The 2025 BET Awards nominations are officially in, and Kendrick Lamar is leading the charge with a staggering 10 nods, as the iconic awards show gears up to celebrate its 25th anniversary in grand style. Set to air live on June 9 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the milestone ceremony will be hosted by comedian and actor Kevin Hart.
Lamar’s nominations include Album of the Year for GNX, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, and Video of the Year for the viral hit “Not Like Us.” The Compton lyricist also features prominently in the Best Collaboration and Video Director of the Year categories, reaffirming his artistic dominance in both music and visual storytelling.
Trailing just behind Kendrick are Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla, each securing six nominations. Rising rap star Doechii scored nods in categories like Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration, and Album of the Year for Alligator Bites Never Heal, proving her breakout year has not gone unnoticed. Meanwhile, Metro Boomin earned five nominations, largely for his work with Future and Kendrick Lamar.
This year’s Album of the Year category is particularly stacked, featuring an eclectic mix of R&B, rap, and experimental projects. Nominees include Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé, Glorious by GloRilla, Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd, and $ome $exy $ongs 4 U by Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR.
Here are some key categories from the 2025 BET Awards nominations:
Album of the Year
- $ome $exy $ongs 4 U — Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR
- 11:11 Deluxe — Chris Brown
- Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii
- Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé
- Glorious — GloRilla
- GNX — Kendrick Lamar
- Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd
- We Don’t Trust You — Future & Metro Boomin
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Doechii
- Doja Cat
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Rapsody
- Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman DLow
- Burna Boy
- Drake
- Future
- Kendrick Lamar
- Key Glock
- Lil Wayne
- Tyler, The Creator
Video of the Year
- “3AM in Tokeyo” — Key Glock
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey
- “After Hours” — Kehlani
- “Denial Is a River” — Doechii
- “Family Matters” — Drake
- “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
- “Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
- “Type Shit” — Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
The Best Collaboration category features several standout pairings, including “30 For 30” by SZA and Kendrick Lamar, “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, and “Like That,” a high-powered collab from Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar. These nominations further cement Lamar’s presence across this year’s most pivotal tracks.
The BET Awards will also honor achievements in acting, sports, and international music. Stars like Zendaya, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, and Will Smith headline the acting categories, while athletes like Coco Gauff, Simone Biles, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry dominate the sports nominations.
With the BET Awards marking a quarter-century of celebrating Black excellence in entertainment, culture, and beyond, the 2025 show is poised to be a major cultural moment. All eyes will be on Kendrick Lamar, who could walk away as the night’s biggest winner—and possibly deliver a show-stopping performance to match.
