Some of the best rappers in the game right now: Drake, Pharrell Williams, Lil Wayne, and Usher, are among the first performers to be announced for the 2014 BET Awards held at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 29. In addition, artists Lionel Richie, Trey Songs, and Jennifer Hudson will be performing, as well as receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards. Jokesters Kevin Hart and Tracy Morgan will also be taking the stage, and comedian and actor, Chris Rock is set to host.
Unsurprisingly, power couple Beyoncé and Jay Z lead with the most amount of nominations – five each – for categories like “Viewers’ Choice”, “Video of the Year”, the “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist” for Queen B, and “Best Male Hip-Hop Artist” for Jay Z. “Drunk in Love”, one of their sexual collaborations, and “Partition” are up against videos like “Fine China” by Chris Brown, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and “Worst Behavior” by Drake.
With four nominations each, August Alsina, Drake, and Pharrell are close behind the duo.
The award show, which has been held since 2001, now holds a three-day festival in L.A. from June 27-29. According to LA Times, the festival, dubbed “The BET Experience,” will include “concerts, wellness seminars, celebrity panels, exhibits,” and more, at various L.A. venues. Performances at the festivals include diva Jennifer Hudson, OutKast, Trey Songz, Mary J. Blige, and Rick Ross.
