Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations for the 2025 BET Awards.
The rap megastar has trumped his rival Drake with his 10 nods at the upcoming ceremony celebrating Black excellence in music, film, television, and sports.
Kendrick’s nods include Album of the Year for ‘GNX’, Video of the Year for his Drake diss hit ‘Not Like Us’ and Best Male Hip Hop Artist.
Drake, meanwhile, will battle his arch-nemesis for Album of the Year with ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U’.
Doechii and GloRilla both have six nods each.
SZA and The Weeknd both secured four nods.
Chris Brown, Ayra Starr, Lil Wayne, Maverick City Music, Playboi Carti, Teddy Swims and Tyler, the Creator have three apiece.
The 2025 BET Awards will take place on June 9 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles
Kendrick Lamar also dominated the nominations for the 2025 American Music Awards with 10 nods.
The rap megastar’s 2024 LP ‘GNX’ is in contention for Album of the Year, and his Drake diss song ‘Not Like Us’ is up for Song of the Year, another blow to his rival. K Dot will also challenge the likes of Chappell Roan, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift for Artist of the Year.
Jennifer Lopez will host proceedings in Las Vegas on May 26.
Album of the Year
“$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” – Drake and PartyNextDoor
“11:11 Deluxe” – Chris Brown
“Alligator Bites Never Heal” – Doechii
“Cowboy Carter” – Beyoncé
“Glorious” – GloRilla
“GNX” – Kendrick Lamar
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” – The Weeknd
“We Don’t Trust You” – Future and Metro Boomin
Best Female R’n’B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
Victoria Monét
Best Male R’n’B/Pop Artist
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
41
Common and Pete Rock
Drake and PartyNextDoor
FLO
Future and Metro Boomin
Jacquees and Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
“30 for 30” – SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Alter Ego” – Doechii feat. JT
“Are You Even Real” – Teddy Swims feat. GIVĒON
“Beckham” – Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo
“Bless” – Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug
“Like That” – Future and Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar
“Luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“Sticky” – Tyler, the Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne
“Timeless” – The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doechii
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Rapsody
Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
BigXthaPlug
Bossman DLow
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Key Glock
Lil Wayne
Tyler, the Creator
Video of the Year
“3AM in Tokeyo” – Key Glock
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
“After Hours” – Kehlani
“Denial Is a River” – Doechii
“Family Matters” – Drake
“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
“Timeless” – The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
“Type Shit” – Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott and Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak
B Pace Productions and Jacquees
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar
Dave Meyers
Foggieraw
Tyler, the Creator
Best New Artist
41
Ayra Star
BigXthaPlug
Bossman DLow
Dee Billz
Leon Thomas
October London
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
“A God (There Is)” – Common and Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson
“Amen” – Pastor Mike Jr.
“Better Days” – Fridayy
“Church Doors” – Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence
“Constant” – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula
“Deserve to Win” – Tamela Mann
“Faith” – Rapsody
“Rain Down on Me” – GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
Viewer’s Choice Award
“Residuals” – Chris Brown
“Denial Is a River” – Doechii
“Nokia” – Drake
“Like That” – Future and Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
“TGIF” – GloRilla
“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
“Luther” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“Brokey” – Latto
Best International Act
Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Bashy (UK)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Ezra Collective (UK)
Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
MC Luanna (Brazil)
Rema (Nigeria)
SDM (France)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Ajulicosta (Brazil)
Amabbi (Brazil)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Dr Yaro (France)
KWN (UK)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Merveille (France)
Odeal (UK)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
TxC (South Africa)
BET Her
“Beautiful People” – Mary J. Blige
“Blackbiird” – Beyoncé feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts
“Bloom” – Doechii
“Burning” – Tems
“Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
“Heart of a Woman” – Summer Walker
“Hold On” – Tems
“In My Bag” – FLO and GloRilla
Best Movie
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Luther: Never Too Much
Mufasa: The Lion King
One of Them Days
Rebel Ridge
The Piano Lesson
The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
Aaron Pierre
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Denzel Washington
Jamie Foxx
Joey Bada$$
Kevin Hart
Sterling K. Brown
Will Smith
Best Actress
Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Cynthia Erivo
Keke Palmer
Kerry Washington
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya
YoungStars Award
Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Melody Hurd
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Tyrik Johnson
VanVan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Dawn Staley
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year
Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Deion Sanders
Jalen Hurts
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Saquon Barkley
Stephen Curry