OTHER TOP NOMINEES INCLUDE LIL BABY WITH SIX NODS, FOLLOWED BY METRO BOOMIN AND TYLER, THE CREATOR WITH FOUR NODS EACH 

THE 2021 “BET HIP HOP AWARDS’ PREMIERES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5 AT 9 PM ET/PT 

#HIPHOPAWARDS 

New York, NY – September 9, 2021 – BET announces the nominees for the 16th annual “BET HIP HOP AWARDS,” honoring the past year in hip hop music across 17 categories, selected by a voting academy of esteemed music industry insiders. With the theme of unity as expressed by its tagline In Hip Hop We Stand, the 2021 “BET HIP HOP AWARDS" will tape from the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, October 1 and will premiere Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET, and simulcast internationally on BET Africa on Wednesday, October 6 AT 3 AM CAT. BET will work closely with Fulton County to support community vaccination efforts and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols. 

Cardi B, Lil Durk, and Megan Thee Stallion lead this year’s nominations with an impressive nine nods each. Cardi B’s nods include ‘Song of The Year,’ ‘Hip Hop Artist of The Year,’ ‘ Best Hip Hop Video,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ ‘Best Live Performer,’ ‘Hustler of The Year,’ and ‘Sweet 16: Best featured Verse’. Lil Durk’s nods include ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘ Best Hip Hop Video,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ ‘Best Duo or Group,’ and ‘Sweet 16: Best featured Verse’. Megan Thee Stallion’s nods include ‘Hip Hop Album of the Year,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Hip Hop Artist of the Year,’ ‘ Best Hip Hop Video,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ ‘Best Live Performer,’ ‘Lyricist of the Year,’ ‘Hustler of the Year,’ and ‘Sweet 16: Best featured Verse’. Drake takes second place with an impressive eight nods. Tyler, The Creator and Metro Boomin tied for third-most nominations securing four nods each. 

Other notable nominations include 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, and Pooh Shiesty, who received 3 nominations each. Bia, Chris Brown, Doja Cat, Jay Z, Lil Nas X, Migos, Nicki Minaj, Roddy Ricch, Saweetie, Young Thug, and Yung Bleu received two nominations each. 

Additionally, the ‘Best New Hip Hop Artist’ Award nominees include Blxst, Coi Leray, Don Toliver, Morray, Pooh Shiesty, and Yung Bleu. 

“Our 2021 ‘BET Hip Hop Awards’ nominees span generations and are a representation of the talented individuals who elevate hip hop culture in creative and diverse ways. We congratulate each of them on these sought-after accolades,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy for BET. “We can’t wait to join forces with the best in hip hop and deliver a one-of-a-kind show in Atlanta.” 

Voting for the 2021 “BET HIP HOP AWARDS'' DJ of the Year and Best Hip Hop Platform is now open:  https://www.votehiphopawards.com 

 

Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy will oversee the annual show, with Jamal Noisette, VP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy serving as Co-Executive Producer. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, to serve as Executive Producer of the 2021 “BET HIP HOP AWARDS'' along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon. 

For more information about the “BET HIP HOP AWARDS” including the latest news and updates, visit bet.com/hiphopawards. 

See below for the complete list of 2021 “BET HIP HOP AWARDS” Official Nominees: 

 

HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR 

A GANGSTA’S PAIN                                    MONEYBAGG YO 

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST                     TYLER, THE CREATOR 

CULTURE III                                                MIGOS 

GOOD NEWS                                               MEGAN THEE STALLION 

KHALED KHALED                                       DJ KHALED 

SAVAGE MODE II                                       21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN 

THE OFF-SEASON                                       J. COLE 

 

SONG OF THE YEAR

 

BACK IN BLOOD                                          PRODUCED BY YC (POOH SHIESTY FEAT. LIL DURK) 

LATE AT NIGHT                                          PRODUCED BY MUSTARD (RODDY RICCH) 

LAUGH NOW CRY LATER.                        PRODUCED BY G. RY, CARDOGOTWINGS, ROGET CHAHAYED & YUNG EXCLUSIVE (DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK) 

UP                                                                   PRODUCED BY YUNG DZA, SEAN ISLAND, DJ SWANQO (CARDI B) 

WAP                                                               PRODUCED BY AYO & KEYZ (CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION) 

WHOLE LOTTA MONEY (REMIX)            PRODUCED BY LONDON JAE, BEATGODZ, TEE ROMANO (BIA FEAT. NICKI MINAJ) 

 

HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR 

 

CARDI B 

DRAKE 

J. COLE 

LIL BABY 

MEGAN THEE STALLION 

TYLER, THE CREATOR 

 

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO 

 

