Kendrick Lamar recently appointed himself the “King of New York,” kickstarting an avalanche of response tracks, parody videos, and retrograde territoriality. But there’s no disputing this fact: The good kid, m.A.A.d city storyteller is dominating the BET Hip-Hop Awards this year. Nominations for the annual ceremony are in and Lamar leads with a total of 14 nods. The Compton-based rapper is up for trophies in the following categories: Best Hip-Hop Video, Perfect Combo, Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, MVP of the Year, Album of the Year, Hustler of the Year, Made-You-Look Award, Best Featured Verse, and People’s Champ Award. Who’s in “Control” now?
Most of Lamar’s song-specific nominations come down to two tracks — his own “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and his guest verse on A$AP Rocky’s star-studded “Fuckin’ Problems.” Another MC included on that LONG.LIVE.A$AP standout, Drake, earned the second-most nods, scoring a final tally of 13. The Nothing Was the Same hotshot will square off against Kendrick in several categories — Best-Hip Video, Lyricist of the Year, MVP of the Year, Best Featured Verse, and People’s Champ — but the two are sharing a nomination for Perfect Combo, thanks to their smooth-talking “Poetic Justice.”
Other notable findings: J. Cole landed 10 acknowledgments while Kanye West only nabbed four, Chance the Rapper’s Essential Acid Rap has a shot at taking home the Best Mixtape trophy, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are still getting nominated for awards.
Snoop Dogg will host the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards, which will be taped at the Civic Center in Atlanta on September 28. The program will air on televison October 15. Scroll down for the full list of nominations.
2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards Nominations:
Best Hip-Hop Video
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar, “Fuckin’ Problems”
B.o.B feat. T.I. & Juicy J, “We Still in This”
J. Cole feat. Miguel, “Power Trip”
Drake, “Started From the Bottom”
Kendrick Lamar, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo, Duo or Group)
Ace Hood feat. Rick Ross & Future, “Bugatti”
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar, “Fuckin’ Problems”
J. Cole feat. Miguel, “Power Trip”
French Montana feat. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne, “Pop That”
Kendrick Lamar feat. Drake, “Poetic Justice”
Wale feat. Tiara Thomas, “Bad”
Best Live Performer
2 Chainz
J. Cole
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
Kanye West
Lyricist of the Year
J. Cole
Drake
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
Wale
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & A$AP Ferg
Benny Boom
Director X
Dre Films
Hype Williams
DJ of the Year
DJ Drama
DJ Envy
DJ Funkmaster Flex
DJ Khaled
DJ Scream
Producer of the Year
J. Cole
Hit-Boy
DJ Mustard
Mike WiLL Made It
Pharrell Williams
MVP of the Year
2 Chainz
J. Cole
Drake
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
Track of the Year
“Power Trip,” Produced by J. Cole (J. Cole feat. Miguel)
“Fuckin’ Problems,” Produced by Noah “40” Shebib (A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
“Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” Produced by Sounwave (Kendrick Lamar)
“Bugatti,” Produced by Mike WiLL Made It (Ace Hood feat. Rick Ross & Future)
“Started From The Bottom,” Produced by Mike Zombie & Noah “40” Shebib (Drake)
Album of the Year
J. Cole, Born Sinner
Jay Z, Magna Carta Holy Grail
Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city
Nas, Life Is Good
Wale, The Gifted
Who New? Rookie of the Year
Action Bronson
A$AP Ferg
Earl Sweatshirt
Joey Bada$$
Trinidad Jame$
Hustler of the Year
Diddy
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
T.I.
Kanye West
Made-You-Look Award
2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Kanye West
Best Club Banger
Ace Hood feat. Rick Ross & Future, “Bugatti” (Produced by Mike WiLL Made It)
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar, “Fuckin’ Problems” (Produced by Noah “40” Shebib)
Drake, “Started From The Bottom” (Produced by Mike Zombie & Noah “40” Shebib)
French Montana feat. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne, “Pop That” (Produced by Lee on the Beats)
Trinidad Jame$, “All Gold Everything””(Produced by M.e. (Devon Gallaspy))
Best Mixtape
Big Sean, Detroit
Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap
Travi$ Scott, Owl Pharaoh
Stalley, Honest Cowboy
Trinidad Jame$, Don’t Be S.A.F.E.
Sweet 16 (Best Featured Verse)
Diddy, “Same Damn Time (Remix)” (Future feat. Diddy & Ludacris)
Drake, “Versace (Remix)” (Migos feat. Drake)
Future, “Bugatti” (Ace Hood feat. Rick Ross & Future)
Kendrick Lamar, “Fuckin’ Problems” (A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
Wiz Khalifa, “U.O.E.N.O. (Remix)” (Rocko feat. Future & Wiz Khalifa)
Impact Track
J. Cole feat. TLC, “Crooked Smile”
Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Same Love”
Wale feat. Sam Dew, “LoveHate Thing”
Kanye West, “BLKKK SKKKNHEAD”
People’s Champ Award
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz, & Kendrick Lamar, “Fuckin’ Problems”
J. Cole feat. Miguel, “Power Trip”
Drake, “Started From the Bottom”
Kendrick Lamar, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”
