The 2022 BET Awards nominations were announced today and Lil Nas X was nowhere to be found.
In a series of since-deleted tweets, the rapper called out the network for snubbing him once again despite the success of his debut album Montero, which spawned hit singles like “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” and “Industry Baby” with Jack Harlow.
“thank you bet awards. an outstanding zero nominations again,” he tweeted before adding, “black excellence!”
When someone questioned why he deserved to be nominated, Nas clapped back with receipts. “idk maybe 3 of the biggest songs of last year & a critically acclaimed album,” he said. “i feel like that should’ve helped me a bit.”
Another person claimed that he shouldn’t be eligible because he is a “pop artist,” to which he responded, “no offense but u are literally of caucasian persuasion and trying to school me on an award show i’ve watched my entire childhood + it’s not the hip hop awards + they have a pop category.”
According to Nas, the snub is not just about him. “doesn’t even have to be me nominated,” the openly gay rapper wrote on Wednesday, which also happens to be the first day of Pride Month. “i just feel like black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we are invisible.”
While he may not be attending the show, he joked that he will be “selling fish plates outside of the bet awards this year.”
This is the second consecutive year that Nas has been snubbed. He was nominated for Best New Artist in 2020 but lost.
Nas delivered one of the most-talked-about moments of last year’s BET Awards when he performed “Montero.” In 2019, he performed his record-breaking hit “Old Town Road” with Billy Ray Cyrus.
While Nas was shut out, his “Scoop” collaborator Doja Cat leads the 2022 BET Awards with six nominations, while Drake and Ari Lennox earned the second most nods with four each. Other multiple nominees include Future, Young Thug, Baby Keem, Silk Sonic, Kanye West, and more.
Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, the 2022 BET Awards will air live on Sunday, June 26 at 8 p.m. from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
See a full list of nominees below.
2022 BET Awards Nominations
Album of the Year
An Evening With Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic
Back of My Mind – H.E.R.
Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler, The Creator
Certified Lover Boy – Drake
Donda – Kanye West
Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe – Jazmine Sullivan
Planet Her – Doja Cat
Best Collaboration
Essence,” Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems
“Every Chance I Get,” DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk
“Family Ties,” Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat feat. SZA
“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake feat. Future & Young Thug
“Whole Lotta Money” (Remix), Bia feat. Nicki Minaj
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Chlöe
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Mary J. Blige
Summer Walker
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Chris Brown
Givēon
Lucky Daye
The Weeknd
Wizkid
Yung Bleu
Best New Artist
Baby Keem
Benny the Butcher
Latto
Muni Long
Tems
Yung Bleu
Best Group
Silk Sonic
Chlöe X Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos
Young Dolph & Key Glock
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/inspirational Award
“All in Your Hands” – Marvin Sapp
“Come to Life” – Kanye West
“Grace” – Kelly Price
“Hallelujah” – Fred Hammond
“Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)” – H.E.R. & Tauren Wells
“Jireh” – Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music
“We Win” – Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin
BET Her Award
“Best of Me (Originals)” – Alicia Keys
“Good Morning Gorgeous” – Mary J. Blige
“Have Mercy” – Chlöe
“Pressure” – Ari Lennox
“Roster” – Jazmine Sullivan
“Unloyal” – Summer Walker & Ari Lennox
“Woman” – Doja Cat
Best International Act
Dave (U.K.)
Dinos (France)
Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Fireboy Dml (Nigeria)
Little Simz (U.K.)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Major League Djz (South Africa)
Tayc (France)
Tems (Nigeria)
Viewer’s Choice Award
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
DJ Khaled ft. Drake – “Popstar”
Drake ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé – “Savage (Remix)”
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video of the Year
“Family Ties” – Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
“Have Mercy” – Chlöe
“Kiss Me More” – Doja Cat feat. SZA
“Pressure” – Ari Lennox
“Smokin Out the Window” – Silk Sonic
“Way 2 Sexy” – Drake feat. Future & Young Thug
Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak
Benny Boom
Beyoncé & Dikayl Rimmasch
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott
Best Movie
Candyman
King Richard
Respect
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Summer of Soul
The Harder They Fall
Best Actress
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Coco Jones, “Bel Air”
Issa Rae, “Insecure”
Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Mary J. Blige, “Power Book II: Ghost”
Queen Latifah, “The Equalizer”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
Regina King, The Harder They Fall
Zendaya, “Euphoria” | Spider-Man: No Way Home
Best Actor
Adrian Holmes, “Bel Air”
Anthony Anderson, “Black-Ish”
Damson Idris, “Snowfall”
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Forest Whitaker, Respect | “Godfather of Harlem”
Jabari Banks, “Bel Air”
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
Will Smith, King Richard
Youngstars Award
Akira Akbar
Demi Singleton
Marsai Martin
Miles Brown
Saniyya Sidney
Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year Award
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Sha’carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Donald
Bubba Wallace
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ja Morant
LeBron James
Stephen Curry