It’s that season; the 2025 BET Awards are less than a week away. Kevin Hart will be the evening’s host, marking his second time doing so after his debut in 2011. This year’s awards will bring nostalgia to the forefront as BET celebrates the 25th anniversary of its legendary show 106 & Park, which hosted iconic performances, memorable interview moments, “Wild Out Wednesday,” “Freestyle Friday,” and of course ranked the top music videos daily.
The show will also honor Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin with the Ultimate Icon awards. With all of this excitement, it may be easy to forget that there are a slew of annual awards dedicated to Hip-Hop and R&B artists, plus actors, actresses, and athletes. As per usual, when it comes to award shows, the conversation is who should win and who will win each award.
Kendrick Lamar leads the way with 10 nominations, followed by Doechii, Drake, GloRilla, and Future, who all have six. Metro Boomin is up for five awards, and SZA and The Weeknd have four nominations. The voting slate is star-studded, and there are quite a few new names who could break through and surprise the viewing audience. So, with that in mind, read along as VIBE predicts who should win each award within the music categories and then pick who will win. Respectful debate is welcomed and encouraged.
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Album Of The Year
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty Images Nominees:
$ome $exy $ongs 4 U — Drake & Partynextdoor
11:11 Deluxe — Chris Brown
Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii
Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé
Glorious — GloRilla
GNX — Kendrick Lamar
Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd
We Don’t Trust You — Future & Metro BoominWho Should Win: GNX — Kendrick Lamar
Who Will Win: GNX — Kendrick Lamar
There is no question about this one. Kendrick Lamar surprised the world with GNX on an early Friday afternoon, secured two No. 1 hits on the same album, and had two separate periods atop the Billboard 200. There are other great albums here, but when the Compton rapper drops music, award shows committees typically fall in line. Easy call here. – Armon Sadler
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Video Of The Year
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images; Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images Nominees:
“3AM in Tokeyo” — Key Glock
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey
“After Hours” — Kehlani
“Denial Is a River” — Doechii
“Family Matters” — Drake
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
“Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
“Type Shit” — Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi CartiWho Should Win: “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
Who Will Win: “Denial Is a River” — Doechii
This category gets a bit more complex. While the “Not Like Us” music video was beloved, the current lawsuit against Universal Music Group and the prioritization of Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” suggest that they may not want “Not Like Us” to gain any more accolades or visibility than it already has. Not to mention, Doechii has been taking over the music space and has quickly become an award show darling. So while the “Not Like Us” music video should win this award under normal circumstances, it feels like the Doechii push and creativity of her “DENIAL IS A RIVER” visual puts her in a prime position to take this one home. And while the focus should be video execution, hey, we can’t pretend award shows don’t have a political aspect to them. – A.S.
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Best Group
Image Credit: Cole Burston/Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images Nominees:
41
Common & Pete Rock
Drake & Partynextdoor
Flo
Future & Metro Boomin
Jacquees & Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
Maverick City MusicWho Should Win: Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR
Who Will Win: Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR
2024 put Drake in a position where he had a lot to overcome, and he quickly reminded people that he was difficult to truly take down when he released $ome $exy $ongs 4 U in February alongside PARTYNEXTDOOR. The duo’s joint LP went No. 1, spawned two Billboard top 10 hits in “Gimme A Hug” and “Nokia,” and easily put themselves ahead of any other duo. Future & Metro Boomin could sneak this one since they didn’t get properly awarded for the two-pronged attack of We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You. However, so much time has passed and those albums fell out of public consciousness due to the ascension of “Like That” featuring Kendrick Lamar that the legendary duo feels like an afterthought. Even the 5,000 more album-equivalent units they sold than Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR feels a bit negligible because of what the focal point of their year was. Drake & PND should take this one. – A.S.
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Video Director Of The Year
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty Images Nominees:
Anderson .Paak
B Pace Productions & Jacquees
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Dave Meyers
Foggieraw
Tyler, The CreatorWho Should Win: Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Who Will Win: Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar are easy picks here, between the “Not Like Us” and “Squabble Up” music videos. It’s noteworthy that Free only executive produced the “Squabble Up” video, but one can imagine the voters won’t be too concerned with that specific language. Two videos for two No. 1 songs, the rest of this list truly can’t compare for the March 2024 – March 2025 eligibility period. And with the award not having “Not Like Us” specifically listed, they’ll possibly be able to sneak by without any concern for lawsuit ramifications. Maybe. – A.S.
