The 2012 MTV Video Music Award Nominations were revealed this morning (July 31st), and taking the lead in nominations were Drake and Rihanna.
This year's VMA's will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on September 6th. Two of the VMA performers were also revealed today, boy band One Direction and Alicia Keys, who will be premiering a new song off her album.
Drake and Rihanna both have five nominations a-piece. Drake is nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video with the visuals to "HYFR," he's also nominated for Video of the Year with "Take Care." "Take Care" also lands a nomination for Best Male Video, as well as a nomination for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.
Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" was nominated for Best Visual Effects, Best Choreography, while another video of the Barbados signer, "We Found Love," was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Female Video, and Best Pop Video.
Another notable nominees with three to her name is Beyonce. She will be competing with Rihanna for Best Female Video for her own "Love On Top." Bey's "Countdown" landed her a nomination for Best Choreography and Best Editing.
Frank Ocean racks up three nominations with "Swim Good," one for Best New Artist, Best Male Video, and Best Direction.
Kanye West's visuals for "Mercy," featuring Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video (in competition with Childish Gambino's "Heartbeat," Nicki Minaj's "Beez in the Trap," and Drizzy's "HYFR.") "Mercy" was also nominated for Best Editing.
Other nominees pertaining to hip-hop include Usher, Chris Brown, A$AP Rocky, M.I.A., and Watch The Throne.
Check out the full list of nominees below.
Video of the Year
Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”
Gotye, “Somebody That I Used To Know”
Rihanna, “We Found Love”
Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”
M.I.A., “Bad Girls”
Best New Artist
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”
One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”
The Wanted, “Glad You Came”
Best Hip-Hop Video
Childish Gambino, “Heartbeat”
Drake feat. Lil Wayne, “HYFR”
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, “Mercy”
Watch the Throne, “Paris”
Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz, “Beez in the Trap”
Best Male Video
Justin Bieber, “Boyfriend”
Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”
Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”
Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”
Usher, “Climax”
Best Female Video
Rihanna, “We Found Love”
Katy Perry, “Part of Me”
Beyoncé, “Love on Top”
Nicki Minaj, “Starships”
Selena Gomez & The Scene, “Love You Like a Love Song”
Best Pop Video
One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Rihanna, “We Found Love”
Justin Bieber, “Boyfriend”
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, “Payphone”
Best Rock Video
Coldplay, “Paradise”
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
Linkin Park, “BURN IT DOWN”
Jack White, “Sixteen Saltines”
Imagine Dragons, “It’s Time”
Best Electronic Dance Music Video
Duck Sauce, “Big Bad Wolf”
Calvin Harris, “Feel So Close”
Skrillex, “First of the Year (Equinox)”
Martin Solveig, “The Night Out”
Avicii, “Le7els”
Best Video With a Message
Demi Lovato, “Skyscraper”
Rise Against, “Ballad of Hollis Brown”
Kelly Clarkson, “Dark Side”
Gym Class Heroes, “The Fighter”
K’Naan feat. Nelly Furtado, “Is Anybody Out There?”
Lil Wayne, “How to Love”
Best Art Direction
Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”
Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”
Lana Del Rey, “Born to Die”
Regina Spektor, “All the Rowboats”
Of Monsters & Men, “Little Talks”
Best Choreography
Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”
Rihanna, “Where Have You Been”
Beyoncé, “Countdown”
Avicii, “Le7els”
Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull, “Dance Again”
Best Cinematography
M.I.A., “Bad Girls”
Adele, “Someone Like You”
Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”
Coldplay feat. Rihanna, “Princess of China”
Lana Del Rey, “Born to Die”
Best Direction
M.I.A., “Bad Girls”
Duck Sauce, “Big Bad Wolf”
Coldplay feat. Rihanna, “Princess of China”
Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”
Watch the Throne, “Otis”
Best Editing
Beyoncé, “Countdown”
A$AP Rocky, “Goldie”
Gotye, “Somebody That I Used to Know”
Watch the Throne, “Paris”
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, “Mercy”
Best Visual Effects
Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”
Rihanna, “Where Have You Been”
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, “Turn Me On”
Linkin Park, “BURN IT DOWN”
