Kanye West leads BET nominations with Jay-Z and Beyonce
Kanye West leads the field at this year's BET awards with seven nominations.
By Del CrookesNewsbeat reporter Musical partner and collaborator Jay-Z also has five while the rapper's wife Beyonce is up for six. Jay-Z and West collaborator last year on Watch the Throne and are on tour in the UK together at the moment. Their songs In Paris and Otis are up for video of the year with Beyonce up for two awards in that category for Love on Top and Countdown. The fifth nominee is Usher's Climax. The BET nominations were announced in New York. Samuel L. Jackson will host the award show on 1 July, which will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj are due to perform. Other nominees include Lil Wayne, Drake and J. Cole. Estelle, Labrinth, Emeli Sande, Sway and Wretch 32 are all nominated in the best international act category with Idris Elba up for best actor. Last year's big winner, Chris Brown, is up for three awards this year after picking up four trophies in 2011. The group Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will receive a lifetime achievement award. Selected categories are as follows: Best female R&B artist: Marsha Ambrosius, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Melanie Fiona, Rihanna Best male R&B artist: Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Miguel, Trey Songz, Usher Best group: Bad Meets Evil, Diddy-Dirty Money, Maybach Music Group, Mindless Behavior, The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) Best collaboration: Beyonce ft J. Cole - Party, Big Sean ft Kanye West & Roscoe Dash - Marvin & Chardonnay, DJ Khaled ft Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - I'm On One, Drake ft Lil Wayne & Tyga - The Motto, The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) ft Otis Redding - Otis, Wale ft Miguel - Lotus Flower Bomb Best male hip hop artist: Big Sean, Drake, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy Best female hip hop artist: Diamond, Nicki Minaj, Brianna Perry, Trina Video of the year: Beyonce - Countdown, Beyonce - Love On Top, The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) - In Paris, The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) ft Otis Redding - Otis, Usher - Climax Best new artist: A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Diggy Future, Meek Mill