Rihanna, Kanye West Nominated for 42nd NAACP Image Awards
The competition is fierce for the 42nd NAACP Image Awards. 50 Cent was on hand to announce the nominees earlier today in Beverly Hills, with Sade leading the music categories with four nominations, while Rihanna, Kanye West, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Willow Smith, Beyoncé, Maxwell, and Alicia Keys all nabbed nods for their respective accomplishments.
Sade, who released her critically-acclaimed Soldier of Love last year, was honored in Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Song and Music Video for “Soldier of Love,” and Outstanding Album. In the latter category, Sade is up against Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, John Legend and The Roots’ Wake Up!, and Smokey Robinson’s Now and Then.
Nicki Minaj goes head-to-head with Willow Smith for Outstanding New Artist, where they’ll duke it out against Bruno Mars, B.o.B, and Jason Derulo. Rihanna received two nods for Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration with Eminem for “Love the Way You Lie,” while Alicia Keys was honored for “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” in Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Song.
Tune in to see who takes home a statue when the winners are revealed live on March 4 at 8 p.m. on FOX.
Outstanding New Artist
B.o.B
Bruno Mars
Jason Derulo
Nicki Minaj
Willow Smith
Outstanding Male Artist
Cee Lo Green
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Ne-Yo
Usher
Outstanding Female Artist
Chrisette Michele
Corinne Bailey Rae
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
Sade
Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration
Diddy-Dirty Money
Eminem & Rihanna
Herbie Hancock (feat. India.Arie, Chaka Khan, and others)
John Legend and The Roots
The Black Eyed Peas
Outstanding Music Video
“Fistful of Tears” – Maxwell
“Soldier of Love” – Sade
“Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” – Alicia Keys
“Whip My Hair” – Willow Smith
“Why Don’t You Love Me” – Beyoncé
Outstanding Song
“Bittersweet” – Fantasia
“Fistful of Tears” – Maxwell
“Forget You” – Cee-Lo Green
“Soldier of Love” – Sade
“Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” – Alicia Keys
Outstanding Album
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
Now and Then – Smokey Robinson
Raymond v. Raymond – Usher
Soldier of Love – Sade
Wake Up! – John Legend and The Roots
Full list of nominees.