Lil Wayne Tops BET Hip-Hop Award Nominations With 12 Nods

It's Wayne's world this year, and everyone else is just living in it.

The Cash Money star leads the way with a whopping 12 nominations for the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards, the network announced today.

Weezy received nods in Lyricist of the Year, Best Video ("Lollipop"), and MVP of the Year, among others nods.

The New Orleans rapper has had a big 2008 so far. He has the best-selling album of the year in Tha Carter III, he was a recent headliner at the MTV Video Music Awards, and his single "Lollipop" was his first number one hit.

The Roc boys, however, didn't do bad for themselves either. Kanye West received seven nominations, while Jay-Z earned a tally of six. Other artists receiving multiple nominations include David Banner, DJ Khaled, Plies, Rick Ross, and Flo Rida.

The twoo Roc-A-Fella artists will compete head-to-head in a number of categories; Lyricist of the Year, MVP, Track of the Year, and CD of the Year categories. Jay will compete with Weezy, Diddy, Khaled, and 50 Cent in the Hustle of the Year category.

The show is set to air October 23 on BET with comedian Katt Williams once again serving as host. The festivities will be held in Atlanta's Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center. This year, Russell Simmons will be honored with the "I Am Hip-Hop" award.

In addition to the artists, fans will also get a chance to represent at BET.com has partnered with MySpace for the "Hot 16" challenge. Aspiring rappers will compete online for a change to win a studio session with Jermaine Dupri. Performers and presenters at the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards will be announced soon.---Nino "Dubs" DeLuca

The 2008 BET Hip-Hop Award Nominees:

Best Hip Hop Video
David Banner f/ Chris Brown and Yung Joc – "Get Like Me"
Common – "I Want You"
DJ Khaled f/ Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross – "I’m So Hood (The Remix)"
Lil Wayne f/ Static – "Lollipop"
Snoop Dogg – "Sensual Seduction"
Kanye West f/ T-Pain – "Good Life"

Best Hip Hop Collabo
David Banner f/ Chris Brown and Yung Joc – "Get Like Me"
DJ Khaled f/ Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross – "I’m So Hood (The Remix)"
Flo Rida f/ T-Pain – "Low"
Plies f/ Ne-Yo – "Bust It Baby Pt. 2"
Kanye West f/ T-Pain – "Good Life"

Best Live Performer
Busta Rhymes
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
T.I.
Kanye West

Lyricist of the Year
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Nas
T.I.
Kanye West

Video Director of the Year
Gil Green
R. Malcolm Jones
Rage
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Producer of the Year
Akon
Bangladesh
David Banner
J.R. Rotem
The Runners

MVP of the Year
DJ Khaled
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
T.I.
Kanye West

Track of the Year
"A Milli" – Lil Wayne produced by Bangladesh
"Dey Know" – Shawty Lo produced by Balis Beatz
"Good Life" – Kanye West f/ T-Pain produced by Kanye West and DJ Toomp
"Lollipop" – Lil Wayne f/ Static produced by Jim Jonsin & Deezle
"Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)" – Jay-Z produced by Sean Combs & The Hitmen

CD of the Year
Jay-Z – American Gangster
Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
Lupe Fiasco – Lupe Fiasco’s “The Cool”
Nas – Untitled
Kanye West – Graduation

Rookie of the Year
Ace Hood
Flo Rida
Maino
Rocko
Shawty Lo

DJ of the Year
DJ Drama
DJ Felli Fel
DJ Khaled
DJ Tony Neal
DJ Greg Street

Hustler of the Year
50 Cent
DJ Khaled
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
P. Diddy

Alltel Wireless People’s Champ Nominees
Lil Wayne – "A Milli"
Lupe Fiasco f/ Matthew Santos – "Superstar"
Plies f/ Ne-Yo – "Bust It Baby Pt. 2"
Rick Ross f/ Nelly and Avery Storm – "Here I Am"
Young Jeezy f/ Kanye West – "Put On"
Yung Berg f/ Casha – "The Business"

Hottest Hip Hop Ringtone of the Year
Flo Rida f/ T-Pain – "Low"
Lil Wayne f/ Static – "Lollipop"
Plies f/ Ne-Yo – "Bust It Baby Pt. 2"
Rocko – "Umma Do Me"
Yung Berg f/ Casha – "The Business"

Best UK Hip Hop Act
Chipmunk
Dizzee Rascal
Ghetto
Giggs
Skepta
Wiley