Rap-Up.com || Rihanna and Drake Lead Nominations for 2012 MTV VMAs

Rihanna and Drake have a lot to celebrate. The superstars lead the nominations for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, it was announced today.

The frequent collaborators earn five nominations including Video of the Year at this year’s show. Rihanna’s “We Found Love” will compete against Drake’s “Take Care,” for which she is a featured guest (MTV only gives the nomination to the lead artist in the category).

The pop princess’ Melina-directed video for “We Found Love” will also vie for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video, while the dance-heavy “Where Have You Been” scores Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects nods.

Drake’s wild Bar Mitzvah re-enactment in the video for “HYFR” garners him a nomination for Best Hip-Hop Video, while the Rihanna-assisted “Take Care” picks up Best Male Video, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography.

RiRi’s pal Katy Perry finishes with four nods, while Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, M.I.A., The Throne, and Coldplay trail with three nominations apiece.

The 2012 MTV VMAs will air live on September 6 at 8 p.m. EST from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, with performances from Alicia Keys and One Direction.

See a full list of nominations 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”

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65 Comments

kwayzee
July 31st, 2012 at 3:22 am
Im surprised @ Rihanna’s noms. being that MTV and Rihanna shade each other so damn much.
anywaysss. Nicki bringing them two home !
& good luck to who ever get thr award if Turn Me On wins

[Reply]
coMEaTmEbRO Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:59 am
@kwayzee, So you think she’s gonna win “Best Hip Hop” video? Child… You done fell and hit your head on a hard DICK.

[Reply]
.... Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 4:37 am
@coMEaTmEbRO, She Definitely won last year with superbass and BITT is more urban retard..

[Reply]
coMEaTmEbRO Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:05 am
@…., Well naw duh, dumbass. That song was big as hell when it 1st came out. So what would they have looked like if they didn’t give it to her? -.-

[Reply]
Kwayzee Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:24 am
@…., thank you!!!!!! lmao, these people are stupid

[Reply]
GooGle Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:16 pm
@…., That doesn’t mean nothing .. all it means is that real people who have good taste in music will not vote for her, the video was senseless still trying to come at lil kim necks when she is over that …
Even if Beyonce won alot of awards she should walk away with prize.

[Reply]
Lithuanian Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 5:02 am
@kwayzee, Do you constantly refresh this site until you see something Nicki Minaj related?

[Reply]
Kwayzee Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:25 am
@Lithuanian, no. their tweets come to my phone. i love @RapUp :)

[Reply]
Anus Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 12:38 pm
@Lithuanian, LMAO I WAS WONDERING THE SAME THING EVERY TIME I COME TO THIS ITE AND LOOK AT THE COMMENTS THIS B*TCH IS THE FIRST TO COMMENTS IT’S SO FUCKING ANNOYING..NO WONDER WHY I CAN’T STAND NICKI ASS UGH.

[Reply]
HONESTY Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 5:03 am
@kwayzee,

BUT HER VIDEOS’ ARE ALL THE SAME!!! STARSHIPS WAS BORING VIDEO, HONESTLY. & RIHANNA VIDEO’S ARE REALLY BORING. THE MUSIC DOESN’T FIT, THE RUBBISH MUSIC DOESN’T IT. BEYONCE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A GOOD VIDEOS THAT FIT THE MUSIC. HOPE JAY & KANYE GO HOME WITH A COUPLE THINGS!

[Reply]
starzz Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 8:49 am
@HONESTY, somebodys MAAAD! LMFAOOOO

#nAVY

[Reply]
Kwayzee Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:26 am
@starzz, yessss. she MAD!

[Reply]
Realist : Navy-Nazi Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@Kwayzee, LMAO, SO Glad..just shows how much this ISN’T THE EBT AWARDS. HOPE RIHANNA and LANA DEL REY bring home couple awards.

[Reply]
rihannanavy! Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:39 pm
@HONESTY, bitch don’t f**k yourself talking about rihanna’s videos are lame..it’s your trashy wig thats lame asswipe!

[Reply]
Warren
July 31st, 2012 at 3:22 am
no r&b category?

[Reply]
KayeV Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 4:21 am
@Warren, R & B is apparently dead so not surprised that its not there !

[Reply]
WOAH Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:05 am
@KayeV, I know. R&B is as dead as ever, especially if they’re gonna start ignoring the category altogether. Not enough likes the genre anymore :(

[Reply]
KayeV Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 2:04 pm
@WOAH, yep . this has got to be the worst musical era ever in terms of r & b

[Reply]
da fox'z don
July 31st, 2012 at 3:27 am
ok is it me or is dis k-ray-zee gurl on top working for rap-up lol

[Reply]
BEDSTUYFLY Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 3:50 am
@da fox’z don, THAT AND SHE CLEARLY IS ON YOUNG MONEYS PAY ROLL. VERY TACKY.

