Kanye West and Beyonce lead the 2012 Bet Awards Nominations

Beyoncé and Kanye West lead the nominations for the BET Awards '12, it was announced on Tuesday May 22nd at a press conference in New York.

The pop superstar scores six nominations overall at the 12th annual show. Her videos for "Countdown" and "Love on Top" will compete against Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Ni**as in Paris" and "Otis," as well as Usher's "Climax" in the coveted Video of the Year category.

West leads with seven nominations, most of them for his Watch the Throne collaborations with Jay-Z, who picks up five nods.

YMCMB's Drake and Lil Wayne each earn four nominations including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, while last year's top nominee Chris Brown takes three.

Brown and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist nominee Nicki Minaj will perform at the show, while the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement will be presented to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, who will also take the stage.
Samuel L. Jackson will host the BET Awards '12, which will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on July 1.

BET Awards 2012 Nominations are:
Best Female R&B Artist
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist

Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Big Sean
Drake
J. Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj
Diamond
Trina
Brianna Perry

Best Group
Bad Meets Evil
Diddy-Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
Mindless Behavior
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Best New Artist
A$AP Rocky
Big Sean
Diggy
Future
Meek Mill

Best Collaboration
Beyoncé f/ J. Cole – "Party""
Big Sean f/ Kanye West & Roscoe Dash – "Marvin & Chardonnay"
DJ Khaled f/ Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne – "I'm On One"
Drake f/ Lil Wayne and Tyga – "The Motto"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding – "Otis"
Wale f/ Miguel – "Lotus Flower Bomb"

Video of the Year
Beyoncé – "Countdown"
Beyoncé – "Love on Top"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – "Ni**as in Paris"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – "Otis"
Usher – "Climax"

Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson
Benny Boom
Chris Brown and Godfrey Tabarez
Kanye West
Hype Williams

Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams
Kim Burrell
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

YoungStars Award
Astro
Diggy
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith

Viewers' Choice Award
Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga – "The Motto"
Beyoncé – "Love on Top"
Chris Brown – "Turn Up the Music"
Mindless Behavior – "Hello"
The Throne f/ Otis Redding – "Otis"
Wale f/ Miguel – "Lotus Flower Bomb"

Centric Award
Common
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese

Best International Act: U.K.
Estelle
Labrinth
Emeli Sande
Sway
Wretch 32

Best International Act: Africa
Camp Mulla (Kenya)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Lira (South Africa)
Mokobe (Mali)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana

Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Idris Elba
Kevin Hart
Denzel Washington
Best Movie
Good Deeds
Jumping the Broom
Laugh at My Pain
Red Tails
The Help

Sportswoman of the Year
Skylar Diggins
Candace Parker
Brittney Griner
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant