BET Hip Hop Awards 2023: Burna Boy leads Africa nominees with seven nods

The awards, first presented in 2006, honour top talents in the hip hop industry, including performers, producers and music video directors.

Burna Boy earned a whopping seven nominations, making him Africa’s leading contender and the third-most nominated act at the awards. He is up for Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Hip Hop Video, Best Collaboration, Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year and Hustler of the Year. 

Black Sherif, who received a nomination in the Best International Flow category last year, has been nominated for the same award again. He shares the nomination with the late South African rapper AKA and another South African hip hop artist, K.O, among other international acts.

Last year, Nigerian singer Tems was the sole African winner at awards after winning the Best Collaboration Award for her appearance on Future’s ‘Wait For U’ featuring Drake. 

Meanwhile, 21 Savage and Cardi B lead this year’s nominations with 12 each, followed by Drake who scored nine nods.

“This year’s ‘BET Hip Hop Awards will mark the culmination of our year-long celebration of hip hop’s storied creation and the art form’s sonic and cultural expansion,” Connie Orlando, BET executive vice-president for specials, music programming and music strategy, said. “We are honoured by this year’s roster of nominees as they continue to carry the creativity and diversity of hip hop into the future. We congratulate each nominee on their accomplishments as they take hip hop artistry to new heights.”

Below is the full list of nominees: 

Best International Flow

• AKA (South Africa)
• K.O (South Africa)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• Sampa the Great (Zambia)
• J Hus (UK)
• Central Cee (UK)
• Gazo (France)
• Major RD (Brazil)
• Ninho (France)
• Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)

Best Hip Hop Video

• 'Just Wanna Rock' by Lil Uzi Vert
• 'Players (DJ Smallz 732 – Jersey Club Remix)' by Coi Leray
• 'Put It On Da Floor Again' by Latto feat. Cardi B
• 'Shake Sumn' by DaBaby
• 'Sittin’ On Top Of The World' by Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
• 'Spin Bout U' by Drake & 21 Savage
• 'Tomorrow 2' by Glorilla & Cardi B

Best Collaboration

• 'All My Life' by Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
• 'God Did' by DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
• 'Players (DJ Saige Remix)' by Coi Leray feat. Busta Rhymes
• 'Princess Diana' by Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj
• 'Put It On Da Floor Again' by Latto feat. Cardi B
• 'Sittin’ On Top Of The World' by Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
• 'Tomorrow 2' by Glorilla & Cardi B

Best Duo or Group

• City Girls
• DJ Drama & Jeezy
• Drake & 21 Savage
• Earthgang
• Larry June & The Alchemist
• Quavo & Takeoff
• Rae Sremmurd

Best Live Performer

• Burna Boy
• Busta Rhymes
• Cardi B
• Coi Leray
• DaBaby
• Drake
• Kendrick Lamar
• Megan Thee Stallion

Lyricist of the Year

• 21 Savage
• André 3000
• Burna Boy
• Cardi B
• Conway The Machine
• Drake
• J. Cole
• Kendrick Lamar

Video Director of the Year

• Anderson .Paak
• Cole Bennett
• Colin Tilley
• DaBaby & Reel Goats
• Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
• Dave Meyers
• Travis Scott

Song of the Year

• 'All My Life' by Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
• 'God Did' by DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z , John Legend & Fridayy
• 'Just Wanna Rock' by Lil Uzi Vert
• 'Players' by Coi Leray
• 'Put It On Da Floor Again' by Latto feat. Cardi B
• 'Rich Flex' by Drake & 21 Savage
• 'Sittin’ On Top Of The World' by Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage
• 'Tomorrow 2' by Glorilla & Cardi B

Hip Hop Album of the Year

• 'Anyways, Life's Great...' by Glorilla
• 'Coi' by Coi Leray
• 'God Did' by DJ Khaled
• 'Her Loss' by Drake & 21 Savage
• 'Heroes & Villains' by Metro Boomin
• 'Jackman' by Jack Harlow
• 'Pink Tape' by Lil Uzi Vert
• 'Traumazine' by Megan Thee Stallion

Hip Hop Artist of the Year

• 21 Savage
• Burna Boy
• Cardi B
• Drake
• Glorilla
• J. Cole
• Kendrick Lamar
• Lil Uzi Vert

Producer of the Year

• ATL Jacob
• DJ Khaled
• Dr. Dre
• Hit-Boy
• Hitmaka
• Kaytranada
• London On Da Track
• Metro Boomin
• The Alchemist

Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist

• Armani White
• Central Cee
• Doechii
• Finesse2Tymes
• Ice Spice
• Kaliii
• Lola Brooke
• Sexyy Redd

DJ of the Year

• Chase B
• D-Nice
• DJ Cassidy
• DJ Clark Kent
• DJ Drama
• DJ Jazzy Jeff
• DJ Khaled
• Kaytranada
• Metro Boomin

Best Hip Hop Platform

• All Hip Hop
• Caresha Please
• Drink Champs
• HipHop DX
• Million Dollaz Worth Of Game
• Rap Caviar
• The Breakfast Club
• The Joe Budden Podcast
• XXL

Hustler of the Year

• 21 Savage
• 50 Cent
• Burna Boy
• Cardi B
• Caresha
• DJ Khaled
• Drake
• Jay-Z

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse

• 21 Savage on 'Creepin' (Metro Boomin feat. The Weeknd & 21 Savage)
• 21 Savage on 'Peaches & Eggplants' (Young Nudy feat. 21 Savage)
• André 3000 on 'Scientists & Engineers' (Killer Mike & André 3000 feat. Future & Eryn Allen Kane)
• Cardi B on 'Tomorrow 2' (Glorilla & Cardi B)
• Cardi B on 'Put It On Da Floor Again' (Latto feat. Cardi B)
• Drake on 'Oh U Went' (Young Thug feat. Drake)
• J. Cole on 'All My Life' (Lil Durk feat. J. Cole)
• Jay-Z on 'God Did' (DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy)

Impact Track

• '30' by Nas
• 'All My Life' by Lil Durk feat. J. Cole
• 'Anxiety' by Megan Thee Stallion
• 'Can't Win For Nothing' by Symba
• 'Champions' by NLE Choppa
• 'God Did' by DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
• 'Scientists & Engineers' by Killer Mike & André 3000 feat. Future & Eryn Allen Kane
• 'Therapy Pt. 2' by Robert Glasper feat. Mac Miller