Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and More Nominated for 2018 Billboard Music Awards
The full list of nominations for the upcoming 2018 Billboard Music Awards was revealed on Tuesday (April 17) and as expected, rappers are featured heavily among the nominees.
Of the hip-hop artists, Kendrick Lamar leads the field with 14 nominations, while Post Malone isn't too far behind with 11 nods of his own. Drake and Cardi B also racked up plenty of nominations with nine and seven respectively. Both Kendrick and Drizzy will compete for Top Artist, while the two share a nomination with Post Malone for Top Male Artist.
Kendrick and Post Malone will also face off in the Top Hot 100 Song category, while K. Dot's Damn. will compete for Top Selling Album. As for Cardi B, the Invasion of Privacy rapper is up for Top Female Artist and Top New Artist, where she'll compete with Kodak Black, 21 Savage and Khalid.
While many of the rappers who earned nominations were expected, there was one surprise nominee. In the Top R&B Album category, XXXTentacion's debut project, 17, earned a nod.
The 2018 Billboard Music Awards will air live on NBC on May 20 at 8 p.m. EST. See a full list of the Billboard Music Award nominations featuring rappers and R&B artists below.
2018 Billboard Music Awards Nominees
Top Artist
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Top Female Artist
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Halsey
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
Top Male Artist
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Hot 100 Song
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber - "Despacito"
Kendrick Lamar - "Humble."
Bruno Mars - "That’s What I Like"
Post Malone featuring 21 Savage - "Rockstar"
Ed Sheeran - "Shape Of You"
Top Selling Album
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
P!nk - Beautiful Trauma
Ed Sheeran - ÷ (Divide)
Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 1
Taylor Swift - reputation
Top New Artist
21 Savage
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid
Kodak Black
Billboard Chart Achievement Award
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Sam Hunt
Ed Sheeran
Top Duo/Group
The Chainsmokers
Coldplay
Imagine Dragons
Migos
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Cardi B
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Top Song Sales Artist
Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Top R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Khalid
Bruno Mars
SZA
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
Khalid
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd
Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars
Lionel Richie
The Weeknd
Top Rap Artist
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Uzi Vert
Migos
Post Malone
Top Rap Male Artist
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Post Malone
Top Rap Female Artist
Bhad Bhabie
Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
Top Rap Tour
J. Cole
Jay-Z
Kendrick Lamar
Top Billboard 200 Album
Drake - More Life
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Post Malone - Stoney
Ed Sheeran - ÷
Taylor Swift - Reputation
Top Soundtrack
Black Panther
The Fate of the Furious: The Album
The Greatest Showman
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2
Moana
Top R&B Album
Khalid - American Teen
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
SZA - Ctrl
The Weeknd - Starboy
XXXTentacion - 17
Top Rap Album
Drake - More Life
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Lil Uzi Vert - Luv Is Rage 2
Migos - Culture
Post Malone - Stoney
Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber - "Despacito"
Kendrick Lamar - "Humble."
Lil Uzi Vert - "XO Tour Llif3"
Post Malone featuring 21 Savage - "Rockstar"
Post Malone featuring Quavo - "Congratulations"
Top Streaming Song (Video)
Cardi B - "Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)"
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber - "Despacito"
Lil Pump - "Gucci Gang"
Bruno Mars - "That's What I Like"
Ed Sheeran - "Shape of You"
Top Collaboration
Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug - "Havana"
The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay - "Something Just Like This"
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber - "Despacito"
French Montana featuring Swae Lee - "Unforgettable"
Post Malone featuring 21 Savage - "Rockstar"
Top R&B Song
Childish Gambino - "Redbone"
DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller - "Wild Thoughts"
Khalid - "Yound Dumb & Broke"
Bruno Mars - "That's What I Like"
Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B - "Finesse"
Top Rap Song
Cardi B - "Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)"
DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper and Lil Wayne - "I'm the One"
French Montana featuring Swae Lee - "Unforgettable"
Kendrick Lamar - "Humble."
Post Malone featuring 21 Savage - "Rockstar"
See New Music Releases for April 2018