[Reply]
Realist : Navy-Nazi Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 12:44 pm
@BEDSTUYFLY, LMAO I WAS WONDERING THE SAME, It’s so f*cking annoying..she always the first to comment. Like b*tch get a life

[Reply]
rihannanavy! Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:40 pm
@Realist : Navy-Nazi, lmao!!!

[Reply]
BEDSTUYFLY
July 31st, 2012 at 3:56 am
YEAAAAAH BITCHES, RIHANNA IS THAT HOT YOUNG NEW POP TART SUPREME SASSY BITCH, COMING FOR QUEEN BEE HEAD! EVERY COLLABO, EITHER A GRAMMY, VMA OR #1 SINGLE. RIHANNA SNATCHES EVERY WIG AND STAYS BOOKED!
WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST AT? OH
… MEANWHILE RIHANNA’S WORKING ON ALBUM #7, BOOKING ENDORSEMENTS AND VACATIONING ON A DAMN YACHT, WHILE THESE GIRLS ARE SCRAMBLING TO STAY RELEVANT.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT “SINGLE”(coughs) BRANDY…

HATERS KICK DUST. RIHANNA;S SPOILED 24 YR OLD ASS AINT GOING NO WHERE. LIKE IT OR NOT. DEF JAM’S BIGGEST MEAL TICKET. GOOD LUCK TAKING DOWN ‘THAT’ ARMY!!!!!

[Reply]
rihannanavy! Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:42 pm
@BEDSTUYFLY, you couldn’t have told those nappy headed hoes better! NAVY!

[Reply]
RealIssh Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:53 pm
@rihannanavy!, She can “come for” Bee’s wig . #Respect , but she ain’t snatching that shyt . We super glued & sewn honey-honey .

[Reply]
Pure Reply:
August 2nd, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@RealIssh,
Tell’em & the Brandy diss? That b*tch is way off! LOL.. I can’t believe this shiiii.. @BEDSTUYFLY did that ratchet sh*t… Queen Bee on her worst day is better than Rihanna’s on her best.

[Reply]
KayeV
July 31st, 2012 at 4:22 am
i swear peeps juss throw in Beyonce for a nomination even though her 4 era was wack / she aint done nada outstanding that deserves an award . good to see Rihanna dominating for a change . where have you is gonna win best choreo :-D

[Reply]
RealIssh Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 7:54 pm
@KayeV, But you’re a witness to every moment that transpired during the era . . . ? I rest my case .

[Reply]
Jay
July 31st, 2012 at 4:26 am
Awesome! They deserve it. Can’t wait to see who wins! :)

[Reply]
TheDreamer
July 31st, 2012 at 4:28 am
Haha..Nicki for best hip-hop video for Beez In the Trap?? That was just a bunch of big booties. The nominations are pretty good. I just want Bey to make an appearance again this year. Maybe perform. Maybe her surprise for August 19th is her announcing she is going to be performing.

[Reply]
BrunoBruno
July 31st, 2012 at 4:30 am
if drake and frank ocean dont win at least one award i will flip the f out

[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG
July 31st, 2012 at 5:18 am
YMCMB is goin’ to win unless 5 awards u haters can bet on it.

[Reply]
Miles
July 31st, 2012 at 5:26 am
Surprised about the Childish Gambino nomination. But glad that Frank Ocean got his nominations. and glad Drake got his. Surprised that Tyler the Creator didn’t get one nom

[Reply]
BrunoBruno
July 31st, 2012 at 5:33 am
ODD FUTURE SHOULD OF DEFINITELY BEEN NOMINATED AT LEAST ONE FOR THE “RELLA” OR “SAM IS DEAD” VIDEO BUT ANYWAYS THIS IS WHO SHOULD WIN WHAT AWARDS:

Video of the Year
M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Best New Artist
Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”

Best Hip-Hop Video
Drake feat. Lil Wayne, “HYFR”

Best Male Video
Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”

Best Female Video
Beyoncé, “Love on Top”

Best Pop Video
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”

Best Rock Video
Jack White, “Sixteen Saltines”

Best Electronic Dance Music Video
Skrillex, “First of the Year (Equinox)”

Best Video with a Message
Lil Wayne, “How to Love”

Best Art Direction
Of Monsters & Men, “Little Talks”

Best Choreography
Rihanna, “Where Have You Been”

Best Cinematography
M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Best Direction
Watch the Throne, “Otis”

Best Editing
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, “Mercy”

Best Visual Effects
Rihanna, “Where Have You Been”
(p.s this is basically an award for the artist that had the most money to spend on a video which is stupid)

[Reply]
ayeni99a
July 31st, 2012 at 6:02 am
LAMBORGHINI MERCY

[Reply]
#RihannaNAVi
July 31st, 2012 at 6:27 am
That Rihanna Reign Just Won’t Let Up.

