The list of nominees for the BET Hip-Hop Awards doesn't exactly raise any eyebrows upon an initial review, with Kendrick Lamar, Drake and J. Cole earning the most nominations. The major hits and the major culprits all received their nods, without much room for anyone else. Of course, the hook for this show is the performances and the cyphers, moreso than the actual awards. Those have yet to be announced.
With that said, this year's award show marks the first head-to-head showdown between Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ and Odd Future's Earl Sweatshirt for Rookie of the Year. It's probably the first of many encounters for the two young emcees as they begin their promising careers. Both Earl's debut album Doris and Joey's latest mixtape Summer Knights (he will make his album debut later in the year) received rave reviews from our EIC Vince Thomas this summer.
Here's a full list of the nominees, courtesy of SoulCulture.
Best Hip Hop Video:
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar – “Problems”
B.o.B f/ T.I. & Juicy J – “We Still in This”
J. Cole f/ Miguel – “Power Trip”
Drake – “Started From the Bottom”
Kendrick Lamar – “Don’t Kill My Vibe”Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo, Duo or Group):
Ace Hood f/ Rick Ross & Future – “Bugatti”
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar – “Problems”
J. Cole f/ Miguel – “Power Trip”
French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne – “Pop That”
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake – “Poetic Justice”
Wale f/ Tiara Thomas – “Bad”Best Live Performer:
2 Chainz
J. Cole
JAY Z
Kendrick Lamar
Kanye WestLyricist of the Year:
J. Cole
Drake
JAY Z
Kendrick Lamar
WaleVideo Director of the Year:
A$AP Rocky & A$AP Ferg
Benny Boom
Director X
Dre Films
Hype WilliamsDJ of the Year:
DJ Drama
DJ Envy
DJ Funkmaster Flex
DJ Khaled
DJ ScreamProducer of the Year:
J. Cole
Hit-Boy
DJ Mustard
Mike WiLL Made It
Pharrell WilliamsMVP of the Year:
2 Chainz
J. Cole
Drake
JAY Z
Kendrick LamarTrack of the Year:
“Power Trip” – Produced by J. Cole (J. Cole f/ Miguel)
“Problems” – Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib (A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
“Don’t Kill My Vibe” – Produced by Sounwave (Kendrick Lamar)
“Bugatti” – Produced by Mike WiLL Made It (Ace Hood f/ Rick Ross & Future)
“Started From The Bottom” – Produced by Mike Zombie & Noah “40″ Shebib (Drake)Album of the Year:
J. Cole – Born Sinner
JAY Z – Magna Carta Holy Grail
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Nas – Life Is Good
Wale – The GiftedWho New? Rookie of the Year:
Action Bronson
A$AP Ferg
Earl Sweatshirt
Joey Bada$$
Trinidad Jame$Hustler of the Year:
Diddy
JAY Z
Kendrick Lamar
T.I.
Kanye WestMade-You-Look Award:
2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
JAY Z
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Kanye WestBest Club Banger:
Ace Hood f/ Rick Ross & Future – “Bugatti” (Produced by Mike WiLL Made It)
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar – “Problems” (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
Drake – “Started From The Bottom” (Produced by Mike Zombie & Noah “40″ Shebib)
French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne – “Pop That” (Produced by Lee on the Beats)
Trinidad Jame$ – “All Gold Everything” (Produced by M.e. (Devon Gallaspy))Best Mixtape:
Big Sean – Detroit
Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap
Travi$ Scott – Owl Pharaoh
Stalley – Honest Cowboy
Trinidad Jame$ – Don’t Be S.A.F.E.Sweet 16 (Best Featured Verse):
Diddy – “Same Damn Time (Remix)” (Future f/ Diddy & Ludacris)
Drake – “Versace (Remix)” (Migos f/ Drake)
Future – “Bugatti” (Ace Hood f/ Rick Ross & Future)
Kendrick Lamar – “Problems” (A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
Wiz Khalifa – “U.O.E.N.O. (Remix)” (Rocko f/ Future & Wiz Khalifa)Impact Track:
J. Cole f/ TLC – “Crooked Smile”
JAY Z f/ Justin Timberlake – “Holy Grail”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “Same Love”
Wale f/ Sam Dew – “LoveHate Thing”
Kanye West – “BLKKK SKKKNHEAD”People’s Champ Award:
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar – “Problems”
J. Cole f/ Miguel – “Power Trip”
Drake – “Started From the Bottom”
Kendrick Lamar – “Don’t Kill My Vibe”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ Ray Dalton – “Can’t Hold Us”
