Hip-Hop’s fiercest lyricists will come together for the BET Hip-Hop Awards to see who will earn the crown, and who will go home empty handed.
The nominees were revealed Monday (September 14) with Drake and Big Sean leading with 12 and 10 nominations respectively. Future’s mixtapes Monster, Beast Mode and 56 Nights all earned the Future Hive leader nods for the “Best Mixtape” category, while Wale’s The Album About Nothing, will go up against Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive, K.Dot’s To Pimp A Butterfly, Nicki Minaj’s The PinkPrint and Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
The category which will cause the most debate is “Lyricist of The Year.” Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, Big Sean, Drake and Nicki Minaj will all battle it out for the coveted award, which will most certainly spark many barbershop conversations about “real rap” and inspire a think piece or two from your friendly hip-hop blogger.
Peep the full list of nominees below. The BET Hip-Hop awards airs Tuesday, October 13.
Best Hip Hop Video
Big Sean, featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $Ign – “Play No Games”
Big Sean, featuring Drake and Kanye West – “Blessings”
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Nicki Minaj, featuring Beyoncé – “Feeling Myself”
Best Collabo, Duo or Group
Big Sean, featuring Drake and Kanye West – “Blessings”
Big Sean, featuring E-40 – “Idfwu”
Fetty Wap, featuring Monty – “My Way”
Nicki Minaj, featuring Beyoncé – “Feeling Myself”
Nicki Minaj, featuring Drake and Lil Wayne – “Truffle Butter”
Best Live Performer
Drake
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Lyricist of the Year
Big Sean
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Video Director of the Year
Alan Ferguson
Benny Boom
Chris Robinson/Lil Chris
Colin Tilley
Director X
DJ of the Year
DJ Drama
DJ Envy
DJ Esco
DJ Khaled
DJ Mustard
Producer of the Year
DJ Mustard
J. Cole
Kanye West
Mike Will Made-It
Pharrell Williams
Timbaland
MVP of the Year
Big Sean
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Track of The Year
“Alright” – Produced by Pharrell Williams and Sounwave (Kendrick Lamar)
“Blessings” – Produced by Boi-1da and Vinylz (Big Sean, Featuring Drake and Kanye West)
“Commas” – Produced by Dj Spinz and Southside (Future)
“Idfwu” – Produced by Dj Dahi, Dj Mustard, Kanye West and Key Wane (Big Sean, Featuring E-40)
“Trap Queen” – Produced by Tony Fadd (Fetty Wap)
Album of the Year
Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise
Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Nicki Minaj – The Pinkprint
Wale – The Album About Nothing
Who Blew Up Award
Bobby Shmurda
Dej Loaf
Fetty Wap
Rae Sremmurd
Tink
Hustler of the Year
Dr. Dre
Drake
J. Cole
Jay Z
Nicki Minaj
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
A$Ap Rocky
Dej Loaf
Drake
Kanye West
Nicki Minaj
Best Hip Hop Online Site
Allhiphop.Com
Complex.Com
Hotnewhiphop.Com
Rapradar.Com
Worldstarhiphop.Com
Best Club Banger
Big Sean featuring E-40 – “Idfwu” (Produced by Dj Dahi, Dj Mustard, Kanye West and Key Wane)
Dej Loaf – “Try Me” (Produced by Dds)
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen” (Produced by Tony Fadd)
Future – “Commas” (Produced by Dj Spinz and Southside)
Rich Homie Quan – “Flex” (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh) (Produced by Dj Spinz and Nitti Beatz)
Best Mixtape
Future – 56 Nights
Future – Beast Mode
Future – Monster
Lil Wayne – Sorry 4 the Wait 2
Travis Scott – Days Before Rodeo
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
Drake – “Blessings” (Big Sean, Featuring Drake and Kanye West)
Drake – “My Way Remix” (Fetty Wap, Featuring Drake)
E-40 – “Idfwu” (Big Sean, Featuring E-40)
Kendrick Lamar – “Classic Man Remix” (Jidenna, Featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Lil Wayne – “Truffle Butter” (Nicki Minaj, Featuring Drake and Lil Wayne)
Impact Track
Big Sean, featuring Kanye West and John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World”
Common and John Legend – “Glory” (From the Motion Picture Selma)
J. Cole – “Apparently”
J. Cole – “Be Free”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
People’s Champ Award
Big Sean featuring Drake and Kanye West – “Blessings”
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Future – “Commas”
Kendrick Lamar – “I”
Rae Sremmurd – “No Type”
Rich Homie Quan – “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)”