The nominations for the 2025 BET Awards are out, and it’s a tight race packed with superstar talent and rising stars alike. Hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar dominates this year’s field with 10 nominations, the most of any artist. Lamar’s nods span major categories – he’s up for Album of the Year (for his West Coast homage GNX), Video of the Year (for the razor-sharp “Not Like Us”), and Best Male Hip Hop Artist, among others. Impressively, three of Kendrick’s tracks earned Viewer’s Choice Award nominations (“Not Like Us,” “Luther” featuring SZA, and “Like That” with Future & Metro Boomin), and he’s also recognized with three Best Collaboration nods for his high-profile team-ups. To top it off, Kendrick even scored a mention for Video Director of the Year (sharing a nod with his creative partner Dave Free). All told, it’s a reflection of Kendrick’s powerhouse year, which included buzzy musical feuds (his scathing Drake diss track “Not Like Us” made waves) and creative ventures that clearly impressed the BET voting academy.
Trailing Lamar – but not by far – is an eclectic group of artists each with six nominations: rap experimentalist Doechii, global hitmaker Drake, trap veteran Future, and breakout Memphis rapper GloRilla. These four are tied as the second-most-nominated acts, each showing up across multiple categories. Doechii’s nods include Album of the Year (for her genre-blending project Alligator Bites Never Heal) and multiple mentions for her provocative hit “Denial is a River.” Drake continues to be a dual threat, nominated in both hip-hop and R&B categories (from Best Male Hip Hop Artist to Best Male R&B/Pop Artist), plus recognition for his collaborative album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U with PartyNextDoor. Future’s nominations reflect his fruitful partnership with producer Metro Boomin (their joint album We Don’t Trust You is up for Album of the Year, and their track “Like That” with Kendrick is a contender in several categories). GloRilla, meanwhile, caps off a stellar breakthrough year – her debut album Glorious earned an Album of the Year nod, and she even crossed into the gospel field with a nomination in the Inspirational category for her crossover song “Rain Down On Me.”
Several other big names snagged multiple nominations: super-producer Metro Boomin scored five, and R&B sensation SZA along with pop innovator The Weeknd have four each. It’s also worth noting the newcomers and surprises – for instance, Nigerian singer Ayra Starr picked up three nominations (including Best New Artist and even Best International Act, highlighting her global impact). And while veterans like Beyoncé, Cardi B and Nicki Minaj don’t lead the pack this year, they did secure nods (Beyoncé for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, among others, and Nicki for Best Female Hip Hop). Overall, the nominee list reflects a wide spectrum of Black excellence in entertainment, from music to film to sports. Comedian Kevin Hart is set to host the silver-anniversary 25th BET Awards on June 9 in Los Angeles, where fans will see who takes home the trophies – and which moments will have everyone talking. Below is the full list of nominees for every category at the 2025 BET Awards:
Album of the Year: 11:11 (Deluxe) – Chris Brown; Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii; Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé; Glorious – GloRilla; GNX – Kendrick Lamar; Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd; $ome $exy $ongs 4 U – Drake & PartyNextDoor; We Don’t Trust You – Future & Metro Boomin.
Video of the Year: “3AM in Tokeyo” – Key Glock; “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey; “After Hours” – Kehlani; “Denial Is a River” – Doechii; “Family Matters” – Drake; “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar; “Timeless” – The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti; “Type Shit” – Future & Metro Boomin feat. Travis Scott & Playboi Carti.
Video Director of the Year: Anderson .Paak; B Pace Productions & Jacquees; Benny Boom; Cactus Jack; Cole Bennett; Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar; Dave Meyers; Foggieraw; Tyler, the Creator.
Coca-Cola Viewer’s Choice Award: “Residuals” – Chris Brown; “Denial Is a River” – Doechii; “Nokia” – Drake; “Like That” – Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar; “TGIF” – GloRilla; “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar; “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA; “Brokey” – Latto.
Best Collaboration: “30 for 30” – SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar; “Alter Ego” – Doechii feat. JT; “Are You Even Real” – Teddy Swims feat. Giveon; “Beckham” – Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo & KJ Swervo; “Bless” – Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug; “Like That” – Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar; “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA; “Sticky” – Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne; “Timeless” – The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti.
