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Future, Drake

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The 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards are just under a month away and in anticipation of the show’s air date, BET has released the list of nominations to let everyone know who will be battling it out in each category.

2015 OVO Fest - Toronto, ON

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Leading the nominees pack is none other than Young Money hip hop poster boy Drake, who earned a whopping 12 nominations this year in categories including Album Of The Year, Lyricist Of The Year, MVP Of The Year and the appropriately-titled Made-You-Look Award, which highlights hip hop artists with versatile personal style.

2015 Hot 97 Summer Jam

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Hot on Drizzy’s heels with 10 nods is G.O.O.D. music’s youngest in charge Big Sean. Sean had a breakout year with the release of his Dark Sky Paradise album, which included the smash single “Blessings,” the socially conscious “One Man Can Change The World,” and the fun-loving “Play No Games.” Detroit’s hip hop prince is up for several awards including Best Collaboration, Album Of The Year, Best Club Banger and Track Of The Year.

Nicki Minaj performs at 2015 X Games in Austin

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Just behind Sean is hip hop’s currently reigning queen Nicki Minaj, who snagged 9 nominations. Nicki is nominated in nearly every applicable category out of the 18 possible given the huge year she had since releasing her widely-popular album The Pink Print at the end of 2014. The Barbz’ tireless leader is up for Album of The Year, Best Live Performer and Best Collaboration, to name a few. She also joins Drake with a nod in the Made-You-Look category.

J.Cole 'What Dreams May Come' Tour - New York, NY

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Earning a career-high 8 nominations this year is fearless Roc Nation/Dreamville lyricist J.Cole. Cole solidified his spot as the yet-to-be-properly-awarded people’s champ once again in 2015 with the release of his now-platinum 2014 Forest Hills Drive album at the close of last year. He’s currently sitting pretty at the top spot among the leaders of hip hop’s new school and rightfully so given a year that’s included a platinum-selling album, a sold-out world tour and a collaboration with a music legend. Add that to the fact that he’s likely just getting started and it’s no surprise to see his among the nominees in categories like Album Of The Year, Impact Track, Hustler Of The Year and Producer Of The Year.

2015 BET Awards - Show

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Sitting alongside Cole with 8 nominations of his own is Compton rap “King” Kendrick Lamar. The impact of the release of Kendrick’s “To Pimp A Butterfly” album on the hip hop culture at a time when it was most needed is beyond measure and is continuing to grow by the day. Outside of his album, he’s connected with seemingly every familiar face in music this year from pop superstar Taylor Swift to new comer Jidenna. Kendrick is up for awards in several categories including Album Of The Year, Impact Track, Lyricist Of The Year And Track Of The Year.

The BET Hip Hop Awards air on Tuesday, October 13.

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