Does it look like I was left off “Bad and Boujee”? Seems like it was forever ago, but it was just last year at the BET Awards red carpet that hip-hop trio Migos sat or, uhm, stood with Complex’s Everyday Struggle hosts DJ Akademiks, Nadeska Alexis and (*cough* former host) Joe Budden, thus creating a beautiful moment in black history. I wonder what we have to look forward to at this year’s BET Awards?
BET hosted a nomination party for the 2018 BET Awards in New York City Tuesday and invited movers and shakers to hear all of the nominees read out while sipping on dranks. Ideal, TBH.
This year, the BET Awards is giving DJ Khaled the most nominations because apparently they haven’t heard that he doesn’t give his wife ... you know what? Never mind. Congrats are in order for your favorite social media hype man for getting six nominations. Khaled is up for Album of the Year for Grateful and Video of the Year (for “Wild Thoughts,” with Rihanna and Bryson Tiller), and he’s even standing tall against hip-hop greats like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Drake for Male Hip-Hop Artist.
It’s a little unfair that anyone is competing against Beyoncé for the Female R&B/Pop Artist Award, but, alas, here we are with SZA, H.E.R., Rihanna and Kehlani all nominated. Honestly, one of these other talented ladies could take the trophy home because Bey is only nominated for two awards. She gave us Beychella—twice; muva’s not about to give us another performance at this show. But one can hope!
SZA is the only woman nominated for four awards this year, leading the list of ladies who are nominated. She’s up against Beyoncé for Female R&B/Pop Artist, New Artist (say what?), Album of the Year and Viewers’ Choice. This just might be the R&B fairy’s night!
All the stars are closer. Cardi B is right behind SZA and is up for three awards: Video of the Year, Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Viewers’ Choice. Something tells me at least one of those trophies belongs to Bardi.
The BET Awards are known to be one of the most entertaining awards shows ever. Remember the epic Destiny’s Child “Cater 2 U” performance? How about Rick James and Teena Marie’s “Fire & Desire” performance? Oh, and no one can forget that time Prince and Stevie Wonder performed as part of a tribute to Chaka Khan.
Listen, the BET Awards are an experience. I guess that’s why they call it that now.
Watch the BET Awards with us live on June 24, and check out the complete list of nominees for the 2018 BET Awards below:
Female R&B/Pop Artist: Beyoncé, SZA, H.E.R., Rihanna, Kehlani
Male R&B/Pop Artist: Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, the Weeknd, Khalid, Daniel Caesar
Group: Migos, A Tribe Called Quest, N.E.R.D., Rae Sremmurd, Chloe x Halle
Collaboration: Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B, “Finesse” (Remix); DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”; DJ Khaled featuring Jay-Z, Future and Beyoncé, “Top Off”; Cardi B featuring 21 Savage, “Bartier Cardi”; French Montana featuring Swae Lee, “Unforgettable”; Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna, “Loyalty”
Male Hip-Hop Artist: Drake, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, J. Cole
Female Hip-Hop Artist: Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Remy Ma, DeJ Loaf, Rapsody
Video of the Year: Drake, “God’s Plan”; Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow”; Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B, “Finesse” (Remix); DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”; Kendrick Lamar, “Humble”; Migos featuring Drake, “Walk It Talk It”
Video Director of the Year: Benny Boom, Director X, Ava DuVernay, Chris Brown, Dave Meyers
New Artist: SZA, H.E.R., Daniel Caesar, GoldLink, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel/Inspirational Award: Lecrae featuring Tori Kelly, “I’ll Find You”; Snoop Dogg featuring B Slade, “Words Are Few”; Ledisi and Kirk Franklin, “If You Don’t Mind”; Marvin Sapp, “Close”; Tasha Cobbs Leonard featuring Nicki Minaj, “I’m Getting Ready”
International Act: Booba, Cassper Nyovest, Dadju, Davido, Distruction Boyz, Fally Ipupa, J Hus, Niska, Tiwa Savage, Stefflon Don, Stormzy
Actress: Tiffany Haddish, Lupita Nyong’o, Issa Rae, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Taraji P. Henson
Actor: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Donald Glover, Sterling K. Brown, Denzel Washington, Daniel Kaluuya
Young Stars Award: Yara Shahidi, Ashton Tyler, Caleb McLaughlin, Lonnie Chavis, Marsai Martin, Miles Brown
Movie: Black Panther; Girls Trip; A Wrinkle in Time; Detroit; Mudbound
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Candace Parker, Elana Meyers Taylor
Sportsman of the Year: Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Odell Beckham Jr.
Album of the Year: Damn., Kendrick Lamar; Ctrl, SZA; 4:44, Jay-Z; Culture II, Migos; Black Panther: The Album, Kendrick Lamar and various artists; Grateful, DJ Khaled
BET Her Award: Janelle Monáe, “Django Jane”; Lizzo, “Water Me”; Mary J. Blige, “Strength of a Woman”; Remy Ma featuring Chris Brown, “Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)”; Chloe X Halle, “The Kids Are Alright”; Leikeli47, “2nd Fiddle”
Viewers’ Choice: SZA featuring Travis Scott, “Love Galore”; Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow”; Kendrick Lamar, “Humble”; Drake, “God’s Plan”; Migos featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, “Motorsport”; DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”