The nominations were announced on the rooftop of a swanky downtown Los Angeles nightclub early Tuesday by the current top dog in the game, Kendrick Lamar. Who all made this list? Who will take home the prize this year? Click to find out.
It should come as no surprise that October’s Very Own, Drake, would lead the list of nominations for the upcoming 2013 BET Awards, which the network revealed Tuesday (5/14). The Toronto rhymer-slash-crooner scored a leading 12 nominations, including an impressive five in the video of the year category. His singles “HYFR” and “Started From The Bottom” will compete against his own collaborations with 2 Chainz (“No Lie”), the aforementioned Kendrick Lamar (“Poetic Justice”) and A$AP Rocky (“Problems”).
The Young Money rapper is also up for “Best Male Hip-Hop Artist” alongside 2 Chainz and Lamar, who are tied with eight nods. Other multiple nominees include A$AP Rocky, who landed five nods, and Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Miguel, who all garnered four nods.
Hosted by Chris Tucker, this year’s BET Awards will mark the first time that the event will be open to the general public. They can purchase tickets with a BET Experience VIP Package, which also includes 3-day tickets to nightly concerts at the Staples Center.
Meanwhile, fans who watch from home can experience performances by Chris Brown, R. Kelly and a host of others. Legendary crooner Charlie Wilson will receive the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award, in honor of his four decades of service in the entertainment industry. “This year’s line-up of nominees and performers is reflective of the variety of fantastic talent that’s rocking the world right now,” says President of Music Programming and Specials, Stephen G. Hill. “We are especially excited as we move on up to the Nokia Theatre at LA Live. You know how we do. Big thangs shall indeed be poppin’. The BET Awards. Anything can happen… and most likely will.”
Taking a cue from this year’s Academy Awards, the night’s biggest award, “Video of the Year,” will feature 10 entries. The race for the prize features a formidable roster of Billboard charting hits including Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop,” Miguel’s “Adorn,” Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie,” and Kanye West’s “Mercy.” Nas, whose return to rare form came with “Life Is Good” was one of the best Hip-Hop releases in recent years, yet he has been shut out of the “Best Male Hip-Hop” artist category in favor of the likes of 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky and Future. Also, despite a breakout year, Odd Future’s Frank Ocean landed zero nominations. The snub is more likely because he’s not an artist issuing videos for network spins.
In the “Best Actress / Actor” categories, the same cast of characters are all nominees: Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Halle Berry and Taraji P. Henson alongside Don Cheadle, Jamie Foxx, Common, Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington.
The televised gala will be broadcast on June 30, 2013 at 8:00p.m. EST.
Props: Shadow & Act