Jay-z Set To Dominate 2010 Bet Hip-hop Awards

Rap superstar JAY-Z will lead the way at the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards after scoring 11 nominations.

The hip-hop mogul is up for the top prizes of Lyricist of the Year, Best Live Performer and CD of the Year for Blueprint 3, while his Alicia Keys collaboration Empire State of Mind has put him in the running for the Track of the Year and Perfect Combo titles.

Jay-Z will have stiff competition from the likes of Lil Wayne proteges Drake and Nicki Minaj - they’ve scored eight and six nominations, respectively.

All three artists will battle it out with Eminem and Wayne for Lyricist of the Year, and Jay-Z will face his pal Kanye West in the Best Live Performer category, alongside Drake, Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes.

The CD of the Year award categor will be a scrap between Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3, Drake’s Thank Me Later, Eminem’s Recovery, Rick Ross’ Teflon Don and The Adventures of Bobby Ray by B.o.B.

Jay-Z dominates the Best Hip-Hop Video category with three nods - Empire State of Mind, Run This Town and On To The Next One will go up against B.o.B.’s Nothin’ On You and Drake’s Find Your Love.

Meanwhile, Minaj scores nods in the Hustler of the Year and Rookie of the Year categories, and T.I.’s career comeback gets a boost with two nominations.

Other artists vying for recognition at this year’s (10) ceremony include Diddy-Dirty Money, J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame and Gucci Mane.

Comedian Mike Epps will host the upcoming awards show, which will air on U.S. TV on 12 October (10).