MTV has unveiled the full list of nominees for the 2025 Video Music Awards, with Kendrick Lamar earning 10 nods. His nominations include Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Album, Best Hip-Hop, Best Collaboration, Best Cinematography, Best Choreography, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Editing. This makes him the most-nominated hip-hop artist of the year.
Only Lady Gaga, with 12 nominations, and Bruno Mars, with 11, rank ahead of him. Sabrina Carpenter and ROSÉ each have eight nods, while Ariana Grande follows with seven.
Lamar’s chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us” is responsible for six of his nominations. Released in 2024 during his high-profile feud with Drake, the track won five Grammy Awards earlier this year, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It was also performed during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. His 2025 album GNX and his collaboration with SZA, “Luther,” helped secure additional nominations.
Drake will also be competing at the VMAs, with his track “Nokia” going head-to-head with “Not Like Us” for Best Hip-Hop.
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are set for Sunday, September 7, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
The news comes as Kendrick Lamar and SZA continue their Grand National Tour, which began April 19 in Minneapolis. After touring across North America, they moved to European dates in July. Later this year, when the tour reaches Australia, ScHoolboy Q will replace SZA due to scheduling conflicts. ScHoolboy Q and Lamar have a long history as members of the Black Hippy collective.
With multiple hit projects, a major tour, and now a leading presence at the VMAs, Lamar’s 2025 momentum shows no signs of slowing.
