At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” achieved a rare feat—winning both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. But what exactly is the difference between these two prestigious awards?
For many casual music fans, the distinction can be blurry. After all, aren’t both awards given to the best song? Not quite.
Song of the Year: The Writer’s Prize
At its core, Song of the Year is a songwriter’s award. It recognizes the composition—the lyrics and melody—that form the foundation of a song. This category honors the creative minds behind the words and music, regardless of how the final product sounds in the studio or on the radio.
When Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” won Song of the Year, it meant the Recording Academy recognized its songwriting as exceptional, from its potent lyrics to its undeniable rhythm and message.
Record of the Year: The Full Package
Record of the Year, on the other hand, is all about the finished product—the full recording. This award considers everything that goes into making a song unforgettable: the artist’s performance, the producer’s vision, the engineers’ and mixers’ technical expertise, and the overall sound quality.
By winning Record of the Year, “Not Like Us” was celebrated not just for its writing, but for its impact as a complete musical masterpiece—the way Lamar delivered his bars, the way the beat hit, and the way every sonic detail came together to create a cultural moment.
Why Winning Both Is a Big Deal
Winning both categories is no small achievement. It means that a song isn’t just well-written—it’s powerfully performed and immaculately produced. It’s a moment in music that transcends playlists and charts to define an era.
Lamar joins a prestigious list of artists who have dominated both categories in a single year, proving that “Not Like Us” was more than just a hit—it was a movement.
