Drake, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj Lead Pack of BET Awards Nominees

Drake, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj lead the pack of nominees for the 10th annual BET Awards, while the network revealed that Queen Latifah will host the momentous event.

The nominations were announced at the 230 Fifth Rooftop Garden Bar and Restaurant in New York City (May 18). Drake is nominated for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and twice for Best Collaboration for "Successful" with Trey Songz and "Forever" featuring Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. He was also nominated three times as part of Young Money.

Meanwhile, Hov is nominated in five categories, including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Viewers’ Choice, Video of the Year and twice in the Best Collaboration category for “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys and “Run this Town” featuring Kanye West and Rihanna. Nicki Minaj picked up nods for Best New Artist and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist in addition to three nominations with Young Money.

Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Melanie Fiona and Trey Songz received four nods, Rihanna, B.o.B, Young Money and Fabolous, three apiece while Maxwell, Sade, Kanye West and Monica received two. Usher, Chris Brown, Raheem DeVaughn, Black Eyed Peas, Dirty Money, New Boyz, Trina, The Clipse and Mary J. Blige were also nominated.

High off the success of “Just Wright,” which took $8.5 million in its opening weekend at the box office, Latifah took to the podium to express her excitement about hosting what she called, “the best show on television.” While she wouldn’t share what she has up her sleeve, she vowed to uphold the bar set by previous hosts like Mo’Nique, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Diddy was also on hand with Dawn Richard and Kalenna of Dirty Money to introduce two new categories: Best Movie and the Young Star Award. Per Puff, the group’s “Last Train to Paris” LP was pushed back to coincide with the BET Awards. "The BET Awards are so big that I changed the date of my album to come out midnight after the BET Awards," Diddy revealed. Puff will also be hosting the official BET Awards after party sponsored by Coca-Cola. The event will double as a countdown to Dirty Money’s album release.

See below for a full list of nominees.

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Alicia Keys
Rihanna
Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Raheem DeVaughn
Maxwell
Trey Songz
Usher
Best Gospel
The Anointed Pace Sisters
Kirk Franklin Presents Artists United For Haiti
Tamela Mann
Marvin Sapp
Vickie Winans
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Ester Dean
Lil Kim
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Trina
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
B.o.B.
Drake
Fabolous
Jay-Z
Ludacris
Best Group
Black Eyed Peas
Clipse
Diddy-Dirty Money
New Boyz
Young Money
Best New Artist
Justin Bieber
Melanie Fiona
Nicki Minaj
Wale
Young Money
Best Collaboration
Beyoncé f/ Lady Gaga – Video Phone
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Drake & Trey Songz – Successful
Drake f/ Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem – Forever
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – Say Aah
Video of the Year

Beyoncé f/ Lady Gaga – Video Phone
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Melanie Fiona – It Kills Me
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West – Run This Town
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Anthony Mandler
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams
Best Actress
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Mo’Nique
Zoe Saldana
Gabourey Sidibe
Best Actor
Quinton Aaron
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Jamie Foxx
Denzel Washington
YoungStars Award
Selena Gomez
Lil JJ
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith
Tyler James Williams
Best Movie
Avatar
Law Abiding Citizen
Michael Jackson’s This Is It
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
The Blindside
Subway Sportswoman of the Year

Tamika Catchings
Vanessa James
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year

Carmelo Anthony
Usain Bolt
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tiger Woods
Viewers Choice Nominees
Beyoncé – Sweet Dreams
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Monica – Everything To Me
Rihanna f/ Young Jeezy – Hard
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – Say Aah
Young Money (Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Jae Millz, Drake, Tyga) f/ Lloyd – Bedrock
Centric Award
Melanie Fiona
Maxwell
Chrisette Michele
Monica
Sade
Best International Act
Kojo Antwi (Ghana)
Chipmunk (UK)
Dizzee Rascal (UK)
Estelle (UK)
Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) (South Africa)
K’NAAN (Somalia)
M.I. (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
Corinne Bailey Rae (UK)
Sade (UK)