Here’s Who Kendrick Lamar Wants to Win Best New Artist at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards

Kendrick Lamar will be performing (and more than likely accepting an award or two) at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards tonight (Aug. 27). And he will also be watching closely at one particular category in hopes that the person he wants to win pulls it out. Who is this person, you ask?

K. Dot recently chopped it up with MTV News, and had high praise for his labelmate, SZA, who he is rooting for to bring the trophy home.

"It's well deserved," Kendrick says around the 9:40 mark. "I watched her slave over and over to make a masterpiece that not only represents her, but represents women all over the world. It's a record where it touched so many demographics. Not only just women, but men. Something that we all can feel. It touched so many different spaces and connected with so many people. There’s nothing much more I can say. She needs to win.”

K. Dot is up for eight awards this year including Artist of the Year. His video for “Humble” has also been nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Hip-Hop, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Choreography and Video of the Year.

See all the nominees and Kendrick's interview below. Check out our 2017 MTV Video Music Award winners page to get updated on who gets the coveted Moon Men.

Video of the Year
Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.”
Bruno Mars, “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara, “Scars To Your Beautiful”
DJ Khaled f. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”
The Weeknd, “Reminder”

Artist of the Year
Bruno Mars
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd
Lorde

Best New Artist
Khalid
Kodak Black
SZA
Young M.A
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus

Best Hip-Hop
Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.”
Big Sean, “Bounce Back”
Chance the Rapper, “Same Drugs”
D.R.A.M. f. Lil Yachty, “Broccoli”
Migos f. Lil Uzi Vert, “Bad & Boujee”
DJ Khaled f. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne, “I’m The One”

Best Collaboration
Charlie Puth f. Selena Gomez, “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
DJ Khaled f. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts”
D.R.A.M. f. Lil Yachty, “Broccoli”
The Chainsmokers f. Halsey, “Closer”
Calvin Harris f. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Big Sean, “Feels”
Zayn and Taylor Swift, “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)”

Best Dance
Zedd and Alessia Cara, “Stay”
Kygo and Selena Gomez, “It Ain’t Me”
Calvin Harris, “My Way”
Major Lazer f. Justin Bieber and MØ, “Cold Water”
Afrojack f. Ty Dolla $ign, “Gone”

Best Rock
Coldplay, “A Head Full of Dreams”
Fall Out Boy, “Young And Menace”
Twenty One Pilots, “Heavydirtysoul”
Green Day, “Bang Bang”
Foo Fighters, “Run”

Best Pop
Shawn Mendes, “Treat You Better”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
Harry Styles, “Sign Of The Times”
Fifth Harmony f. Gucci Mane, “Down”
Katy Perry f. Skip Marley, “Chained To The Rhythm”
Miley Cyrus, “Malibu”

Best Fight Against the System
Logic f. Damian Lemar Hudson, “Black SpiderMan”
The Hamilton Mixtape, “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)”
Big Sean, “Light”
Alessia Cara, “Scars To Your Beautiful”
Taboo f. Shailene Woodley, “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL”
John Legend, “Surefire”

Best Cinematography
Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.” (Scott Cunningham)
Imagine Dragons, “Thunder” (Matthew Wise)
Ed Sheeran, “Castle On The Hill” (Steve Annis)
DJ Shadow f. Run The Jewels, “Nobody Speak” (David Proctor)
Halsey, “Now or Never” (Kristof Brandl)

Best Direction
Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.” (Spencer Graves)
Bruno Mars, “24K Magic” (Alex Delgado)
Katy Perry f. Migos, “Bon Appetit” (Natalie Groce)
DJ Khaled f. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, “Wild Thoughts” (Damian Fyffe)
The Weeknd, “Reminder” (Creative Director: Lamar C Taylor / Co-creative Director: Christo Anesti)

Best Visual Effects
Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.”(Company: Timber/Lead: Jonah Hall)
A Tribe Called Quest, “Dis Generation” (Company: Bemo/Lead: Brandon Hirzel)
KYLE f. Lil Yachty, “iSpy” (Company: Gloria FX/Leads: Max Colt & Tomash Kuzmytskyi)
Katy Perry f. Skip Marley, “Chained To The Rhythm” (Company: MIRADA)
Harry Styles, “Sign Of The Times” (Company: ONE MORE/Lead: Cédric Nivoliez)

Best Choreography
Kanye West, “Fade” (Teyana Taylor, Guapo, Jae Blaze & Derek ‘Bentley’ Watkins)
Ariana Grande f. Nicki Minaj, “Side To Side” (Brian & Scott Nicholson)
Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.” (Dave Meyers)
Sia, “The Greatest” (Ryan Heffington)
Fifth Harmony f. Gucci Mane, “Down” (Sean Bankhead)

Best Editing
Future, “Mask Off” (Vinnie Hobbs of VHPost)
Young Thug, “Wyclef Jean” (Ryan Staake & Eric Degliomini)
Lorde, “Green Light” (Nate Gross of Exile Edit)
The Chainsmokers f. Halsey, “Closer” (Jennifer Kennedy)
The Weeknd, “Reminder” (Red Barbaza)

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