#ThatdamnNAVY

[Reply]
commanderofthedancefloor Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:33 pm
@#RihannaNAVi, i know,

everyone and their mother was talking about wfl when it came out, and how it was her best video, i definetly believe it will get video of the year.

[Reply]
....
July 31st, 2012 at 6:34 am
Nicki could snatch Best hiphop vid and best Visual but Best female(minus selena) is very competitive..

[Reply]
OpD2 Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 6:46 am
them noms is looking good.

[Reply]
Chris
July 31st, 2012 at 6:53 am
M.I.A. and Childish Gambino nods are an awesome surprise. Hopefully they both perform.

[Reply]
Stephen
July 31st, 2012 at 6:55 am
Frank my nigga! Golf Wang!

[Reply]
waka
July 31st, 2012 at 8:51 am
MUCH BETTER LIST THAN LAST YEAR…IF YOU JUST TAKE OUT SELENA IN FEMALE AND THAT CARLY CHICK IN BEST NEW ARTIST AND REPLACE IT WIT LANA DEL REY THEN WE’D BE TALKING

[Reply]
Morgan
July 31st, 2012 at 9:18 am
Although I wish Frank Ocean would win Best New Artist, this is MTV. If he can’t win it, I hope The Wanted beats One Direction since TW has had more commercial success in America.

[Reply]
Nick Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:53 am
@Morgan, The Wanted did better on the Hot 100, One Direction’s ablum has stayed in the top 10 on the top 200 since it’s release,they have a sold out tour, etc, they are actually more commercially successful than the Wanted, however that doesn’t mean I want them to win best new artist, which they will without a doubt since they are the years biggest stars right now. I’d love to see Frank Ocean win, not only because he truly is the best new artist, but because it would make such a statement to all Americans, that a lot of us actually care about quality music. Everyone please go vote for frank. Let’s show america we’re done with all this commercial bull shit. It’s time for real music now.

[Reply]
WOAH Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 9:59 am
@Nick, I agree with everything you said, however there’s one problem. Who’s gonna stop the One Direction obsessed fan girls from voting like 30x a day like Justin’s fans do?

[Reply]
illerbrown
July 31st, 2012 at 9:43 am
This is the most BS i’ve ever seen.. them nominations are whack and i just know the winners will be too.. MTV is not a music channel, this is for who’s popular they don’t care about the art of music.. from when i saw Lil Wayne is nominated for Best Video with a Message i was like this is BS, I mean how is OTIS or no church in the wild not nominated.. This is why kids are getting dumber cause y’all promote the wrong things

[Reply]
Joshh
July 31st, 2012 at 10:05 am
Congrats to Rihanna for getting soo many nominations!

[Reply]
glamoruz
July 31st, 2012 at 10:12 am
Happy for Drake. Take Care deserves it. Goodluck to all

[Reply]
ayee
July 31st, 2012 at 10:18 am
“Where Have U Been” should be in the video of the year nominations not the “We Found Love”..

[Reply]
TRA
July 31st, 2012 at 10:28 am
I am happy that Drake is a co-leader with Rihanna for the most nominations at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. Drake’s Take Care was a great album, Take Care got great critical reviews, Drake’s music videos were pretty good, and Drake’s Take Care sold over 1.6 or 1.7 million copies, so Drake deserves all his success. The 2012 BET Awards made a huge mistake by not letting Drake be a co-leader for nominations when he should had been a co-leader. I am now convinced that Drake is going to lead the nominations at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

I am glad to see that both Kanye West and Jay-Z were nominated for Best Hip Hop Video for Niggas In Paris, and Kanye West was also nominated for Best Hip Hop Video for Mercy. However, I believe the MTV Video Music Awards made a mistake by not nominating Kanye West and Jay-Z’s Otis for Video of The Year. I am happy for Frank Ocean, Frank Ocean should win Best New Artist hands down. All the other nominees can kick rocks this year.

It’s a shame to see that R&B doesn’t have its own category. I guess that shows how far R&B music has fallen over the last couple of years.

[Reply]
BEDSTUYFLY Reply:
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:18 pm
@TRA, OTIS came out last year, remember the performance.

[Reply]
TRA
July 31st, 2012 at 10:32 am
Drake is going to own the 2013 Grammy Awards with the most nominations, mark my words.

[Reply]
A$AP Blaze
July 31st, 2012 at 11:30 am
ROCKY FOR BEST EDITING.

