Posted by Andrew Unterberger on 09/13/2012 at 9:08 AM News

The Popdust Files: bet hip-hop awards, cruel summer, kanye west, r. kelly, to the world

Kanye’s blanket dominance over hip-hop the last 12 months has never exactly been a secret, but this is a little bit ridiculous. The BET Hip-Hop Awards were announced last night, and Kanye scored a stunning 17 nominations—in only 18 eligible categories. He scored nods in obvious categories like Producer of the Year and Best Club Banger (“Niggas in Paris”), but also managed to sneak into categories like Video Director of the Year and the Made You Look Award for best style. Not bad for a dude who hasn’t released a solo album in two years.

In the meantime, we also have another ‘Yeezy track from the Cruel Summer album, now suddenly out in just a couple days after seemingly endless delays. The R. Kelly-featuring “To the World” is the set’s intro track, and certainly sounds like one, with the typical kind of stakes-raising grandiosity we’re used to from Kanye openers. The song’s not a smash or anything, but it certainly sounds big, with Kells declaring “I’m doing things my way / I’m burning shit down tonight” and Kanye rhyming “ghetto opera” with “Francis Ford Coppola” (and quoting “Hold Me Back“!!) over thundering drums and plucked strings. Enough to further hype us up for five days from now certainly.

Check the song below, as well as the full list of BET Hip-Hop Award Nominations. (Go Joey Bada$$ for Best Mixtape!)

Best Hip-Hop Video:

2 Chainz f/ Drake – “No Lie”
A$AP Rocky – “Goldie”
Drake f/ Lil Wayne – “HYFR”
Wale f/ Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb”
Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Pusha T – “Mercy”

Reese’s Perfect Combo Award:

2 Chainz f/ Drake – “No Lie”
Drake f/ Lil Wayne and Tyga – “The Motto”
J. Cole f/ Missy Elliott – “Nobody’s Perfect”
Wale f/ Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb”
Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Pusha T – “Mercy”

Best Live Performer:

A$AP Rocky
Drake
J. Cole
The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West)
Kanye West

Lyricist of the Year:

J. Cole
Jay-Z
Kendrick Lamar
Nas
Kanye West

Video Director of the Year:

A$AP Rocky and Sam
Benny Boom
Chris Robinson
Kanye West
Hype Williams

Producer of the Year:

Hit-Boy
J. Cole
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
No I.D.
Kanye West

MVP of the Year:

2 Chainz
J. Cole
Jay-Z
Rick Ross
Kanye West

Track of the Year:

“Cashin’ Out” – Ca$h Out
“I’ma Boss” – Meek Mill f/ Rick Ross
“Ni**as in Paris” – The Throne
“No Lie” – 2 Chainz f/ Drake
“The Motto” – Drake f/ Lil Wayne and Tyga

CD of the Year:

“The Dreamer, The Believer” – Common
“Take Care” – Drake
“Cole World: The Sideline Story” – J. Cole
“Watch The Throne” – Jay-Z and Kanye West
“Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition” – Young Jeezy

DJ of the Year:

DJ Drama
DJ Enuff
DJ Envy
Funkmaster Flex
DJ Khaled

Rookie of the Year:

2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Ca$h Out
Future
Meek Mill

Made You Look Award (Best Hip-Hop Style):

2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Big Sean
Nicki Minaj
Kanye West

Best Club Banger:

“Cashin’ Out” (Ca$h Out)
“The Motto” – Drake f/ Lil Wayne and Tyga
“Same Damn Time” – Future
“Ni**as in Paris” – The Throne
“Mercy” – Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Pusha T

Best Mixtape:

“LiveLoveA$AP” – A$AP Rocky
“1999″ – Joey Bada$$
“Dreamchasers 2″ – Meek Mill
“Rich Forever” – Rick Ross
“Taylor Allderdice” – Wiz Khalifa

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse:

2 Chainz – “Mercy”
P. Diddy – “Same Damn Time (Remix)”
Drake – “Stay Schemin’”
Ludacris – “Same Damn Time (Remix)”
T.I. – “Magic (Remix)”

Hustler of the Year:

2 Chainz
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Kanye West

Impact Track:

“Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)” – Lupe Fiasco
“Bitch Bad” – Lupe Fiasco
“Daughters” – Nas
“Murder to Excellence” – The Throne

People’s Champ Award:

2 Chainz f/ Drake – “No Lie”
Driicky Graham – “Snapbacks & Tattoos”
Meek Mill f/ Rick Ross – “I’ma Boss”
The Throne – “Ni**as in Paris”
Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Pusha T – “Mercy”

[AceShowbiz / ONTD]