Trevor Noah Pokes Fun at ‘Light-Skin Dudes From Other Countries’ in Chat With Kendrick Lamar
Trevor Noah has officially decided that Kendrick Lamar’s pen is far too dangerous to provoke. During the 2026 Grammy Awards, the veteran host took a moment to stand alongside Lamar, who entered the night as the most-nominated artist with nine nods. While Noah is known for his sharp-witted roasts of the stars in the front row, he made it clear that he was choosing his words very carefully when it came to the Compton rapper.
That’s right, nine nominations this year. Congratulations. And that is all I’m gonna say—congratulations, Noah quipped to the laughing crowd. He admitted that he had considered writing a few jokes at the rapper’s expense but quickly thought better of it. I actually thought about writing a few jokes, roasting you, but then I remembered what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries, he joked, adding that his delegation was still recovering from the pain.
lol at Trevor Noah's joke about Kendrick Lamar at the Grammys
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) February 2, 2026
"I actually thought about writing a few jokes roasting you, but then I remembered what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries. Me and my delegation are still recovering from the pain." pic.twitter.com/OpAsRIB5PR
The crack was a direct reference to the earth-shattering 2024 feud between Lamar and Drake, which many fans believe Lamar won decisively. Songs like “Not Like Us” and “Like That” became massive cultural touchstones, and the fallout from that lyrical battle clearly left an impression on the South African comedian. Noah’s cautious approach paid off, as Lamar smiled through the interaction before continuing his historic run of wins for the evening.
By the end of the telecast, Lamar had officially become the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, bringing his career total to 27 and surpassing the record previously held by Jay-Z.
His haul for the night included Best Rap Album for the surprise-release GNX and Record of the Year for his SZA collaboration, “Luther.” While he missed out on Album of the Year to Bad Bunny and Song of the Year to Billie Eilish, his dominance in the rap categories was absolute.
This ceremony marked a bittersweet milestone for Trevor Noah as well, as it served as his sixth and final time hosting the Grammys. Since leaving The Daily Show, Noah has remained incredibly active, releasing the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrated fable Into the Uncut Grass in late 2024. He also kicked off 2026 with a surprise comedy special released for free on YouTube, and he is currently in the midst of his massive “Off The Record” world tour.
Please share your thoughts on Trevor Noah’s final hosting gig and Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking night in the comments.