Rapper Drake leads BET Awards with 12 nominations

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

photo This Feb. 10, 2013 file photo shows rapper Drake at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Drake has been nominated for 12 BET Awards, Tuesday, May 14, 2013. The awards show will air live June 30 from Los Angeles' Nokia Theater L.A. Live. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, file)

He started from the bottom, but now he's on top at the BET Awards: Drake has 12 nominations.

BET announced the nominees Tuesday. Rappers Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz are up for 8 awards each.

Drake is nominated three times for the top prize, video of the year. His hit, "Started from the Bottom," will compete with his collaborations with 2 Chainz ("No Lie") and A$AP Rocky ("Problems"). The top award has 10 nominees, including Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie," Kanye West's "Mercy," "Adorn" by Miguel and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop."

Chris Brown and R. Kelly will perform at the awards show, to air live June 30 from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live.

Chris Tucker will host the BET Awards.