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Drake, Beyoncé and Rihanna top 2016 BET Awards nominations

Drake, seen performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2015, had the summer's biggest album in "Views."
Drake, seen performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2015, had the summer’s biggest album in “Views.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times )
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Drake leads the crop of nominations for this year’s BET Awards, according to the full list of nominations released by the network late Thursday.

The Canadian rapper-singer, whose latest album, “Views,” is currently atop the charts, scored nine nods, including two in the coveted video of the year race (last year’s song of summer earworm “Hotline Bling” will compete against Rihanna’s “Work,” which he’s featured on).

Drake is also up for male hip-hop artist, best collaboration and best group — the latter of which comes from his work with Atlanta rapper Future, which yielded a hit surprise mixtape, 2015’s “What a Time to Be Alive.”

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Rihanna and Beyoncé follow with five nods each.

Beyoncé’s polarizing “Formation” video will compete for video of the year alongside Drake, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller’s breakout hit “Don’t” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.”

The pop superstar is also in the running for female R&B/pop artist against Adele, Rihanna, K. Michelle and rising singer Andra Day; and her viral smash with Nicki Minaj, “Feeling Myself,” is up for best collaboration.

Buzzy upstarts Alessia Cara, Andra Day, Bryson Tiller, Kehlani and Tory Lanez are up for new artist.

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“These nominees represent depth and diversity in achievement over the past year and we look forward to recognizing them next month,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s president of programming, in a statement. “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.”

BET anchors its awards spectacle with a multi-day festival across multiple venues at downtown’s L.A. Live including Staples Center and the Novo (formerly Club Nokia).

Set for June 23-26, the BET Experience packs concerts, wellness seminars, celebrity panels, exhibits and a free fan expo alongside the awards show. Usher, Bryson Tiller, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Fetty Wap, Ty Dolla Sign, Katt Williams, Mike Epps and the Roots are among headliners.

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Tickets are on sale now through Axs. Single-day Staples Center show tickets start at $49.50, with three-day packages starting at $148.50. Novo ticket prices vary by artist.

VIP packages, which include a ticket to the awards show, range from $1,095 to $4,500. More information can be found on the festival’s website.

The BET Awards air live from the Microsoft Theater on June 26 at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2016 BET Awards:

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Adele

Andra Day

Beyonce

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 Sign - “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. Beyonce - “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

Beyonce - “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

Quvenzhane Wallis

Silento

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 Nnewton

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

Odell Beckham Jr.

Stephen Curry

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award

Beyonce – “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”

Beyonce – “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

gerrick.kennedy@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @gerrickkennedy

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