Kanye West, Beyoncé lead BET Awards nominees

Kanye West leads this year's crop of BET Awards nominees. The Chicago rapper scored seven nominations including five for Watch The Throne, his collaborative project with Jay-Z. The duo picked up nods for Best Group, Best Collaboration and two nominations for Video of the Year ("N***as in Paris" and "Otis").

West also received solo nominations for Best Director and Best Collaboration, giving him seven overall nods.

Beyoncé landed six nominations, including Best Female R&B Artist, the Viewer's Choice Award and two Video of the Year nods for "Countdown" and "Love on Top."

Canadian R&B singer Melanie Fiona also scored a Best Female R&B Artist nod while fellow Torontonian Drake was nominated for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and the Viewer's Choice Award for his song "The Motto."

Actor Samuel L. Jackson will host the July 1 ceremony, which will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and feature performances by Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and a tribute to the late Whitney Houston.