African music talents, including Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Ghana’s Black Sherif, Zambia’s Sampa the Great, South Africa’s K.O, and the late AKA, have received nominations for the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards set to take place in Atlanta, USA, on October 3rd.
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — African music takes center stage at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards, with notable nominations for top artists from the continent.
These awards, established in 2006, recognize excellence in the hip hop industry across various categories, including artists, producers, and music video directors.
Burna Boy Leads the Way
Nigerian sensation Burna Boy emerges as Africa’s frontrunner, securing an impressive seven nominations, making him not only the leading African contender but also the third-most nominated act overall at this year’s awards.
His nominations span a wide range of categories, including Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Hip Hop Video, Best Collaboration, Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, and Hustler of the Year.
Black Sherif’s Recognition
Ghanaian artist Black Sherif, previously nominated in the Best International Flow category, finds himself nominated once again in the same category.
He shares this nomination with the late South African rapper AKA and fellow South African hip hop artist K.O, alongside other international acts.
African Success at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards
In the previous year’s edition of the awards, Nigerian singer Tems made waves as the sole African winner, clinching the Best Collaboration Award for her remarkable feature on Future’s “Wait For U,” featuring Drake.
Leading the Overall Nominations
21 Savage and Cardi B dominate this year’s nominations, each receiving an impressive 12 nods. They are closely followed by Drake, who secures nine nominations.
Connie Orlando, BET’s Executive Vice-President for Specials, Music Programming, and Music Strategy, expressed her excitement for this year’s event, emphasizing its role in celebrating hip hop’s rich history and its continuous evolution.
She congratulated all the nominees for their contributions to the genre’s ever-expanding creativity and diversity.
“This year’s ‘BET Hip Hop Awards will mark the culmination of our year-long celebration of hip hop’s storied creation and the art form’s sonic and cultural expansion,” We are honoured by this year’s roster of nominees as they continue to carry the creativity and diversity of hip hop into the future. We congratulate each nominee on their accomplishments as they take hip hop artistry to new heights.” Connie Orlando said.
For the complete list of the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards nominees, please refer to the official announcement.
Best International Flow
- AKA (South Africa)
- K.O (South Africa)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Sampa the Great (Zambia)
- J Hus (UK)
- Central Cee (UK)
- Gazo (France)
- Major RD (Brazil)
- Ninho (France)
- Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Best Hip Hop Video
- ‘Just Wanna Rock’ by Lil Uzi Vert
- ‘Players (DJ Smallz 732 – Jersey Club Remix)’ by Coi Leray
- ‘Put It On Da Floor Again’ by Latto feat. Cardi B
- ‘Shake Sumn’ by DaBaby
- ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ by Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
- ‘Spin Bout U’ by Drake & 21 Savage
- ‘Tomorrow 2’ by Glorilla & Cardi B
Best Collaboration
- ‘All My Life’ by Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
- ‘God Did’ by DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
- ‘Players (DJ Saige Remix)’ by Coi Leray feat. Busta Rhymes
- ‘Princess Diana’ by Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj
- ‘Put It On Da Floor Again’ by Latto feat. Cardi B
- ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ by Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
- ‘Tomorrow 2’ by Glorilla & Cardi B
Best Duo or Group
- City Girls
- DJ Drama & Jeezy
- Drake & 21 Savage
- Earthgang
- Larry June & The Alchemist
- Quavo & Takeoff
- Rae Sremmurd
Best Live Performer
- Burna Boy
- Busta Rhymes
- Cardi B
- Coi Leray
- DaBaby
- Drake
- Kendrick Lamar
- Megan Thee Stallion
Lyricist of the Year
- 21 Savage
- André 3000
- Burna Boy
- Cardi B
- Conway The Machine
- Drake
- J. Cole
- Kendrick Lamar
Video Director of the Year
- Anderson .Paak
- Cole Bennett
- Colin Tilley
- DaBaby & Reel Goats
- Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
- Dave Meyers
- Travis Scott
Song of the Year
- ‘All My Life’ by Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
- ‘God Did’ by DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z , John Legend & Fridayy
- ‘Just Wanna Rock’ by Lil Uzi Vert
- ‘Players’ by Coi Leray
- ‘Put It On Da Floor Again’ by Latto feat. Cardi B
- ‘Rich Flex’ by Drake & 21 Savage
- ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ by Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
- ‘Tomorrow 2’ by Glorilla & Cardi B
Hip Hop Album of the Year
- ‘Anyways, Life’s Great…’ by Glorilla
- ‘Coi’ by Coi Leray
- ‘God Did’ by DJ Khaled
- ‘Her Loss’ by Drake & 21 Savage
- ‘Heroes & Villains’ by Metro Boomin
- ‘Jackman’ by Jack Harlow
- ‘Pink Tape’ by Lil Uzi Vert
- ‘Traumazine’ by Megan Thee Stallion
Hip Hop Artist of the Year
- 21 Savage
- Burna Boy
- Cardi B
- Drake
- Glorilla
- J. Cole
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lil Uzi Vert
Producer of the Year
- ATL Jacob
- DJ Khaled
- Dr. Dre
- Hit-Boy
- Hitmaka
- Kaytranada
- London On Da Track
- Metro Boomin
- The Alchemist
Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist
- Armani White
- Central Cee
- Doechii
- Finesse2Tymes
- Ice Spice
- Kaliii
- Lola Brooke
- Sexyy Redd
DJ of the Year
- Chase B
- D-Nice
- DJ Cassidy
- DJ Clark Kent
- DJ Drama
- DJ Jazzy Jeff
- DJ Khaled
- Kaytranada
- Metro Boomin
Best Hip Hop Platform
- All Hip Hop
- Caresha Please
- Drink Champs
- HipHop DX
- Million Dollaz Worth Of Game
- Rap Caviar
- The Breakfast Club
- The Joe Budden Podcast
- XXL
Hustler of the Year
- 21 Savage
- 50 Cent
- Burna Boy
- Cardi B
- Caresha
- DJ Khaled
- Drake
- Jay-Z
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
- 21 Savage on ‘Creepin’ (Metro Boomin feat. The Weeknd & 21 Savage)
- 21 Savage on ‘Peaches & Eggplants’ (Young Nudy feat. 21 Savage)
- André 3000 on ‘Scientists & Engineers’ (Killer Mike & André 3000 feat. Future & Eryn Allen Kane)
- Cardi B on ‘Tomorrow 2’ (Glorilla & Cardi B)
- Cardi B on ‘Put It On Da Floor Again’ (Latto feat. Cardi B)
- Drake on ‘Oh U Went’ (Young Thug feat. Drake)
- J. Cole on ‘All My Life’ (Lil Durk feat. J. Cole)
- Jay-Z on ‘God Did’ (DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy)
Impact Track
- ’30’ by Nas
- ‘All My Life’ by Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
- ‘Anxiety’ by Megan Thee Stallion
- ‘Can’t Win For Nothing’ by Symba
- ‘Champions’ by NLE Choppa
- ‘God Did’ by DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
- ‘Scientists & Engineers’ by Killer Mike & André 3000 feat. Future & Eryn Allen Kane
- ‘Therapy Pt. 2’ by Robert Glasper feat. Mac Miller
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