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Bruno Mars; Chris Brown; Drake; Fridayy; Leon Thomas III; Teddy Swims; The Weeknd; Usher.
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: Ari Lennox; Ayra Starr; Coco Jones; Kehlani; Muni Long; Summer Walker; SZA; Victoria Monét.
Best Male Hip Hop Artist: BigXthaPlug; Bossman Dlow; Burna Boy; Drake; Future; Kendrick Lamar; Key Glock; Lil Wayne; Tyler, the Creator.
Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Cardi B; Doechii; Doja Cat; GloRilla; Latto; Megan Thee Stallion; Nicki Minaj; Rapsody; Sexyy Red.
Best New Artist: 41; Ayra Starr; BigXthaPlug; Bossman Dlow; Dee Billz; Leon Thomas III; October London; Shaboozey; Teddy Swims.
Best Group: 41; Common & Pete Rock; Drake & PartyNextDoor; FLO; Future & Metro Boomin; Jacquees & Dej Loaf; Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist; Maverick City Music.
BET Her Award (Music Video/Track of the Year by a Female Artist inspiring social change): “Beautiful People” – Mary J. Blige; “Blackbiird” – Beyoncé; “Bloom” – Doechii; “Burning” – Tems; “Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande; “Heart of a Woman” – Summer Walker; “Hold On” – Tems; “In My Bag” – FLO & GloRilla.
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: “A God (There Is)” – Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson; “Amen” – Pastor Mike Jr.; “Better Days” – Fridayy; “Church Doors” – Yolanda Adams feat. Sir the Baptist & Donald Lawrence; “Constant” – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula; “Deserve to Win” – Tamela Mann; “Faith” – Rapsody; “Rain Down on Me” – GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin & Maverick City Music.
Best Movie: Bad Boys: Ride or Die; Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; Luther: Never Too Much; One of Them Days; Rebel Ridge; The Piano Lesson; The Six Triple Eight.
Best Actor: Aaron Pierre; Aldis Hodge; Anthony Mackie; Colman Domingo; Denzel Washington; Jamie Foxx; Joey Bada$$; Kevin Hart; Sterling K. Brown; Will Smith.
Best Actress: Andra Day; Angela Bassett; Coco Jones; Cynthia Erivo; Keke Palmer; Kerry Washington; Quinta Brunson; Viola Davis; Zendaya.
Sportsman of the Year: Aaron Judge; Anthony Edwards; Deion Sanders; Jalen Hurts; Jayson Tatum; LeBron James; Saquon Barkley; Stephen Curry.
Sportswoman of the Year: A’ja Wilson; Angel Reese; Claressa Shields; Coco Gauff; Dawn Staley; Flau’jae Johnson; JuJu Watkins; Sha’Carri Richardson; Simone Biles.
Best International Act: Any Gabrielly (Brazil); Ayra Starr (Nigeria); Bashy (UK); Black Sherif (Ghana); Ezra Collective (UK); Joé Dwèt Filé (France); MC Luanna (Brazil); Rema (Nigeria); SDM (France); Tyla (South Africa); Uncle Waffles (Eswatini).
Best New International Act: Abigail Chams (Tanzania); Ajuliacosta (Brazil); Amabbi (Brazil); Dlala Thukzin (South Africa); Dr. Yaro (France); KWN (UK); Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa); Merveille (France); Odeal (UK); Shallipopi (Nigeria); TxC (South Africa).
YoungStars Award (Best Young Artist): Akira Akbar; Blue Ivy Carter; Graceyn Hollingsworth; Heiress Diana Harris; Melody Hurd; Thaddeus J. Mixon; Tyrik Johnson; Van Van.
(The 25th BET Awards will air live on June 9, 2025, celebrating 25 years of “Culture’s Biggest Night.” In addition to the competitive categories above, special honors – including a Lifetime Achievement Award, Humanitarian Award, and a tribute reunion of 106 & Park’s iconic hosts – will be presented during the ceremony.)
