Kendrick Lamar looks to be the early favorite for the 2025 BET Awards, racking up a staggering ten noms. The highly regarded lyricist received several nominations across a number of fields. His celebrated production “GNX” is nominated for Album of the Year, with nominations in Video of the Year and multiple collaborations. Lamar’s stunning performance in previous award shows, particularly his sweep at the 2025 Grammy Awards, positions him as a strong contender for a similar outcome at this year’s BET ceremony.
The BET Awards will honor and recognize Black excellence in music, film, television, the arts and activism. So save the date for this fall! With Kendrick Lamar frontrunning the nominations and buzz surrounding Beyoncé’s return to the show, excitement for the Grammys is at a fever pitch. His nominations are a testament to his artistic versatility and his impact on the hip-hop community.
A Look at Kendrick Lamar’s Nominations
Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 BET Award nominations span all categories from Best New Artist to Album of the Year. Just recently, he garnered a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year for “GNX.” Since its release, this album has received widespread critical acclaim. With all this happening, it’s no wonder that Lamar’s video for “Not Like Us” is making such a splash. This spectacular diss track against fellow artist Drake has been nominated for Video of the Year.
Among the collaboration nominees, Lamar makes his presence felt with three nominations, evidence that no one collaborates better than him on other artists’ tracks. He’s collaborated with SZA on the song “Luther,” which reached accolades in its own right. Lamar’s up for Best Male Hip Hop Artist. With this release, he continues to cement his legacy as a true powerhouse in the genre.
Given Lamar’s recent success at the Grammy Awards, the pressure has increased on him to destroy the competition at the BET Awards. At the Grammys, he won in all five categories where he was nominated, a feat that many hope he can replicate at the BET ceremony.
The Competition
Though Kendrick Lamar is certainly the frontrunner, he has a lot of strong competition from high-profile artists. This year, a number of industry heavyweights are up for top honors. Artists such as Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla have all received significant nominations, although none have matched Lamar’s ten nominations.
Doechii and others bring their own unique styles and narratives to the awards stage, creating an exciting atmosphere for fans and attendees alike. These artists fight valiantly, cutting through their individual styles. This rivalry further showcases the constantly changing landscape of modern hip-hop.
The BET Awards are about celebrating other voices and styles within the industry, and they’re proud of that eclecticism. In that spirit, every nominee brings something truly unique. Kendrick Lamar’s combination of prolific output and critical acclaim makes him a focal point of this year’s event.
The Impact of Kendrick Lamar’s Work
The ripple effect of Kendrick Lamar’s greatness on and off the mic is bigger than this year’s Grammy wins. Third, his songs speak to social plights, inner demons & collective stories in a way that people can feel them – just like the beat drops. Transitional tracks such as “Not Like Us” are examples of his lyrical ability. In addition to this, they further ignite yearlong discussions into the music community.
His joint effort with SZA on “Luther” demonstrates his creative ability to combine different musical genres. All the while, he’s remaining as true to his original voice as ever. Perhaps no collaboration has landed with quite as much warmth as this one, sealing Lamar’s reputation as an artist who lifts up the quality of his collaborators.
As Lamar heads into the BET Awards, his previous successes are a standard and an inspiration. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see if he can capture multiple awards, echoing his success at the Grammy Awards earlier this year.
