Chris Brown reveals new Aaliyah collaboration at BET Awards Nominations
theGRIO REPORT - During a press conference for the BET Awards Chris Brown revealed that he is releasing a new song featuring never before heard vocals from Aaliyah...
On a sunny rooftop lounge in downtown Los Angeles, BET announced the nominees for its annual awards show on Tuesday, bringing out host Chris Tucker as well as artists Kendrick Lamar, Chris Brown, Charlie Wilson and Tamar Braxton to assist in the festivities.
Top nominees this year include Drake with 12 nods; Lamar and 2 Chainz with 8 nominations; and A$AP Rocky with 5 nominations. Dubbed the “Black Super Bowl,” the awards ceremony will take place on June 30th in L.A. as part of the first ever BET Experience, a three-day weekend of concerts, comedy shows, and film screenings.
“I love BET,” Lamar told theGrio at the press conference. “I’m excited to be nominated for my first BET awards…I’m still fairly new at this thing right here, so receiving an award of any caliber means a lot to me.”
Lamar’s nominations include Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best New Artist and Video of the Year. Additionally, he will be performing on Saturday night at the Experience alongside other star talents like Miguel, J. Cole, Schoolboy Q, and Snoop Dogg.
“I put a lot of hard work and effort into [my work], so for it to finally manifest into what it needs to be, I’m excited about it,” the 25-year-old rapper commented. “I really just look forward to the energy of everything. We’re going out there and having fun, looking at the people out there that appreciate my music that got me to this level. So, to bring my boys out there to share that love, that’s a beautiful feeling.”
On Monday, Lamar released a new video for his track “Bit**, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” which sparked a lively discussion in the blogosphere for its ostensibly anti-drug messaging. The video shows Lamar attending a funeral for an unknown person in a casket, which is juxtaposed with scenes of him and his friends partying in a limousine.
At the video’s conclusion, the visual fades to black with the words “Death to Molly” spread across the screen, presumably in reference to the ecstasy pill.
Lamar remained mum on the subject.
“You know, I just do things,” he remarked, noting that the video’s messaging did not correspond to the concept for the song itself. “I just felt like doing it. No reason. I just wanted to have fun with it…I want to hear everybody else’s meanings before I tell mine.”
Brown, on the other hand, did break news about his upcoming album, X, and a top-secret collaboration for the project.
“I just shot a video, and the song is dedicated to all my fans, but it’s called ‘They Don’t Know,’” he explained. “This song features Aaliyah, and never-before-heard vocals, all new stuff.”
Due in July, X features Brown’s previously-released singles “Fine China,” and “I Can’t Win,” and was inspired by soul artists like Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin.
Along with the album, the new video marks an attempt by the 24-year-old to reform his image (again).
“I shot it in the hood,” he said. “I’m about bringing both worlds together in the video, and trying to uplift the poverty side of the community. You know, I’m from Virginia, but everybody come from a broken home.”
A 9-time BET-Award-winner, Brown was the first announced performer for this year’s award show, and will take the stage with R. Kelly at the ceremony. He says his goal is simply to please his fans.
“I’m just trying to uplift the black community,” Brown commented. “I like to do over-the-top stuff as far as theatrics and imagination and being creative. I want to bring something new and original.”
Also being honored at the BET Awards, R&B soul legend Charlie Wilson will receive the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.
“It kind of scares you when people start giving you Lifetime Achievement Awards, because it sounds like people are trying to get rid of you,” he joked.
Keeping the superstars in line will be host Chris Tucker, who asked to be paid upfront at the conference, teasing, “You gotta get paid first to do the BET Awards.”
Tucker said, “I’m happy to do it, this is my first time. I love music. I’m excited about it. Anything could happen. I might not even show up.”
Tapping into the energy of the annual celebration, BET President Stephen Hill described the forthcoming BET experience as a “humongous, colossal epic series of events and concert.”
Additional performers at the experience include Beyoncé, New Edition, Erykah Badu, and Mike Epps. Hill calls it the “biggest multicultural and multiplatform, 360 degree experience in the history of BET.”
Here is the full list of BET Awards ‘13 nominees:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Tamar Braxton
Alicia Keys
Rihanna
Elle Varner
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Justin Timberlake
Usher
Best Group
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Mary Mary
Mindless Behavior
Slaughterhouse
The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Best Collaboration
2 Chainz f/ Drake – No Lie
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne – Pop That
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake – Poetic Justice
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – Mercy
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Azealia Banks
Eve
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Rye Rye
Video of the Year
2 Chainz f/ Drake – No Lie
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Drake f/ Lil Wayne – HYFR
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake – Poetic Justice
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ Wanz – Thrift Shop
Miguel – Adorn
Rihanna – Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – Mercy
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & Sam Lecca
Benny Boom
Director X
Dre Films
Hype Williams
Best New Artist
Azealia Banks
Joey Bada$$
Kendrick Lamar
Trinidad Jame$
The Weeknd
Best Gospel Artist
Deitrick Haddon
Lecrae
Tamela Mann
Mary Mary
Marvin Sapp
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Jamie Foxx
Samuel L. Jackson
Denzel Washington
Young Stars Award
Gabrielle Douglas
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Jaden Smith
Quvenzhané Wallis
Best Movie
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
Sparkle
Think Like A Man
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Gabrielle Douglas
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
Robert Griffin III
LeBron James
Ray Lewis
Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
Miguel – Adorn
Rihanna – Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Centric Award
Tamar Braxton – Love and War
Fantasia – Lose To Win
Miguel – Adorn
Nas – Daughters
Charlie Wilson – My Love Is All I Have
Best International Act: Africa
2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
Toya Delazy (South Africa)
Donald (South Africa)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
R2Bees (Ghana)
Radio and Weasel (Uganda)
Best International Act: UK
Marsha Ambrosius
Estelle
Labrinth
Rita Ora
Emeli Sandé
Wiley
Follow Courtney Garcia on Twitter at @CourtGarcia
