Drake leads BET nominations with nine nods

Drake leads the nominations for this year's BET Awards with nine nods.

The 29-year-old singer's career is going from strength to strength, with the acknowledgment of his success in the list of BET nominations, released on Thursday (19May16), the latest indication. Among the categories Drake is nominated in are Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for Hotline Bling and Work, his duet with Rihanna, which is also up for Best Collaboration.

He faces some tough competition in all of the categories he features in, particularly for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, in which he will have to beat Fetty Wap, Future, J. Cole, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar to take home the prize.

Beyonce and Rihanna received five nominations each for the awards, which take place on 26 June (16) in Los Angeles. Both are up for the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist gong, alongside Adele, Andra Day and K. Michelle, while they will also compete for Video of the Year with their respective Formation and Work videos, the Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award and Best Collaboration.

Away from music, Scandal star Kerry Washington, Empire's Taraji P. Henson and How To Get Away With Murder's Viola Davis are nominated for the Best Actress award, alongside Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross and former She's All That actress Gabrielle Union for Being Mary Jane.

Anthony Anderson, Courtney B. Vance, Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan and O'Shea Jackson Jr. are all up for the Best Actor gong, while Amandla Stenberg, Quvenzhane Wallis, Silento, Willow Smith and Yara Shahidi will compete for the YoungStars Award.

The Best Movie category is another strong one, with critically-acclaimed movies Straight Outta Compton, Creed, Beasts of No Nation, Concussion and Dope all fighting for the top spot.

The BET Awards, established by the Black Entertainment Television network, recognizes African Americans and other minorities in the music, acting and sporting fields.

The full list of nominations for the BET Awards 2016 is:

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Adele

Andra Day

Beyonce

K. Michelle

Rihanna

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Bryson Tiller

Chris Brown

Jeremih

The Weeknd

Tyrese

Best Group

2 Chainz & Lil Wayne

Drake & Future

Puff Daddy & The Family

Rae Sremmurd

The Internet

Best Collaboration

Big Sean ft. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign - Play No Games

Big Sean ft. Kanye West & John Legend - One Man Can Change the World

Future ft. Drake - Where Ya At

Nicki Minaj ft. Beyonce - Feeling Myself

Rihanna ft. Drake - Work

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

Drake

Fetty Wap

Future

J. Cole

Kanye West

Kendrick Lamar

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Dej Loaf

Lil Kim

Missy Elliott

Nicki Minaj

Remy Ma

Video of the Year

Beyonce - Formation

Bryson Tiller - Don't

Drake - Hotline Bling

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Rihanna ft. Drake - Work

Video Director of the Year

Benny Boom

Chris Brown

Colin Tilly & The Little Homies

Director X

Hype Williams

Best New Artist

Alessia Cara

Andra Day

Bryson Tiller

Kehlani

Tory Lanex

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy

Erica Campbell

Kirk Franklin

Lecrae

Tamela Mann

Tasha Cobbs

Best Actress

Gabrielle Union

Kerry Washington

Taraji P. Henson

Tracee Ellis Ross

Viola Davis

Best Actor

Anthony Anderson

Courtney B. Vance

Idris Elba

Michael B. Jordan

O'Shea Jackson Jr.

YoungStars Award

Amandla Stenberg

Quvenzhane Wallis

Silento

Willow Smith

Yara Shahidi

Best Movie

Beasts of No Nation

Concussion

Creed

Dope

Straight Outta Compton

Sportswoman of the Year

Cheyenne Woods

Gabrielle Douglas

Serena Williams

Skylar Diggins

Venus Williams

Sportsman of the Year

Cam Newton

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

Odell Beckham Jr.

Stephen Curry

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award

Beyonce – Formation

Bryson Tiller – Don't

Chris Brown – Back To Sleep

Drake – Hotline Bling

Future ft. Drake - Where Ya At

Rihanna ft. Drake – Work

Centric Award

Andra Day - Rise Up

Beyonce – Formation

K. Michelle – Not A Little Bit

Rihanna - BBHMM

The Internet - Under Control

Best International Act Africa

AKA (South Africa)

Black Coffee (South Africa)

Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Mzvee (Ghana)

Serge Beynaud (Cote D’Ivoire)

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best International Act UK

Kano

Krept & Konan

Lianne La Havas

Skepta

Stormzy

Tinie Tempah