It’s a great day to be a South African! Local musicians Toya Delazy and Donald have each received a nomination for the 2013 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.
Both Toya and Donald received a nomination in the Best International Act, Africa category and we just couldn’t be prouder!
Drake leads the way at the awards with 12 nominations.
The 26-year-old Canadian rapper is nominated three times for Video of the Year for his hits Started from the Bottom, No Lie featuring 2 Chainz, and Problems featuring A$AP Rocky, and is also up for Best Male Hip Hop and the Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award.
He faces stiff competition for the top prize from Justin Timberlake for his comeback hit Suit & Tie, Kanye West for Mercy, Miguel for Adorn, and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ Thrift Shop.
Rappers Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz are both up for eight awards each, and other nominees include Rihanna, Beyonce and Kanye West.
The ceremony will take place on June 30 at the Nokia Theater Los Angeles Live and will be hosted by funnyman and Silver Linings Playbook star Chris Tucker.
Speaking at a press conference after Kendrick Lamar and Tamar Braxton announced the nominations on Tuesday (14.05.13), Chris said: “I’m the host this year and the theme is anything can happen. I have no idea what’s going to happen but I’m excited. There are so many surprises I don’t even know half of them yet. Anything can happen, I may not even show up.”
Swimming Pools rapper Kendrick revealed he is thrilled to be recognised in so many categories.
He said: “I’m still fairly new at this so being nominated for anything is amazing.
“I’m excited to see 2 Chainz but I can’t wait to see everyone. Everyone’s talented and we all got such energy so it will be exciting.”
Newly-single Chris Brown, who is nominated for Best R&B/Pop Artist against Usher, Bruno Mars, Miguel and Justin Timberlake, is looking forward to performing at the star-studded event and plans to surprise his fans.
The 24-year-old Fine China hitmaker said: “I’m just trying to lift up the black community and I’m excited to see the fans and to take part in the BET Awards this year.
“I wanna bring something new and original for the fans.”
R&B singer Charlie Wilson will be honoured with the 2013 Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award at the event and is already preparing his speech.
He said: “I am still so baffled and giddy and happy and trying to come up with the words. Can’t explain how happy I am, when you get a lifetime achievement award you worry people are trying to get rid of you but I’ll be around for quite a while.”
Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius, Labrinth, Rita Ora, Emeli Sandé and Wiley will battle it out for Best International Act UK.
Halle Berry, who is expecting her second child, is up against Angela Bassett, Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union and Kerry Washington for Best Actress, while Jamie Foxx will compete with Don Cheadle, Common, Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington for Best Actor.
The awards were created in 2001 to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past 12 months.
Stay up-to-date with BET International at BET_Intl (twitter) and BETIntl (Facebook)
Full list of 2013 BET Award Nominations:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist:
Beyoncé
Tamar Braxton
Alicia Keys
Rihanna
Elle Varner
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist:
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Justin Timberlake
Usher
Best Group:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Mary Mary
Mindless Behaviour
Slaughterhouse
The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Best Collaboration:
2 Chainz f/ Drake – No Lie
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne – Pop That
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake – Poetic Justice
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – Mercy
Best Male Hip Hop Artist:
2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip Hop Artist:
Azealia Banks
Eve
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Rye Rye
Video of the Year:
2 Chainz f/ Drake – No Lie
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Drake f/ Lil Wayne – HYFR
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake – Poetic Justice
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ Wanz – Thrift Shop
Miguel – Adorn
Rihanna – Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – Mercy
Video Director of the Year:
A$AP Rocky & Sam Lecca
Benny Boom
Director X
Dre Films
Hype Williams
Best New Artist:
Azealia Banks
Joey Bada$$
Kendrick Lamar
Trinidad Jame$
The Weeknd
Best Gospel Artist:
Deitrick Haddon
Lecrae
Tamela Mann
Mary Mary
Marvin Sapp
Best Actress:
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
Best Actor:
Don Cheadle
Common
Jamie Foxx
Samuel L. Jackson
Denzel Washington
YoungStars Award:
Gabrielle Douglas
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Jaden Smith
Quvenzhané Wallis
Best Movie:
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
Sparkle
Think Like A Man
Subway Sportswoman of the Year:
Gabrielle Douglas
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year:
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
Robert Griffin III
LeBron James
Ray Lewis
Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award:
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
Miguel – Adorn
Rihanna – Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Centric Award:
Tamar Braxton – Love and War
Fantasia – Lose To Win
Miguel – Adorn
Nas – Daughters
Charlie Wilson – My Love Is All I Have
Best International Act, Africa:
2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
Toya Delazy (South Africa)
Donald (South Africa)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
R2Bees (Ghana)
Radio and Weasel (Uganda)
Best International Act UK:
Marsha Ambrosius
Estelle
Labrinth
Rita Ora
Emeli Sandé
Wiley
