Kendrick Lamar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rap titan from Compton, has once again asserted his dominance in the music industry, leading the 2025 BET Awards with an impressive 10 nominations.
The announcement, made today by BET, underscores Lamar’s unparalleled influence, as his 2024 album GNX and its chart-scorching singles continue to resonate with fans and critics alike.
The 25th annual “Culture’s Biggest Night” is set to air live on June 9, 2025, at 8 PM ET/PT from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and Lamar’s haul positions him as the artist to watch.
The ceremony will have Kevin Hart as its host and also feature a four-day fan event from June 5–8, with performer announcements still to come.
Lamar’s nominations span key categories, reflecting his versatility and creative depth. His album GNX is up for Album of the Year, facing stiff competition from the likes of Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal and Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You.
His cultural juggernaut “Not Like Us” earned nods for Video of the Year and Viewer’s Choice Award, a testament to its inescapable grip on airwaves and social media.
The track, a searing diss aimed at Drake that doubled as a West Coast anthem, also secured a nomination for Best Collaboration for its remix featuring Future and Metro Boomin, titled “Like That.” Lamar’s collaboration with SZA on “Luther” and his work on “30 for 30” further bolstered his Best Collaboration tally, with three nods in the category.
Beyond his musical output, Lamar’s visual artistry shone through with a nomination for Video Director of the Year alongside his longtime creative partner, Dave Free. The pair’s work on “Not Like Us” and other GNX visuals has been praised for its cinematic storytelling and cultural resonance.
Rounding out his nominations, Lamar is a contender for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, a category he won at the 2024 BET Awards without releasing an album or doing press, proving his catalog’s enduring weight.
The BET Voting Academy, a panel of entertainment professionals and influencers, selected this year’s nominees, emphasizing Black excellence across music, television, film, and sports.
Lamar’s 10 nods outpace a crowded field, with Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla trailing at six nominations each, Metro Boomin at five, and SZA and The Weeknd at four apiece.
Doechii, a rising star, earned recognition for her album Alligator Bites Never Heal and singles like “Denial is a River,” while Drake and Future’s collaborative efforts, including “Like That” with Lamar, kept them in the conversation.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
As the BET Awards approach, all eyes will be on Lamar, whose ability to blend lyrical precision, cultural commentary, and mass appeal has made him a generational voice. Whether he takes home all 10 awards or not, his nominations alone reaffirm his place at the pinnacle of hip-hop.
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