[Reply]
teamminaj
July 31st, 2012 at 12:22 pm
THIS S##T IM BOUT TO SAY IS REAL I LOVE NICKI MINAJ IM TEAMMINAJ TO THE END BUT ON THE REAL I DONT CARE IF NICKI WIN A VMA AWARD THIS YEAR SHE ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THEM UNDER HER BELT AND TO ME THE ONLY MUSIC AWARD SHE DONT HAVE IS THAT GRAMMY THATS WHAT I WANT NICKI TO WIN EVEN IF ITS JUST ONE THATS WHAT I WANT HER TO GET THATS WHY I DONT SAY NICKI IS QUEEN YET BECAUSE SHE AINT GOT THAT UNDER HER BELT WHICH I KNOW DOWN THE LINE IT WILL HAPPEN BUT AS A FAN OF NICKI PEOPLE WILL JUST SAY OK SHE WINNING BUT SHE HAVE NO GRAMMYS AND IM TRIED OF HEARING THAT THEY DONT LOOK AT ALL THE S##t SHE DONE IN THREE YEARS MORE THEN HALF OF THEM HOES CAREERS PUT TOGETHER THEY JUST TALK THAT GRAMMY BS BUT WHEN SHE DO WIN GET READY HOES BECAUSE I WILL BE TALKING BIG S##T KNOW THAT BUT TILL THEN RESPECT THE BARBIE WHEN SHE IN YOUR TOWN YMCMB!

[Reply]
Nick Reply:
August 4th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
@teamminaj, sorry to say she isn’t winning a damn grammy with pf:rr

[Reply]
MEEET
July 31st, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Best Editing and Best Choreography BEYONCÉ Countdown.
I think Rihanna will win big with We Found Love. That video was just everything

[Reply]
ashley carmicheal Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 2:18 pm
@MEEET, choreography wise, countdown wasn’t beyonces best. She wasnt moving that much actually (because she was preggo) so its ok…personally WHYB has a shot at taking it because RIHANNA straight slayed the choreography, while at the same time it was unexpected due to the sound…………………..but cb will most likely take it

[Reply]
Natalie
July 31st, 2012 at 3:38 pm
This should be an interesting show and that’s good to see some other females other than Beyonce having a chance to win a award. Rihanna should win the majority of her noms, but I shouldn’t win best choreography cause Chris Brown murdered turn up the music.

[Reply]
middy
July 31st, 2012 at 8:05 pm
jay z and kanye is going to win best hip hop video if they took home that grammy and every award at the bet awards then they got that yall dum to think beez in tha trap would win that and Best Visual Effects katy would win or rihanna but any who cant wait i know jay and kanye gone take home shit like crazy and rihanna and drake gone win and chris gone win

[Reply]
BW Extreme Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 7:44 am
@middy, You a dumb ass if you think Jay Z and Kanye West will win. Beez In the Trap is better than any song and video Watch the Throne came out with.

[Reply]
Viy Boomz aydz
July 31st, 2012 at 11:00 pm
damn some of yall mad. Congrations to everybodys that is Noaminted for their awards whoever won their win for their award

[Reply]
DrakeTakeCare
August 1st, 2012 at 2:59 pm
drizzy hendrixxxxxx do right and kill everything!

[Reply]
BbMonstah
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:11 am
Omq. The nominations are Uqh! Definetely not lovin’ the music beinq put out today.
This is MY version of the outcome:)

Video of the Year – Gotye or Rihanna.Cudnt decide
Best New Artist – Frank Ocean
Best Hip Hop Video- Jay/Kanye or Nicki
Best Female Video – Beyonce (cuz I’ma stan:)

*Selena??? really? Just ‘cuz she datin’ JB -_-

Best Male Video – Chris Brown
Best Pop Video – Rihanna
Best Rock Video – Jack White
Best Eletronic/Dance Video – Skrillex

*W/O him, dubstep woulda took awhile to “Pop”

Best Video w/ Message – Rise Aqainst
Best Art Direction- Lana Del Rey
Best Choreography – Chris Brown or Beyonce
Best Direction – M.I.A.
Best Editing – Beyonce
Best Visual Effects- David Guetta
Best Cinematography- Drake

Could’ve done waaaay better with the nominations but I still can’t wait to see the VMAs. :) & For those who say Beyonce should sit down; She squatted & got her bod back. VMAs iz just a Popularity contest. Beyonce iz da Queen/King. Let’em take da Moonmans!! She too busy dustin’ her Grammys.

[Reply]
Pure
August 2nd, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Drakes “HYFR” was the best he did, but if “Take Care” wins video of the year I wouldn’t be mad.

[Reply]
Alicia Thornton
August 4th, 2012 at 9:49 am
I’m supporting Rihanna and Drake all the way they must carry way all de Awards.

[Reply]