On Thursday afternoon (Sept. 7), BET introduced their nominations for this 12 months’s BET Hip-Hop Awards. Slated to happen reside in Atlanta on Oct. 3, the 18th annual awards present will showcase the style’s brightest skills. The ceremony will premiere on Oct. 10 at 9 PM ET/PT on BET.
21 Savage and Cardi B paved the way with 12 nominations, whereas Drake is correct behind with 9. DJ Khaled and Burna Boy every have seven nods, whereas J. Cole has six. Jay-Z, Coi Leray, and GloRilla comply with with 5 apiece. This 12 months’s nominations embrace a various crowd of confirmed veterans, rising rookies, thriving producers, and abroad leaders.
“This 12 months’s ‘BET Hip Hop Awards will mark the end result of our year-long celebration of hip-hop’s storied creation and the artwork kind’s sonic and cultural enlargement,” mentioned Connie Orlando, evp specials, music programming & music technique for BET. “We’re honored by this 12 months’s roster of nominees as they proceed to hold the creativity and variety of hip-hop into the long run. We congratulate every nominee on their accomplishments as they take hip-hop artistry to new heights.”
Final 12 months, Kendrick Lamar dominated the awards, notching six wins on the night time, together with artist of the 12 months and album of the 12 months for Mr. Morale & The Huge Steppers, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. Lamar additionally shared two of his awards, greatest hip hop video for “Household Ties” with Child Keem and video director of the 12 months with PGLang co-founder Dave Free.
Beneath, Billboard breaks down a number of the greatest takeaways from this 12 months’s nominations.
-
Cardi B’s Characteristic Run Continues
Regardless of not releasing an album in over 5 years, Cardi has doled out numerous indelible moments, whether or not within the driver’s seat as a lead artist or enjoying the co-star on the options entrance. Her double-digit nominations this 12 months spotlight her smoldering run during the last 12 months, as she’s leaned on her standing as a options savant to assist her inventory stay sky-high. Like Savage, who additionally claims a dozen nods, she’ll be competing towards herself in a number of classes — together with track of the 12 months and greatest collaboration, courtesy of her standout verses on Latto’s “Put It On The Ground Once more” and GloRilla’s “Tomorrow 2,” respectively.
-
The New Renaissance for Feminine Rappers
Earlier than the flip of the last decade, followers clamored for extra feminine stars within the hip-hop area. As we speak, the panorama has shifted, as confirmed by Cardi’s staggering 12 nominations and GloRilla and Coi Leray’s presence with 5 nominations. Final 12 months, Huge Glo caught traction, courtesy of her husky circulation and spelling-bee-like anthem “F.N.F.” Subsequently, she upped the ante when she reeled in Cardi B for “Tomorrow 2,” clinching her first Sizzling 100 high 10 file. And whereas Leray notched a string of hits early in her profession with “No Extra Events” and “Blick Blick,” it was her Grandmaster Flash-approved “Gamers” that has confirmed her star energy this 12 months. As well as, 5 of the eight nominees for this 12 months’s greatest breakthrough hip-hop artist are girls, together with Ice Spice, Doechii, Lola Brooke, Sexyy Redd, and Kali.
-
21 Savage Is Celebrity Standing
There’s been a little bit of trepidation when 21 Savage’s title pops up: Is he famous person materials? Did he lastly graduate into that perennial hitmaker we thought he might be? Properly, he now has the accolades to again up that declare, together with a GRAMMY trophy, a bevy of Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, and a powerful options run that may scare off any hapless MC. And whereas these gaudy stats shine vivid below the sunshine, his unconventional lyricism stays a speaking level for hip-hop purists. However, once more, Savage relishes the criticism, and when his quantity is named, he delivers — as confirmed by his efforts on his 2022 full-length Drake teamup Her Loss. And even when he isn’t aligned with the 6 God, he’s a knockout function, with unmatched humor and wit — as proven by his performances on Metro Boomin’s “Creepin” and Burna Boy’s “Sitting on High of the World.” The proverbial cherry on high for Savage’s 12 nominations? Being nominated for lyricist of the 12 months.
-
Burna Boy Is Burning Up
Afrobeats has risen in reputation over the previous few years, with a giant enhance from one of many style’s foremost pillars, Burna Boy. His unshakable confidence stems from his capability to whip up saucy club-starters (“Final Final” & “Sitting On High of the World”) and his standing as a formidable reside stage performer, particularly on large phases resembling Madison Sq. Backyard and even New York’s Citi Discipline Stadium. Burna’s bearhug on the style has deservingly been spotlighted at this 12 months’s awards, as he netted seven nominations, giving him the third-highest complete for the night time.
-
Hov Did…It Once more!
Although Jay-Z’s verses are scarce in 2023, when these uncommon blockbuster moments floor, he’s normally the trending subject for the day. Final 12 months, he issued his deafening salvo on DJ Khaled’s 2022 track “God Did,” which dominated each group chat and social media platform for weeks. Hov’s 80-bar dash was sufficient to earn him 5 nominations, regardless of him being a part-time rhymer and billionaire don.
