The BET awards nominations list have just dropped ahead of 23rd annual ceremony, and as always it’s a long diverse list of music star who have contributed to the rich global music scene.
Canadian rapper Drake leads with seven nods, including best male hip hop artist, album of the year and best male R&B/pop artist including his contribution on Future’s mega hit ‘Wait for u’ featuring Tems. In October last year, GloRilla was named a BET Amplified Artist and won Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist of the Year; this year she has bags 6 nominations.
21 Savage and Lizzo follow with the third-highest number of nominations, with five each, followed by Beyoncé, African Giant Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Ice Spice and SZA, with four nominations each.
It’s particularly exciting for Africans, Burna boy how’s head to head with global heavyweights, Chris brown, Usher, Drake for ‘Best Male R&B/ Pop artist. While Nigerian Songstress Tems, battles it out with Beyoncé, Sza, Lizzo amongst others in the Female category. She also has 2 other nods for contribution on Future’s ‘Wait for u’. Surprisingly, Burna boy is up in the Best Video Director of the year category as well as alongside first time BET nominee Ayra Starr in the Best International Act category where they’re up against stars from France, Uk, Brazil and Swaziland. Nigeria’s ‘Mr money with the vibe’ ASAKE also makes a first time appearance in the Viewers choice, Best New International Act with Ghana’s Camidoh, Cameroon’s Libianca amongst others and that’s a category the public will get to vote.
Nominations were selected by the BET Voting Academy and The BET Awards 2023 will air live on Sunday, June 25. Voting for the Viewer’s Choice categories have commenced since yesterday June 8 and end the day of the show, June 25.