Kendrick Lamar, Doechii and Drake Lead 2025 BET Award Nominations

Kendrick Lamar leads the 2025 BET Awards with 10 nominations, followed closely behind by Doechii, GloRilla and Future with six nominations apiece.

The BET Awards honor creative expression and Black excellence across music, film, television and sports. Lamar’s nominations include album of the year for “GNX,” video of the year for “Not Like Us,” three viewer’s choice entries (“Not Like Us,” “Luther” featuring SZA, and “Like That” with Future & Metro Boomin), three best collaboration nominations (“Like That,” “30 for 30” and “Luther”), video director of the year (with Dave Free), and best male hip hop artist.

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Drake’s nominations include album of the year for “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U,” video of the year for “Family Matters,” viewer’s choice award for “Nokia” and best male R&B/pop artist. Future was nominated for album of the year with “We Don’t Trust You” alongside Metro Boomin, video of the year for “Type Shit,” best collaboration and viewer’s choice award for “Like That” and best male hip hop artist.

SZA and The Weeknd tied with four nominations each, while Chris Brown, Ayra Starr, Lil Wayne, Maverick City Music, Playboi Carti, Teddy Swims and Tyler, the Creator each earned three nominations. SZA was recognized in the best female R&B/pop artist category, along with best collaboration for “30 for 30” featuring Lamar.

Additional nominees in best actor include Aaron Pierre, Aldis Hodge, Anthony Mackie, Colman Domingo, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Joey Bada$$, Kevin Hart, Sterling K. Brown and Will Smith while best actress featured Andra Day, Angela Bassett, Coco Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kerry Washington, Quinta Brunson and Viola Davis.

Voting for the viewer’s choice award will open soon. The 2025 BET Awards are set for June 9 in Los Angeles.

The full list of nominees are below.

Album of the Year
“$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” – Drake & PartyNextDoor
“11:11 Deluxe” – Chris Brown
“Alligator Bites Never Heal” – Doechii
“Cowboy Carter” – Beyoncé
“Glorious” – GloRilla
“GNX” – Kendrick Lamar
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” – The Weeknd
“We Don’t Trust You” – Future & Metro Boomin

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
Victoria Monét

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher

Best Group
41
Common & Pete Rock
Drake & PartyNextDoor
FLO
Future & Metro Boomin
Jacquees & Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
Maverick City Music

Best Collaboration
“30 for 30” – SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Alter Ego” – Doechii feat. JT
“Are You Even Real” – Teddy Swims feat. GIVĒON
“Beckham” – Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo
“Bless” – Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
“Like That” – Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
“Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Sticky” – Tyler, the Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
“Timeless” – The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doechii
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Rapsody
Sexyy Red

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
BigXthaPlug
Bossman DLow
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Key Glock
Lil Wayne
Tyler, the Creator

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, 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

Best New Artist
41
Ayra Starr
BigXthaPlug
Bossman DLow
Dee Billz
Leon Thomas
October London
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims

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

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 & SZA
“Brokey” – Latto

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 (Swaziland)

Best New International Act
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Ajulicosta (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)

BET Her
“Beautiful People” – Mary J. Blige
“Blackbiird” – Beyoncé feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
“Bloom” – Doechii
“Burning” – Tems
“Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
“Heart of a Woman” – Summer Walker
“Hold On” – Tems
“In My Bag” – FLO & GloRilla

Best Movie
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Luther: Never Too Much
Mufasa: The Lion King
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

YoungStars Award
Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Melody Hurd
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Tyrik Johnson
VanVan

Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Dawn Staley
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year
Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Deion Sanders
Jalen Hurts
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Saquon Barkley
Stephen Curry

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