Kanye West and Jay-Z performed together, wearing noticably dark and non-blingy outfits on a runway full of blinged-out models.
Samuel L. Jackson will host the July 1 ceremony, with Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj set to perform.
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.
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
