Jay-Z Leads Nominations at 2010 BET Awards

It’s that time of year again. The nominees for the 2010 BET Awards were announced today (May 18) in New York City and Jay-Z received the most nods.

Jigga is in the running in four categories including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Best Collaboration for “Empire State of Mind” with Alicia Keys, Video of the Year for “Run This Town” and “Empire State of Mind,” and Viewer’s Choice. He was followed in leading nominations by wife Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Trey Songz and Melanie Fiona with four each.

As a crew, Young Money racked up a total of eight nominations if you include Drake’s three individual nominations and the two Nicki Minaj received on her own. Drake will go head to head against Jay-Z, Fabolous, Ludacris and rookie B.o.B for Best Male Hip-Hop artist. His Young Money label-mate Nicki Minaj will go against Lil Kim, Rasheeda, Trina, and Ester Dean for the Best Female Hip-Hop artist.

Diddy-Dirty Money, who appeared at the press conference to announce some of the nominees, also announced that they're hosting a huge, televised after-party and countdown to the release of his upcoming LP Last Train to Paris, that will take place directly after the awards show. Queen Latifah, this year’s host of the BET Awards was on hand to announce some of the nominees as well.

This year’s show, which will be broadcast live on June 27 from Los Angeles will feature special performances by Diddy-Dirty Money, Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, Drake and more to be announced. The show will be webcast simultaneous on BET.com. For a complete list of all the categories including hip-hop artists as nominees see below. For more information visit BET.com. —Brooklyne Gipson

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Ester Dean
Lil Kim
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Trina

Best New Artist
Justin Bieber
Melanie Fiona
Nicki Minaj
Wale
Young Money

Best Group
Black Eyed Peas
Clipse
Diddy-Dirty Money
New Boyz
Young Money

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
B.o.B.
Drake
Fabolous
Jay-Z
Ludacris

Best Collaboration
Beyonce ft. Lady Gaga – “Video Phone”
B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars – “Nothin’ On You”
Drake and Trey Songz – “Successful”
Drake ft. Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Eminem – “Forever”
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
Trey Songz ft. Fabolous – “Say Aah”

Video of the Year
Beyonce ft. Lady Gaga – “Video Phone”
B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars – “Nothin’ On You”
Melanie Fiona- “It Kills Me”
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West – “Run This Town”

Viewer’s Choice
Beyonce – “Sweet Dreams”
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
Monica – “Everything to Me”
Rihanna ft. Young Jeezy – “Hard”
Trey Songz ft. Fabolous – “Say Aah”
Young Money – “Bedrock”