BET officially unveiled the highly anticipated nominees for the “BET Awards” 2025, spotlighting a diverse slate of artists from around the globe. Leading the charge from Africa are powerhouse talents Tyla, Uncle Waffles, Maglera Doe Boy, Dlala Thukzin, TxC, Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, Ayra Starr, Black Sherif, Shallipopi, Shaboozey, Odeal, and Abigail Chams, all recognized for their exceptional contributions to music and culture over the past year.
After an impressive run with chart-topping hits and international acclaim, Nigerian sensation Ayra Starr emerges as one of the top African nominees, scoring three nods in ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist’, ‘Best New Artist’, and ‘Best International Act’.
Global star Tems continues to blaze trails, securing two nominations in the ‘BET Her’ category for her soulful and empowering songs “Burning” and “Hold On”, both lifted from her widely celebrated debut studio album “Born In The Wild”. These nods further establish her as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music today.
African artists dominate the ‘Best New International Act’ category. Breakout stars Maglera Doe Boy, Dlala Thukzin, TxC, Abigail Chams, Shallipopi, and Odeal all earn well-deserved recognition.
The Complete List Of Nominees for “BET Awards” 2025 Are:
Album of the Year
$OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U DRAKE & PARTYNEXTDOOR
11:11 DELUXE
ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL DOECHII
COWBOY CARTER
GLORIOUS
GNX
HURRY UP TOMORROW THE WEEKND
WE DON'T TRUST YOU FUTURE & METRO BOOMIN
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
ARI LENNOX
AYRA STARR
COCO JONES
KEHLANI
MUNI LONG
SUMMER WALKER
SZA
VICTORIA MONÉT
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 FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR
ALTER EGO DOECHII FEAT. JT
ARE YOU EVEN REAL TEDDY SWIMS FEAT. GIVĒON
BECKHAM DEE BILLZ FEAT. KYLE RICHH, KAI SWERVO, KJ SWERVO
BLESS
LIKE THAT FUTURE & METRO BOOMIN & KENDRICK LAMAR
LUTHER
STICKY
LIL WAYNE
TIMELESS THE WEEKND FEAT. PLAYBOI CARTI
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
CARDI B
DOECHII
DOJA CAT
GLORILLA
LATTO
MEGAN THEE STALLION
NICKI MINAJ
RAPSODY
SEXYY RED
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
BIGXTHAPLUG
BOSSMAN DLOW
BURNA BOY
DRAKE
FUTURE
KENDRICK LAMAR
KEY GLOCK
LIL WAYNE
TYLER, THE CREATOR
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 FEAT. 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 FEAT. JENNIFER HUDSON
AMEN PASTOR MIKE JR.
BETTER DAYS FRIDAYY
CHURCH DOORS YOLANDA ADAMS FEAT. SIR THE BAPTIST & DONALD
LAWRENCE (TERRY HUNTER REMIX)
CONSTANT MAVERICK CITY MUSIC, JORDIN SPARKS, CHANDLER
MOORE & ANTHONY GARGIULA
DESERVE TO WIN TAMELA MANN
FAITH RAPSODY
RAIN DOWN ON ME GLORILLA FEAT. KIRK FRANKLIN, MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
Viewer’s Choice Award
RESIDUALS CHRIS BROWN
DENIAL IS A RIVER DOECHII
NOKIA DRAKE
LIKE THAT FUTURE & METRO BOOMIN FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR
TGIF
NOT LIKE US KENDRICK LAMAR
LUTHER
BROKEY
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)
BET Her
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE MARY J. BLIGE
BLACKBIIRD
SPENCER, TIERA KENNEDY & REYNA ROBERTS
BLOOM
BURNING
DEFYING GRAVITY CYNTHIA ERIVO FEAT. ARIANA GRANDE
HEART OF A WOMAN SUMMER WALKER
HOLD ON
IN MY BAG
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
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