Drake leads at BET Awards with 12 nominations

(AP) - The BET Awards should be called the Drake Awards...

Jun 30, 2013

The BET Awards should be called the Drake Awards.

The rapper-singer is up for 12 trophies, including five nominations for video of the year, which has 10 nominees.

While 26-year-old Drake is mostly battling himself for the night’s top award, some of his friends (and enemies) will blaze the stage, including Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown, who is nominated for best male R&B artist. Minaj, who has won best female hip-hop artist for three consecutive years, is up for the honor again with little competition.

Other performers Sunday include Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, India.Arie, Ciara and Robin Thicke.

Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz follow Drake with eight nominations each.

Chris Tucker will host the BET Awards, to air live from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.