Jay-Z, Kanye West Lead 2012 BET Award Nominations

The 2012 BET Awards will be “too big,” according to this year’s host, actor Samuel L. Jackson. The veteran actor seems to be right, as The Throne, Jay-Z & Kanye West, received five nominations, while big performances the likes of Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and many more are set to perform at the Awards show at California’s Shrine Auditorium on July 1.

The Throne earned nominations for Best Group, Best Collaboration and Video of the Year, the latter which had them nominated twice—one for “Niggas in Paris” and the other for “Otis.”

The Best Group category has Hov and Yeezy up against Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce da 5’9”), Diddy-Dirty Money, Maybach Music Group and Mindless Behavior. Meanwhile, their hit “Otis” is up against Beyonce’s “Party,” Big Sean’s “Marvin & Chardonnay,” DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One,” Drake’s “The Motto” and Wale’s “Lotus Flower Bomb.” Jigga and ’Ye also picked up a nod for the Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award. Individually, Kanye is up for Video Director of the Year.

Other nominations include J. Cole up for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, a category that will pit him against Big Sean, Drake, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. Diamond, Nicki Minaj, Brianna Perry and Trina will go at it for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Diggy, Future and Meek Mill will vie for Best New Artist.

The 2012 BET Awards will be held on July1 at 8 p.m. in California’s Shrine Auditorium. Next year, BET plans on moving the ceremony to a Nokia venue. This year’s installment will also include a tribute for the late Whitney Houston.—Christopher Minaya