BET awards: As Nigerian superstars grab nominations, Drake, GloRilla lead

Multi-platinum performer, Drake, will be heading to the 2023 edition of BET Awards with seven nominations.
The Black culture’s biggest night event holding in Los Angeles will be aired live on Sunday, June 25.
Four Nigerian superstars have also been nominated in some categories.
Leading the pack is the acclaimed Burna Boy, who has secured multiple nominations, while Ayra Starr, Asake, and Tems have one each.

Drake’s seven nominations are in the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Best Male R&B/ Pop Artist, Best Group with 21 Savage, and Album of the Year for, Her Loss.
GloRilla, best-known for “Tomorrow 2” with Cardi B and “ Leave the Club” featuring Lil Durk, is the most nominated female with her name in six categories. At the 2022 awards, the spit-fire rapper took home Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist of the Year.
21 Savage and Lizzo are trailing closely behind with five nods each. Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Ice Spice, SZA, and more have received top honours.
Burna Boy’s nominations are Male Artist R&B/Pop Artist, Video Director of the Year, and Best International Act.
Tems received recognition for Best Female Artist and Best Collaboration for her contribution to Future’s track ‘Wait For U’.  Ayra Starr and Asake make their debut on the nominations list with their nods for Best International Act and Best New International Act, respectively.
“We are thrilled to be back in LA for BET Awards 2023 and to celebrate a huge cultural milestone – the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “For five decades, Hip Hop has not only influenced American culture but has become a global phenomenon and one of the most influential musical genres of our lifetime.”

The nominees in each music-centric category are below:

Album of the Year
Anyways, Life’s Great, GloRilla
Breezy, Chris Brown
God Did, DJ Khaled
Her Loss, Drake & 21 Savage
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar
Renaissance, Beyoncé
SOS, SZA

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
SZA
Tems

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
The Weeknd
Usher

Best Group
City Girls
Drake & 21 Savage
Dvsn
FLO
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & Takeoff
Wanmor

Best Collaboration
“Big Energy (Remix),” Latto & Mariah Carey feat. DJ Khaled
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,” King Combs feat. Kodak Black
“Creepin’,” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” Hitkidd & GloRilla
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B
“Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems

Best Female Hip Hop Artist  
Cardi B
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby

Video of the Year
“We (Warm Embrace),” Chris Brown
“2 Million Up,” Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey feat. Rob49
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“First Class,” Harlow
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B

Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky for AWGE
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor

Best New Artist
Ambré
Coco Jones
Doechii
FLO
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
“Bless Me,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
“Finished (Live),” Tamela Mann
“I’ve Got Joy,” CeCe Winans
“Kingdom,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
“New,” Tye Tribbett
“One Moment From Glory,” Yolanda Adams
“The Better Benediction (Pt.2),” PJ Morton feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Viewer’s Choice Award
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“First Class,” Jack Harlow
“Jimmy Cooks,” Drake feat 21 Savage
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Super Freaky Girl,” Nicki Minaj
“Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems

BET Her
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“Her,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Lift Me Up,” Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From And Inspired By – Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson
“Players,” Coi Leray
“Special,” Lizzo