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Every Grammys Best Rap Solo Performance winner

10 ceremonies, 2000–2011. 6 different winners. The longest run was Eminem, 2 years straight (2000–2001).

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

It was split into separate male and female solo awards for the 2003 and 2004 ceremonies, then put back together.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Rap Performance instead.

It took over from Best Female Rap Solo Performance and Best Male Rap Solo Performance.

Eminem ×3Jay-Z ×2Kanye West ×2
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details. Outlined blocks are years the award was not presented.
Eminem'00–'01×2
Missy Elliott'02
'03–'04not awarded
Jay-Z'05
Kanye West'06
T.I.'07
Kanye West'08
Lil Wayne'09
Jay-Z'10
Eminem'11
Wins by label
  1. Roc-A-Fella330%
  2. Universal330%
  3. Grand Hustle110%
  4. Roc Nation110%
  5. Warner110%
  6. Young Money110%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011.

Most nominated, never won

  • Common3 noms
  • 50 Cent2 noms
  • Busta Rhymes2 noms
  • DMX2 noms
  • Drake2 noms
  • Ludacris2 noms

Most losses

  • Common3L · 0W
  • Eminem3L · 3W
  • Jay-Z3L · 2W
  • T.I.3L · 1W
  • 50 Cent2L · 0W
  • Busta Rhymes2L · 0W

The full list

YearWinnerLabel
2011Eminem (Not Afraid)
beat 4 others
  • Drake (Over)
  • Ludacris (How Low)
  • T.I. (I'm Back)
  • Kanye West (Power)
Aftermath/Shady
2010Jay-Z (D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune))
beat 4 others
  • Eminem (Beautiful)
  • Drake (Best I Ever Had)
  • Kid Cudi (Day 'n' Nite)
  • Mos Def (Casa Bey)
Roc Nation/Atlantic
2009Lil Wayne (A Milli)
beat 4 others
  • Jay-Z (Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)...)
  • Lupe Fiasco (Paris, Tokyo)
  • Nas (N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master))
  • Snoop Dogg (Sexual Eruption)
Young Money/Cash Money
2008Kanye West (Stronger)
beat 4 others
  • Common (The People)
  • 50 Cent (I Get Money)
  • Jay-Z (Show Me What You Got)
  • T.I. (Big Shit Poppin' (Do It))
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
2007T.I. (What You Know)
beat 4 others
  • Busta Rhymes (Touch It)
  • Missy Elliott (We Run This)
  • Lupe Fiasco (Kick, Push)
  • Mos Def (Undeniable)
Grand Hustle/Atlantic
2006Kanye West (Gold Digger)
beat 5 others
  • 50 Cent (Disco Inferno)
  • Common (Testify)
  • Eminem (Mockingbird)
  • T.I. (U Don't Know Me)
  • Ludacris (Number One Spot)
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
2005Jay-Z (99 Problems)
beat 4 others
  • Eminem (Just Lose It)
  • Kanye West (Through the Wire)
  • Lloyd Banks (On Fire)
  • Twista (Overnight Celebrity)
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
2002Missy Elliott (Get Ur Freak On)
beat 4 others
  • Afroman (Because I Got High)
  • DMX (Who We Be)
  • Jay-Z (Izzo (H.O.V.A.))
  • Nelly (Ride wit Me)
Elektra/Goldmind
2001Eminem (The Real Slim Shady)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Common (The Light)
  • DMX (Party Up (Up in Here))
  • Mystikal (Shake Ya Ass)
  • Nelly (Country Grammar (Hot Shit))
Aftermath/Interscope
2000Eminem (My Name Is)
beat 4 others
  • Busta Rhymes (Gimme Some More)
  • Q-Tip (Vivrant Thing)
  • 2Pac (Changes)
  • Will Smith (Wild Wild West)
Aftermath/Interscope

More Grammys categories

Rock AlbumCountry AlbumAlbumRecordContemp. InstrumentalInstr. CompositionInstr. ArrangementVocal ArrangementEngineered AlbumProducer of the YearImmersive AudioRecording PackageBoxed PackageAlbum NotesHistorical AlbumCompilation SoundtrackAll 152 categories

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