Beyoncé and Jay Z lead this year’s BET Awards nominations.
The superstar couple have garnered five nods apiece at the annual awards ceremony celebrating the best in black entertainment, while rapper Drake is also up for five gongs.
Beyonce is nominated for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Video of the Year for ‘Partition’, and also shares two nods with husband Jay – Best Collaboration and Video of the Year for their hit single, Drunk in Love.
Jay is also up for Best Male Hip Hop Artist and has a Best Collaboration nod with Justin Timberlake for their track together, Holy Grail.
In the Best International Act: Africa category, artists Davido (Nigeria), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Mafikizolo (South Africa), Sarkodie (Ghana), Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) and Toofan (Togo) received nominations.
BET’s president of music programming and specials Stephen Hill said: “This year’s nominees represent the best of the culture. It’s great to see our talented new artist’s right alongside our more beloved ones with long careers. We appreciate our BET Awards nomination committee, over 300 strong, for their efforts and congratulate all the nominees.”
Pharrell Williams celebrates four nominations, including Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Best Collaboration for Robin Thicke’s hugely successful anthem Blurred Lines.
Meanwhile, the acting categories recognize stand-out performances from 12 Years a Slave stars Lupita Nyong’o and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Scandal leading lady Kerry Washington, and talk show legend Oprah Winfrey.
Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave is nominated for Best Movie along with The Butler and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
The 2014 BET Awards will take place on Sunday, 29th June, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
2014 BET Awards nominations:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Janelle Monáe
Jhené Aiko
K. Michelle
Rihanna
Tamar Braxton
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
August Alsina
Chris Brown
John Legend
Justin Timberlake
Pharrell Williams
Best Group
A$AP Mob
Daft Punk
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
TGT
Young Money
Best Collaboration
August Alsina feat. Trinidad Jame$ – ‘I Luv This’
Beyoncé feat. JAY Z – ‘Drunk In Love’
Drake feat. Majid Jordan – ‘Hold On (We’re Going Home)’
JAY Z feat. Justin Timberlake – ‘Holy Grail’
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams – ‘Blurred Lines’
YG feat. Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan – ‘My Hitta’
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Drake
Future
J. Cole
JAY Z
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Angel Haze
Charli Baltimore
Eve
Iggy Azalea
Nicki Minaj
Video of the Year
Beyoncé – ‘Partition’
Beyoncé feat. JAY Z – ‘Drunk In Love’
Chris Brown – ‘Fine China’
Drake – ‘Worst Behavior’
Pharrell Williams – ‘Happy’
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Chris Brown
Colin Tilley
Director X
Hype Williams
Best New Artist
Ariana Grande
August Alsina
Mack Wilds
Rich Homie Quan
ScHoolboy Q
Best Gospel Artist
Donnie McClurkin
Erica Campbell
Hezekiah Walker
Tamela Mann
Tye Tribbett
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
Lupita Nyong’o
Oprah Winfrey
Best Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Forest Whitaker
Idris Elba
Kevin Hart
Michael B. Jordan
YoungStars Award
Gabrielle Douglas
Jacob Latimore
Jaden Smith
KeKe Palmer
Zendaya
Best Movie
12 Years a Slave
The Best Man Holiday
Fruitvale Station
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Brittney Griner
Lolo Jones
Serena Williams
Skylar Diggins
Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year
Blake Griffin
Carmelo Anthony
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Centric Award
Aloe Blacc – ‘The Man’
Jennifer Hudson feat. T.I. – ‘I Can’t Describe (The Way I Feel)’
Jhené Aiko – ‘The Worst’
LiV Warfield – ‘Why Do You Lie?’
Wale feat. Sam Dew – ‘LoveHate Thing’
Best International Act: UK
Dizzee Rascal
Ghetts
Krept & Konan
Laura Mvula
Rita Ora
Tinie Tempah
Best International Act: Africa
Davido (Nigeria)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Mafikizolo (South Africa)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Toofan (Togo)