MTV Awards 2017 Nominations

The summer cannot end without the MTV Video Awards happening for its 34th Annual presentation and this year is full of great contenders just as 2016 did not disappoint; with Rihanna receiving the Video Vanguard Award (which was presented by Drake) and concluded with RiRi performing a career-spanning medley of her music. Then there was Queen Beyoncé's performance of a medley of Lemonade mixes topping off her earth moving performance in taking home the award for Video of the Year for Formation.

Though, no Jay-Z since his album dropped in June way after the cut-off for artist eligibility (you know he doesn’t care, though). Nonetheless, I can wholeheartedly say that Kendrick Lamar is ruling the 2017 MTV VMAs noms this season with 8 nominations for his song “Humble” from the now critically acclaimed album DAMN. Both Rihanna and DJ Khaled got the keys, Lorde, Kanye West and The Weekend are all currently living with nominations as well, to name a few of the heavy contenders.

Who’s missing? Well it is strange that one of the most pivotal albums of late last year A Tribe Called Quest: We got it From Here video for “We The People” wasn’t at least nominated for Best Fight against the System category (a new category this year) which recognizes videos that, according to a statement from MTV, “inspires viewers to stand up and fight injustice.” This is a part of the new addition to this year’s ceremony that also includes a non-gendered Artist of the Year category—it will be a combination of the former Best Female/Male Video awards.

ATCQ | We The People missing from the VMA’s this year is a loss for me, and though Beyoncé did not bring out any new music this year aside from her collab with DJ Khaled. Plus, she was totally preoccupied with her new “Love on Top” part deux—still it’s always nice to see the queen on somebody’s list… haha!

Taking the cake was SZA who is up for Best New Artist of the Year in which, she's quite deserving of (fingers crossed for her). Viewers and fans alike are encouraged to vote online for the eight different categories.

See the full nominations list below:

Video of the Year:
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
Bruno Mars: “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara: “Scars to Your Beautiful”
DJ Khaled: “Wild Thoughts” [ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller]
The Weeknd: “Reminder”

Artist of the Year:
Bruno Mars
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd
Lorde

Best New Artist:
Khalid
Kodak Black
SZA
Young M.A
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus

Best Collaboration:
Charlie Puth: “We Don’t Talk Anymore” [ft. Selena Gomez]
DJ Khaled: “Wild Thoughts” [ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller]
D.R.A.M.: “Broccoli” [ft. Lil Yachty]
The Chainsmokers: “Closer” [ft. Halsey]
Calvin Harris: “Feels” [ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean]
Zayn and Taylor Swift: “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)”

Best Pop Video:
Shawn Mendes: “Treat You Better”
Ed Sheeran: “Shape of You”
Harry Styles: “Sign of the Times”
Fifth Harmony: “Down” [ft. Gucci Mane]
Katy Perry: “Chained to the Rhythm” [ft. Skip Marley]
Miley Cyrus: “Malibu”

Best Hip Hop Video:
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
Big Sean: “Bounce Back”
Chance the Rapper: “Same Drugs”
D.R.A.M.: “Broccoli” [ft. Lil Yachty]
Migos: “Bad and Boujee” [ft. Lil Uzi Vert]
DJ Khaled: “I’m the One” [ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne]

Best Dance Video:
Zedd and Alessia Cara: “Stay”
Kygo and Selena Gomez: “It Ain’t Me”
Calvin Harris: “My Way”
Major Lazer: “Cold Water” [ft. Justin Bieber and MØ]
Afrojack: “Gone” [ft. Ty Dolla $ign]

Best Rock Video:
Coldplay: “A Head Full of Dreams”
Fall Out Boy: “Young And Menace”
Twenty One Pilots: “Heavydirtysoul”
Green Day: “Bang Bang”
Foo Fighters: “Run”

Best Fight Against the System:
Logic: “Black SpiderMan”
The Hamilton Mixtape: “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)”
Big Sean: “Light”
Alessia Cara: “Scars to Your Beautiful”
Taboo: “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL” [ft. Shailene Woodley]
John Legend: “Surefire”

Best Cinematography:
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
Imagine Dragons: “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran: “Castle on the Hill”
DJ Shadow: “Nobody Speak” [ft. Run the Jewels]
Halsey: “Now or Never”

Best Direction:
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
Katy Perry: “Chained to the Rhythm” [ft. Skip Marley]
Bruno Mars: “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara: “Scars to Your Beautiful”
The Weeknd: “Reminder”

Best Art Direction:
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
Bruno Mars: “24K Magic”
Katy Perry: “Bon Appetit” [ft. Migos]
DJ Khaled: “Wild Thoughts” [ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller]
The Weeknd: “Reminder”

Best Visual Effects:
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
A Tribe Called Quest: “Dis Generation”
KYLE: “iSpy” [ft. Lil Yachty]
Katy Perry: “Chained to the Rhythm” [ft. Skip Marley]
Harry Styles: “Sign of the Times”

Best Choreography:
Kanye West: “Fade”
Ariana Grande: “Side to Side” [ft. Nicki Minaj]
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
Sia: “The Greatest”
Fifth Harmony: “Down” [ft. Gucci Mane]

Best Editing:
Future: “Mask Off”
Young Thug: “Wyclef Jean”
Lorde: “Green Light”
The Chainsmokers: “Closer” [ft. Halsey]
The Weeknd: “Reminder”