The 2019 BET Awards are already penciled in for June 23rd at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. If you’ll recall, last year Drake felt the effects of a double-edged sword at the 2019 gala, after coming away with “Video of the Year” honors and a scathing diss from host DeRay Davis. Suffice to say, Drake let it go unanswered, as he’d once been in that “spiteful” position himself, as the host of the 2014 ESPYS.
But I digress, Drake is back in the leadoff position one year later, with 5 nominations to his name, only surpassed by Cardi B’s haul of 7 BET nominations. Rounding out the rest of the leaderboard sits Beyoncé, J.Cole, and Travis Scott, positioned in a three-way tie with three BET nominations. Worth noting, Pastor Snoop clocks in with high chances of stealing away with “Best Gospel” honors.
“From Michael Jackson and James Brown busting dance moves together to Monique paying homage to Beyoncé in an unforgettable dance number to BET reuniting the Fugees, we have set the tone for what cool looks like,” BET’s Head of Programming Connie Orlando said in the communique that listed the nominations. “This year we are even more so committed to continuing to create the unforgettable moments that have made the BET Awards the preeminent celebration of black culture.” Check out the shortlist down below.
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
BEYONCÉ
ELLA MAI
H.E.R.
SOLANGE
TEYANA TAYLOR
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
ANDERSON .PAAK
BRUNO MARS
CHILDISH GAMBINO
CHRIS BROWN
JOHN LEGEND
KHALID
Best Group
CHLOE X HALLE
CITY GIRLS
LIL BABY & GUNNA
MIGOS
THE CARTERS
Best Collaboration
21 SAVAGE FT. J. COLE – “A LOT ”
CARDI B & BRUNO MARS – “PLEASE ME”
CARDI B FT. BAD BUNNY & J BALVIN – “I LIKE IT”
H.E.R. FT. BRYSON TILLER – “COULD’VE BEEN”
TRAVIS SCOTT FT. DRAKE – “SICKO MODE”
TYGA FT. OFFSET – “TASTE”
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
21 SAVAGE
DRAKE
J. COLE
MEEK MILL
NIPSEY HUSSLE
TRAVIS SCOTT
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
CARDI B
KASH DOLL
LIZZO
MEGAN THEE STALLION
NICKI MINAJ
REMY MA
Video of the Year
21 SAVAGE – “A LOT” FT. J. COLE
CARDI B – “MONEY”
CARDI B & BRUNO MARS – “PLEASE ME”
CHILDISH GAMBINO – “THIS IS AMERICA”
DRAKE – “NICE FOR WHAT”
THE CARTERS – “APESHIT”
Video Director of the Year
BENNY BOOM
COLIN TILLEY
DAVE MEYERS
HYPE WILLIAMS
KARENA EVANS
Best New Artist
BLUEFACE
CITY GIRLS
JUICE WRLD
LIL BABY
QUEEN NAIJA
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
ERICA CAMPBELL FT. WARRYN CAMPBELL – “ALL OF MY LIFE”
FRED HAMMOND – “TELL ME WHERE IT HURTS”
KIRK FRANKLIN – “LOVE THEORY”
SNOOP DOGG FT. RANCE ALLEN – “BLESSING ME AGAIN”
TORI KELLY FT. KIRK FRANKLIN – “NEVER ALONE”
Best International Act
AKA (SOUTH AFRICA)
AYA NAKAMURA (FRANCE)
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
DAVE (U.K.)
DOSSEH (FRANCE)
GIGGS (U.K.)
MR EAZI (NIGERIA)
Best New International Act – (Fan Voted Category)
HEADIE ONE (U.K.)
JOK’AIR (FRANCE)
NESLY (FRANCE)
OCTAVIAN (U.K.)
SHO MADJOZI (AFRICA)
TENIOLA APATA (AFRICA)
Best Actress
ISSA RAE
REGINA HALL
REGINA KING
TARAJI P. HENSON
TIFFANY HADDISH
VIOLA DAVIS
Best Actor
ANTHONY ANDERSON
CHADWICK BOSEMAN
DENZEL WASHINGTON
MAHERSHALA ALI
MICHAEL B. JORDAN
OMARI HARDWICK
YoungStars Award
CALEB MCLAUGHLIN
LYRIC ROSS
MARSAI MARTIN
MICHAEL RAINEY JR.
MILES BROWN
Best Movie
BLACKKKLANSMAN
CREED II
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
THE HATE U GIVE
Sportswoman of the Year
ALLYSON FELIX
CANDACE PARKER
NAOMI OSAKA
SERENA WILLIAMS
SIMONE BILES
Sportsman of the Year
KEVIN DURANT
LEBRON JAMES
ODELL BECKHAM JR.
STEPHEN CURRY
TIGER WOODS
Album of the Year
ASTROWORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS
ELLA MAI
EVERYTHING IS LOVE
INVASION OF PRIVACY
2019 Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
CARDI B, BAD BUNNY & J BALVIN – “I LIKE IT”
CHILDISH GAMBINO – “THIS IS AMERICA”
DRAKE – “IN MY FEELINGS”
ELLA MAI – “TRIP”
J. COLE – “MIDDLE CHILD”
TRAVIS SCOTT FT. DRAKE – “SICKO MODE”
BET Her Award
ALICIA KEYS – “RAISE A MAN”
CIARA – “LEVEL UP”
H.E.R. – “HARD PLACE”
JANELLE MONÁE – “PYNK”
QUEEN NAIJA – “MAMA’S HAND”
TEYANA TAYLOR – “ROSE IN HARLEM”
