludacris (Stand Up)
  • Sean Paul (Get Busy)
Shady/Aftermath
2003Nelly (Hot In Herre)
beat 4 others
  • Eminem (Without Me)
  • Jay-Z (Song Cry)
  • Ludacris (Rollout (My Business))
  • Mystikal (Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall))
Universal/Fo' Reel