As I say many times on HN, I don’t really watch BET. Basically because I prefer entertainment that is more than a minstrel version of whatever is working on MTV. Everyone once in a while I’ll check out the award shows because they tend to have some rather humorous and awkward moments. Like when Tyrese and Ving Rhames gave an award in character reprising their roles from Baby Boy and it went on.. a … bit … too … long resulting in a very awkward moment. And then there was that “so bad it was good” redition of Fire and Desire that Tina Marie and Rick James did shortly before his death.

With this years BET Awards upon us, BET is looking to go even more mainstream in its desire to target its core demographic, white people. Check out the nominees below and place your bets on who’s the best new artist out. Is it Justin Beiber, Nikki Minaj or Young Money (which also features Nikki Minaj)

What do you guys think? Do you even bother watching?

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Alicia Keys
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Raheem DeVaughn
Maxwell
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Ester Dean
Lil’ Kim
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Trina

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
B.o.B
Drake
Fabolous
Jay-Z
Ludacris

Best New Artist
Justin Bieber
Melanie Fiona
Nicki Minaj
Wale
Young Money

Best Gospel
The Anointed Pace Sisters
Kirk Franklin Presents Artists United For Haiti
Tamela Mann
Marvin Sapp
Vickie Winans

Best Group
Black Eyed Peas
Clipse
Diddy-Dirty Money
New Boyz
Young Money

Best Collaboration
Beyoncé f/ Lady Gaga – “Video Phone”
B.o.B f/ Bruno Mars – “Nothin’ on You”
Drake & Trey Songz – “Successful”
Drake f/ Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem – “Forever”
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – “Say Aah”

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Anthony Mandler
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Viewer’s Choice
Beyoncé – “Sweet Dreams”
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
Monica – “Everything to Me”
Rihanna f/ Young Jeezy – “Hard”
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – “Say Aah”
Young Money (Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Jae Millz, Drake, Tyga) f/ Lloyd – “Bedrock”