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Best New Artist
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images Nominees:
41
Ayra Starr
BigXthaPlug
BossMan Dlow
Dee Billz
Leon Thomas
October London
Shaboozey
Teddy SwimsWho Should Win: Leon Thomas
Who Will Win: Leon Thomas
“Take your time, what’s the rush/ Leon Thomas winning Best New Artist is a must.” All credit to what BigXthaPlug and Shaboozey have accomplished over the last year, but the overwhelming fandom Leon Thomas has accumulated over the last year and the slow-burning success of “Mutt” would make this award going to anyone else a shock. He put a bow on being given this recognition when he added Chris Brown to the “Mutt” remix, which helped the record shoot up the Billboard charts. Thomas is R&B’s next great hope; Electric Dusk and MUTT have shown in and he should be properly recognized as such for all he has contributed these last few years. – A.S.
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Best Collaboration
Image Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Nominees:
“30 For 30” — SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Alter Ego” — Doechii feat. JT
“Are You Even Real” — Teddy Swims feat. Givēon
“Beckham” — Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo
“Bless” — Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
“Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
“luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Sticky” — Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
“Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi CartiWho Should Win? “luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Who Will Win? “luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Several of these collaborations have remained on repeat, but “luther” is the clear winner. The Kendrick-SZA duet has just broken the record for most weeks spent at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart after 23 unprecedented weeks. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks. It was an immediate standout track on GNX and has proven to be one of the best singles from the Grammy 2026 contender. — Mya Abraham
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Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images Nominees:
BigXthaPlug
Bossman DLow
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Key Glock
Lil Wayne
Tyler, The CreatorWho Should Win: Kendrick Lamar
Who Will Win: Kendrick Lamar
Last year, we were wrong about this prediction. Kendrick Lamar somehow won the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist award despite having no releases within the eligibility period, besides his feature on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” So, because he unleashed multiple diss tracks toward Drake in the ensuing months that were successful culturally and commercially, released a long-running No. 1 album in GNX, notched multiple Billboard No. 1 hits, swept the Rap category at the Grammys, and performed at the Super Bowl? There is no question about who will take the award home this year. – A.S.
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Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images Nominees:
Cardi B
Doechii
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Rapsody
Sexyy RedWho Should Win: GloRilla
Who Will Win: Doechii
It has been great to see so many women in Hip-Hop rising within the last few years, but two stand above the rest in this eligibility period. GloRilla showed people why she couldn’t be prematurely counted out in 2024 with a slew of hits and a very good album in Glorious. Doechii went from the “next big thing” to just a “big thing” with her successful mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal experiencing a slow-burning rise on the Billboard 200, critical acclaim, and Grammy wins. Not to mention, “Anxiety” took over social media and got multiple syncs in movies and commercials. Culturally, this should go to GloRilla, but it more than likely goes to Doechii as her success is a bit more recent in the voters’ purview. – A.S.
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Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Image Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Nominees:
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
UsherWho Should Win? Leon Thomas
Who Will Win? Leon Thomas
This was the year of the MUTT. Thomas topped our Best R&B Albums and Songs of 2024 lists— and for good reason. The crooner removed the negative connotation associated with the term “mutt” and noted that for him, it represented “not being a perfect partner but having good intentions.” He displayed a rare level of vulnerability as heard on “ANSWER YOUR PHONE” as well as how he turned to lust when love wasn’t enough— re: “YES IT IS.” The deluxe installment with early fan-favorite contenders like “NOT FAIR” and “DIRT ON MY SHOES” feat. Kehlani have sent Thomas off into a league of his own.
Though Teddy Swims and Chris Brown were nipping at Thomas’ heels, he’s comfortably sitting on the throne. — M.A.
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Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images Nominees:
Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
Victoria MonétWho Should Win? SZA
Who Will Win? SZA
SZA is taking it. Following the success of SOS and SOS Deluxe: LANA, she rode that momentum with “luther” and “gloria” from Kendrick Lamar’s gnx. Her growth within this past year alone deserves its flowers, praise, and accolades. Though each woman in this category is actively working on their next era, SZA’s is already there. — M.A.
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Viewer’s Choice Award
Image Credit: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Samsung Galaxy Nominees:
“Residuals” — Chris Brown
“Denial Is a River” — Doechii
“Nokia” — Drake
“Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
“TGIF” — GloRilla
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
“luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Brokey” — LattoWho Should Win? “Denial Is a River” — Doechii
Who Will Win? “luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Denial Is A River” was a moment when it started gaining traction, but that moment currently belongs to Kendrick and SZA. From their Super Bowl performance to their joint tour, these two haven’t missed yet and “luther” is added proof of that. Not to mention, the war between K. Dot and Drake has subsided for the time-being, and “luther” still dominating the charts. This win should be obvious among fans. — M.A.
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