WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Drake is taking the 2016 BET Awards by storm with a total of nine nominations, with Rihanna and Beyonce both in second with five nods each.
BET announced the full list of nominees Friday, with Adele, Andra Day, and K. Michelle competing against the two female frontrunners for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.
Drake is up for the award for Best Group alongside Future, with whom he released the mixtape titled What A Time To Be Alive. He is also mentioned twice for Best Collaboration with Future for "Where Ya At" and Rihanna for "Work." The Toronto rapper is also nominated for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video Of The Year for both "Hotline Bling" and "Work," and the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award.
He is nominated for the latter award three times for "Hotline Bling," "Where Ya At" and "Work." The success follows the release of his highly anticipated album, Views From The 6.
Beyonce and Rihanna also recently released acclaimed albums this year. Both artists are currently on tour, Beyonce in promotion of her Lemonade album and Rihanna for ANTI.
The BET Awards also focuses on television actors and film this year, nominating such films as Straight Outta Compton, Will Smith's Concussion, Creed, Beasts of No Nation and Dope for Best Movie.
Stars Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson and Tracee Ellis Ross are all nominated for Best Actress while Anthony Anderson, Courtney B. Vance, Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan and O'Shea Jackson Jr. are in the running for best actor.
Social media starlet and actress Amandla Stenberg has been nominated for the YoungStars Award alongside Willow Smith and others.
"These nominees represent depth and diversity in achievement over the past year and we look forward to recognizing them next month," said BET President of Programming Stephen Hill.
"This show will be innovative and special; in addition to celebrating the best in entertainment, we'll also spend time throughout the show remembering Prince as only BET can. You can count on memorable performances and moments in honor of a true legend," he added.
This year's BET Awards will take place Sunday, June 26 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will broadcast live on its corresponding channel.
"The nominations are selected by BET's Voting Academy, which is comprised of fans and an esteemed group of entertainment professionals in the fields of television, film, music, social media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, and the creative arts," BET stated regarding award nominees.
The full list of BET Award nominees are as follows:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Adele Andra Day Beyoncé 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. Beyoncé -- "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 Beyoncé -- "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 Tilley & The Little Homies Director X Hype Williams
Best New Artist Alessia Cara Andra Day Bryson Tiller Kehlani Tory Lanez
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 Quvenzhané Wallis Silentó 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 Beyoncé – "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" Beyoncé -- "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