CARDI B                                                                                     UP 

CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION                          WAP 

CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG                                         GO CRAZY 

DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK                                                        LAUGH NOW CRY LATER 

LIL NAS X                                                                                  MONTERO (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME) 

SAWEETIE FEAT. DOJA CAT                                                 BEST FRIEND 

 

BEST NEW HIP HOP ARTIST 

 

BLXST 

COI LERAY 

DON TOLIVER 

MORRAY 

POOH SHIESTY 

YUNG BLEU 

 

BEST COLLABORATION 

 

21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN FEAT. DRAKE   MR. RIGHT NOW 

BIA FEAT. NICKI MINAJ                                                         WHOLE LOTTA MONEY (REMIX) 

CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION                           WAP 

DJ KHALED FEAT. LIL BABY & LIL DURK                           EVERY CHANCE I GET 

DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK                                                         LAUGH NOW CRY LATER 

POOH SHIESTY FEAT. LIL DURK                                          BACK IN BLOOD 

 

BEST DUO OR GROUP 

 

21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN 

CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG 

CITY GIRLS 

FUTURE & LIL UZI VERT 

LIL BABY & LIL DURK 

MIGOS 

 

BEST LIVE PERFORMER 

 

BUSTA RHYMES 

CARDI B 

DABABY 

DOJA CAT 

MEGAN THEE STALLION 

TYLER, THE CREATOR 

 

LYRICIST OF THE YEAR 

 

BENNY THE BUTCHER 

DRAKE 

J. COLE 

LIL BABY 

MEGAN THEE STALLION 

NAS 

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL FLOW 

 

LADIPOE (NIGERIA) 

NASTY C (SOUTH AFRICA) 

XAMÃ (BRAZIL) 

LAYLOW (FRANCE) 

GAZO (FRANCE) 

LITTLE SIMZ (UK) 

DAVE (UK) 

 

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR 

 

COLE BENNETT 

COLIN TILLEY 

DAVE MEYERS 

DIRECTOR X 

HYPE WILLIAMS 

MISSY ELLIOTT 

 

DJ OF THE YEAR 

 

CHASE B 

D NICE 

DJ CASSIDY 

DJ DRAMA 

DJ ENVY 

DJ JAZZY JEFF 

DJ SCHEME 

KAYTRANADA 

 

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 

 

DJ KHALED 

HIT-BOY 

METRO BOOMIN 

MUSTARD 

THE ALCHEMIST 

TYLER, THE CREATOR 

 

HUSTLER OF THE YEAR 

 

CARDI B 

DRAKE 

LIL BABY 

MEGAN THEE STALLION 

SAWEETIE 

YUNG BLEU 

 

BEST HIP HOP PLATFORM 

 

COMPLEX 

GENIUS 

HIP HOP DX 

HOT NEW HIPHOP 

THE BREAKFAST CLUB 

THE SHADE ROOM 

WORLDSTAR HIPHOP 

XXL 

 

SWEET 16: BEST FEATURED VERSE 

 

CARDI B                                                        TYPE SHIT (MIGOS FEAT. CARDI B) 

DRAKE                                                          HAVIN' OUR WAY (MIGOS FEAT. DRAKE) 

JAY-Z                                                            WHAT IT FEELS LIKE (NIPSEY HUSSLE FEAT. JAY-Z) 

LIL DURK                                                      BACK IN BLOOD (POOH SHIESTY FT. LIL DURK) 

MEGAN THE STALLION                            ON ME (REMIX) (LIL BABY FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION) 

RODDY RICCH                                             LEMONADE (REMIX) (INTERNET MONEY FEAT. DON TOLIVER & RODDY RICCH) 

 

IMPACT TRACK 

 

BLACK THOUGHT                                       THOUGHT VS EVERYBODY 

LIL NAS X                                                      MONTERO (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME) 

LIL BABY & KIRK FRANKLIN                   WE WIN 

MEEK MILL FEAT. LIL DURK                    PAIN AWAY 

NIPSEY HUSSLE FEAT. JAY-Z                   WHAT IT FEELS LIKE 

RAPSODY                                                     12 PROBLEMS 

 

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to multiple BET social media platforms: On Twitter by using the hashtag: #HipHopAwards; follow @HipHopAwards and @BET On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/HipHopAwards. 

 

ABOUT BET 

BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African American audience. The primary BET channel is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe. 

ABOUT BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” 

BET “Hip Hop Awards” is an annual celebration that pays homage to a culture that changed the world while highlighting the best in hip hop music. Year after year, BET delivers the best in hip-hop for an unforgettable night of performances, cyphers and tributes honoring hip-hop legends that have and continue to make hip-hop culture a global force.