BET Awards 2012 Nominations Announced

The nominees for the 2012 BET Awards were unveiled Tuesday and leading the way with seven nominations is Kanye West. Beyonce followed with six nominations, while her husband Jay-Z received five noms.

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The Avengers star Samuel L. Jackson is set to host the July 1 awards ceremony, to be held at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium.

"We are massively excited about having Sam Jackson, the world's biggest box office star, host The BET Awards 12," said Stephen G. Hill, president of music programming and specials, BET Networks. "His wit, presence and gigantic personality are the perfect match for our show."

Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown are slated to perform at the awards show.

The Cadillac Lifetime Achievement honor will go to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

The nominations were announced in New York Mindless Behavior, Big Sean, Melanie Fiona, DJ Khaled, Astro, A$AP Rocky and Diggy among those present for the nominations ceremony.

Last year's awards show drew 7.7 million viewers on BET.

The full list of nominees below:

Best Female R&B Artist: Marsha Ambrosius, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Melanie Fiona, Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Miguel, Trey Songz, Usher

Best Group: Bad Meets Evil, Diddy-Dirty Money, Maybach Music Group, Mindless Behavior, The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Best Collaboration: Beyonce f/ J. Cole - "Party," Big Sean f/ Kanye West & Roscoe Dash - "Marvin & Chardonnay," DJ Khaled f/ Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne - "I'm On One," Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga - "The Motto," The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding - "Otis," Wale f/ Miguel - "Lotus Flower Bomb"

Best Male Hip Hop Artist: Big Sean, Drake, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy

Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Diamond, Nicki Minaj, Brianna Perry, Trina

Video of the Year: Beyonce - "Countdown," Beyonce - "Love On Top," The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) - "N***as in Paris," The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding - "Otis," Usher - "Climax"

Video Director of the Year: Beyonce & Alan Ferguson, Benny Boom, Chris Brown & Godfrey Tabarez, Kanye West, Hype Williams

Best New Artist: A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Diggy Future, Meek Mill

Best Gospel: Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, James Fortune & FIYA, Fred Hammond, Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Best Actress: Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Regina King, Zoe Saldana

Best Actor: Don CheadleCommonIdris ElbaKevin HartDenzel Washington

YoungStars Award: Astro, Diggy, Jacob Latimore, Keke Palmer, Willow Smith

Best Movie: Good Deeds, Jumping The Broom, Laugh At My Pain, Red Tails, The Help

Subway Sportswoman of the Year: Skylar Diggins, Brittney Griner, Candace Parker, Serena Williams, Venus Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year: Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Victor Cruz, Kevin Durant, LeBron James

Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award: Beyonce - "Love On Top," Chris Brown - "Turn Up the Music," Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga - "The Motto," Mindless Behavior - "Hello," The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding - "Otis," Wale f/ Miguel - "Lotus Flower Bomb"

Centric Award: Common, Estelle, Robert Glasper, Robin Thicke, Tyrese

Best International Act: AfricaCamp Mulla (Kenya), Ice Prince (Nigeria), Lira (South Africa), Mokobe (Mali), Sarkodie (Ghana), Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best International Act: UK: Estelle, Labrinth, Emeli Sande, Sway, Wretch 32