Sound CheckDrake and Rihanna score five MTV Video Music Award nominations each
The nominees for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards were announced this morning with Drake and Rihanna leading the pack while Lady Gaga, who had multiple videos eligible for nominations this year, was left completely snubbed.
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Toronto's own Drake picked up five VMA nods in the categories of Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography for his clip featuring Rihanna, "Take Care," and Best Hip-Hop Video for "HYFR" featuring Lil Wayne.
The only artist to match Drake's nomination haul is his "Take Care" video counterpart, Rihanna, who also earned five nominations.
The Barbadian beauty earned three nods in the categories for Video of the Year, Best Female Video and Best Pop Video for "We Found Love," in addition to two mentions for Best Visual Effects and Best Choreography for "Where Have You Been."
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Next in line with the most nominations is Katy Perry, who picked up four nominations. M.I.A., The Throne's Jay-Z and Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Coldplay and Beyoncé all earned three each.
Lady Gaga released two videos that qualified for this year's ceremony, "Marry the Night" and "Yoü And I," however, she walked away empty handed this time around in what seems like a replay of yet another awards show snubbing the Mother Monster.
Canadian boy wonder Justin Bieber picked up two nominations this year and will face off against pack leaders Rihanna for Best Pop Video and Drake for Best Male Video with his sultry and mature entry, "Boyfriend."
This isn't the first time that Bieber and Drake have faced off at an awards show and it will be interesting to see who will come out on top.
"Call Me Maybe" hitmaker Carly Rae Jepsen snagged one nomination, and is the only Canadian contender in the category of Best New Artist against artists Frank Ocean, One Direction, The Wanted and Fun.
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The first two performers announced for the show are R&B chanteuse Alicia Keys and UK boy band newcomers, One Direction.
1D band member Liam Payne spoke of the event on behalf of the group and said, "We're really looking forward to the VMAs. It's quite nerve-racking as well, because obviously there's been so many historical moments and stuff that have happened at the VMAs. Now we want to make a moment ourselves, but who knows?"
He went on to say, "I think performing at the VMAs is such a huge occasion. I think it ranks up there with one of the best performances we'll do so far."
Tune in on Thursday Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. when the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on MTV and head here to begin voting for your favourites today.
