FULL LIST: Burna Boy, Shallipopi, Rema get 2025 BET Awards nominations as Ayra Starr leads
With stars like Nigeria’s Ayra Starr, Rema, Shallipopi, and Burna Boy earning nods in top-tier categories traditionally dominated by American acts, this year’s lineup signals a powerful shift in global music dynamics.
Slated for 9 June at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, the awards are shaping up to be a landmark celebration of Black talent across the world.
Ayra Starr is nominated for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist—a fiercely contested category that includes SZA, Summer Walker, and Victoria Monét—marking a career milestone and reinforcing her rapid ascent on the global stage.
Africa’s influence continues in the Best International Act category, where Starr is joined by fellow Nigerian Rema, Ghana’s Black Sherif, South Africa’s Tyla, and eSwatini’s Uncle Waffles.
They’re up against peers from Brazil, France, and the UK, highlighting the continent’s expanding footprint in global music conversations.
Rising stars from South Africa, Nigeria, and Tanzania also dominate the Best New International Act category, further cementing Africa’s role as a hotbed of fresh, genre-defying talent.
Perhaps most notably, Burna Boy breaks new ground with a nomination for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, going head-to-head with heavyweights like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Tyler, the Creator—a rare crossover into a category typically reserved for U.S. rap icons.
As anticipation builds, this year’s BET Awards are already being hailed as a moment of reckoning for African music’s influence—and a celebration of its rightful place on the world stage.
Here is the full list of nominees, categories:
R&B/Pop Artist
- Ayra Starr
- Ari Lennox
- Coco Jones
- Kehlani
- Muni Long
- Summer Walker
- SZA
- Victoria Monét
Best International Act
- Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Bashy (United Kingdom)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Ezra Collective (United Kingdom)
- Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
- Mc Luanna (Brazil)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Sdm (France)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
- Ajuliacosta (Brazil)
- Amabbi (Brazil)
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Dr Yaro (France)
- kwn (United Kingdom)
- Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
- Merveille (France)
- Odeal (United Kingdom)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- TxC (South Africa)
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- Burna Boy
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman Dlow
- Drake
- Future
- Kendrick Lamar
- Key Glock
- Lil Wayne
- Tyler, the Creator
Album of the Year
- $Ome $Exy $Ongs 4 U – Drake & PartyNextDoor
- 11:11 Deluxe – Chris Brown
- Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii
- Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé
- Glorious – GloRilla
- GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
- We Don’t Trust You – Future & Metro Boomin
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown
- Drake
- Fridayy
- Leon Thomas
- Teddy Swims
- The Weeknd
- Usher
Best Group
- 41
- Common & Pete Rock
- Drake & PartyNextDoor
- FLO
- Future & Metro Boomin
- Jacquees & Dej Loaf
- Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
- Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
- ‘30 For 30’ – SZA ft. Kendrick Lamar
- ‘Alter Ego’ – Doechii ft. JT
- ‘Are You Even Real’ – Teddy Swims ft. Givēon
- ‘Beckham’ – Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, Kj Swervo
- ‘Bless’ – Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
- ‘Like That’ – Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
- ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- ‘Sticky’ – Tyler, the Creator ft. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
- ‘Timeless’ – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Doechii
- Doja Cat
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Rapsody
- Sexyy Red
Video of the Year
- ‘3AM in ToKEYo’ – Key Glock
- ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ – Shaboozey
- ‘After Hours’ – Kehlani
- ‘Denial Is A River’ – Doechii
- ‘Family Matters’ – Drake
- ‘Not Like Us’ – Kendrick Lamar
- ‘Timeless’ – The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti
- ‘Type Shit’ – Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
- Anderson .Paak
- B Pace Productions & Jacquees
- Benny Boom
- Cactus Jack
- Cole Bennett
- Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
- Dave Meyers
- Foggieraw
- Tyler, the Creator
Best New Artist
- 41
- Ayra Starr
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman Dlow
- Dee Billz
- Leon Thomas
- October London
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
- ‘A God (There Is)’ – Common & Pete Rock ft. Jennifer Hudson
- ‘Amen’ – Pastor Mike Jr.
- ‘Better Days’ – Fridayy
- ‘Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)’ – Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence
- ‘Constant’ – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
- ‘Deserve To Win’ – Tamela Mann
- ‘Faith’ – Rapsody
- ‘Rain Down on Me’ – GloRilla ft. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
Viewer’s Choice Award
- ‘Residuals’ – Chris Brown
- ‘Denial Is A River’ – Doechii
- ‘Nokia’ – Drake
- ‘Like That’ – Future & Metro Boomin ft. Kendrick Lamar
- ‘TGIF’ – GloRilla
- ‘Not Like Us’ – Kendrick Lamar
- ‘Luther’ – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- ‘Brokey’ – Latto
BET Her
- ‘Beautiful People’ – Mary J. Blige
- ‘Blackbiird’ – Beyoncé ft. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
- ‘Bloom’ – Doechii
- ‘Burning’ – Tems
- ‘Defying Gravity’ – Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
- ‘Heart of a Woman’ – Summer Walker
- ‘Hold On’ – Tems
- ‘In My Bag’ – FLO & GloRilla
Best Movie
- Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
- Luther: Never Too Much
- Mufasa: The Lion King
- One Of Them Days
- Rebel Ridge
- The Piano Lesson
- The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
- Aaron Pierre
- Aldis Hodge
- Anthony Mackie
- Colman Domingo
- Denzel Washington
- Jamie Foxx
- Joey Bada$$
- Kevin Hart
- Sterling K. Brown
- Will Smith
Best Actress
- Andra Day
- Angela Bassett
- Coco Jones
- Cynthia Erivo
- Keke Palmer
- Kerry Washington
- Quinta Brunson
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
YoungStars Award
- Akira Akbar
- Blue Ivy Carter
- Graceyn ‘Gracie’ Hollingsworth
- Heiress Harris
- Melody Hurd
- Thaddeus J. Mixson
- Tyrik Johnson
- Vanvan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- Angel Reese
- Claressa Shields
- Coco Gauff
- Dawn Staley
- Flau’jae Johnson
- Juju Watkins
- Sha’Carri Richardson
- Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
- Aaron Judge
- Anthony Edwards
- Deion Sanders
- Jalen Hurts
- Jayson Tatum
- LeBron James
- Saquon Barkley
- Stephen Curry
DaVinci
Experienced Creative with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment, I.T and Energy industry. Blogger, copywriter, critical thinker.
