By Mesfin Fekadu, AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --Hip-hop star Cardi B is walking into the 2019 BET Awards as the most nominated act with seven, while late rapper Nipsey Hussle scored a posthumous nomination.
BET told the Associated Press late Thursday that Cardi B's nominations include two for the top prize — video of the year — with her hits "Money" and "Please Me," with Bruno Mars. She is also competing for best female hip-hop artist, the viewer's choice award and album of the year with her Grammy-winning major-label debut, "Invasion of Privacy."
Hussle, who was shot to death on March 31 in what police said was a personal dispute outside his South Los Angeles clothing store, picked up a best male hip-hop artist nomination. His competition includes J. Cole, Travis Scott, Meek Mill, 21 Savage and Drake, who is behind Cardi B with five nominations.
Drake's No. 1 hit, "Nice for What," is up for video of the year along with Childish Gambino's "This Is America," the Carters' "Apes(asterisk)(asterisk)t," 21 Savage and J. Cole's "A Lot," and the two Cardi B clips.
The BET Awards will take place June 23 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Beyonce, who scored four nominations, is up for best female R&B/pop artist along with Ella Mai, H.E.R., Solange, SZA and Teyana Taylor. Best male R&B/pop artist nominees are Mars, Gambino, Chris Brown, John Legend, Khalid and Anderson .Paak.
Cardi B was named best female hip-hop artist at last year's BET Awards, and she'll defend her title against Nicki Minaj, Remy Ma, Megan Thee Stallion, Kash Doll and Lizzo. Cardi B is a double nominee in best collaboration thanks to the hits "I Like It," with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, and "Please Me," with Mars.
Her competition in album of the year includes the Carters' "Everything Is Love," Scott's "Astroworld," Mill's "Championships" and Mai's "Ella Mai."
Cardi B's "Invasion of Privacy" won the best rap album Grammy Award in February, beating out Hussle's major-label debut as well as albums from Scott, Pusha T and the late Mac Miller.
The 2019 BET Awards will air live across seven Viacom networks in the United States, including BET, MTV, VH1, Logo, MTV 2, MTV Classic and BET HER.
A list of nominees at the 2019 Bet Awards, to air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 23:
— Video of the year: 21 Savage featuring J. Cole, "A Lot"; Cardi B, "Money"; Cardi B and Bruno Mars, "Please Me"; Childish Gambino, "This Is America"; Drake, "Nice for What"; The Carters, "Apes(asterisk)(asterisk)t."
— Best female R&B/pop artist: Beyoncé; Ella Mai; H.E.R.; Solange; SZA; Teyana Taylor.
— Best male R&B/pop artist: Anderson .Paak; Bruno Mars; Childish Gambino; Chris Brown; John Legend; Khalid.
— Best female hip-hop artist: Cardi B; Kash Doll; Lizzo; Megan Thee Stallion; Nicki Minaj; Remy Ma.
— Best male hip-hop artist: 21 Savage; Drake; J. Cole; Meek Mill; Nipsey Hussle; Travis Scott.
— Best new artist: Blueface; City Girls; Juice WRLD; Lil Baby; Queen Naija.
— Best group: Chloe x Halle; City Girls; Lil Baby and Gunna; Migos; The Carters.
— Best collaboration: 21 Savage featuring J. Cole, "A Lot"; Cardi B and Bruno Mars, "Please Me"; Cardi B featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny, "I Like It"; H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller, "Could've Been"; Travis Scott featuring Drake, "Sicko Mode"; Tyga featuring Offset, "Taste."
— Album of the year: Cardi B, "Invasion of Privacy"; Ella Mai, "Ella Mai"; Meek Mill, "Championships"; The Carters, "Everything Is Love"; Travis Scott, "Astroworld."
— Viewers' choice award: Cardi B featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny, "I Like It"; Childish Gambino, "This Is America"; Drake, "In My Feelings"; Ella Mai, "Trip"; J. Cole, "Middle Child"; Travis Scott featuring Drake, "Sicko Mode."
— Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award: Erica Campbell featuring Warryn Campbell, "All of My Life"; Fred Hammond, "Tell Me Where It Hurts"; Kirk Franklin, "Love Theory"; Snoop Dogg featuring Rance Allen, "Blessing Me Again"; Tori Kelly featuring Kirk Franklin, "Never Alone."
— Best actress: Issa Rae; Regina Hall; Regina King; Taraji P. Henson; Tiffany Haddish; Viola Davis.
— Best actor: Anthony Anderson; Chadwick Boseman; Denzel Washington; Mahershala Ali; Michael B. Jordan; Omari Hardwick.
— Best movie: "Blackkklansman"; "Creed 2"; "If Beale Street Could Talk"; "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"; "The Hate U Give."
— Youngstars award: Caleb McLaughlin; Lyric Ross; Marsai Martin; Michael Rainey Jr.; Miles Brown.
— Sportswoman of the year: Allyson Felix; Candace Parker; Naomi Osaka; Serena Williams; Simone Biles.
— Sportsman of the year: Kevin Durant; LeBron James; Odell Beckham Jr.; Stephen Curry; Tiger Woods.
— BET HER award: Alicia Keys, "Raise a Man"; Ciara, "Level Up"; H.E.R., "Hard Place"; Janelle Monae, "PYNK"; Queen Naija, "Mama's Hand"; Teyana Taylor, "Rose in Harlem."
— Video director of the year: Benny Boom; Colin Tilley; Dave Meyers; Hype Williams; Karena Evans.
— Best international act: AKA (South Africa); Aya Nakamura (France); Burna Boy (Nigeria); Dave (U.K.); Dosseh (France); Giggs (U.K.); Mr Eazi (Nigeria).
— Best new international act: Headie One (U.K.); Jok'Air (France); Nesly (France); Octavian (U.K.); Sho Madjozi (South Africa); Teni (Nigeria).
Droga5 Appoints Emma Montgomery As Global Chief Strategy Officer
Creative agency network Droga5 has appointed Emma Montgomery as global chief strategy officer. She is the third global appointment for the agency this year, with Pelle Sjoenell named worldwide chief creative officer this past March, and global CEO Mark Green recently appointed this fall. Montgomery will be responsible for connecting and supercharging Droga5’s strategy and creative offerings globally. She will be based in its headquarters in New York City.
“Emma is a world-class strategic leader and authority that I’ve long admired and dreamt of being partners-in-crime with,” said Sjoenell. “Her work inspires the creativity that connects people and brands in ways that move business and culture forward, so I’m excited to finally be able to work with her alongside Mark, and to see her lead and further strengthen our leadership and strategy teams around the world.”
Montgomery joins Droga5 after serving as CEO of DDB Chicago. She’s been in the industry for over 20 years, and has served in several high-level leadership positions throughout her career, including as president and CSO of Leo Burnett Chicago, global CSO of TBWA, and CEO of Leo Burnett Australia. She’s also worked across a breadth of categories and multiple global clients such as Kraft, Aldi, Diageo and Molson Coors, among many others, including challenger brands and startups.
“I’m excited to join Droga5 and have the opportunity to help carve out a new path for the brand globally, building on its tremendous legacy of creative leadership,” said Montgomery. “The potential of Droga5, combined with the possibilities of Accenture Song, was too exciting to pass up. No other agency has what they have, and as marketing shifts, the chance to make creativity a genuine... Read More