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And the Nominees Are... - The wait is over — the nominations for the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards are here. These 47 nominees ran rap over the past 12 months, and come DATETK, some will have the trophies to prove it. Read on for a breakdown of the nominees and the awards they're competing for.(Photos from left: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images, Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire, John Ricard/BET)

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2 Chainz - 2 Chainz's monster breakthrough is undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the year, and it shows in his whopping nine nominations, for Best Hip Hop Video, Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), MVP of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style), Best Club Banger, Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse, Hustler of the Year and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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A$AP Rocky - Harlem up-and-comer A$AP Rocky is in it to win it with an impressive six nominations, for Best Hip Hop Video, Best Live Performer, Video Director of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style) and Best Mixtape.  (Photo: C Flanigan/WireImage)

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Benny Boom - Benny Boom is vying for Video Director of the Year after crafting memorable clips for Nicki Minaj ("Beez in the Trap"), Waka Flocka Flame ("Get Low") and B.o.B. ("Out of My Mind"). (Photo: Facebook)

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Big Sean - Big Sean's swag sauce earned him a nomination for the Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style), while his memorable opening verse on G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy" landed him nods for Best Hip Hop Video, Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), Best Club Banger and People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Ca$h Out - Off the strength of "Cashin' Out," one of the year's biggest breakthrough hip hop hits, sing-songy ATL rapper Ca$h Out looks to take home hardware in the Rookie of the Year and Best Club Banger categories. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

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Chris Robinson - Chris Robinson is competing to win Video Director of the Year for his dope visuals for Tyga's "Rack City," Nas' "Daughters" and elsewhere.  (Photo: Warner Bros Pictures)

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Common - Veteran Chicago rapper-actor Common is up for CD of the Year for The Dreamer/The Believer, which found him reuniting with super-producer No ID and creating some of his best work in years. (Photo: Emelie Andersson/WENN.com)

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Diddy - Diddy went way in with his guest verse on Future's "Same Damn Time" remix, winning a nomination for Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse — where he'll be competing with Ludacris, who also spits on the song. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

Photo By Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment

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DJ Drama - Atlanta's DJ Drama continued his reign as arguably the biggest mixtape DJ around, hosting Lil Wayne's Dedication 4 mixtape and many others — and earning a DJ of the Year nod in the process. (Photo: David Becker/WireImage)

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DJ Enuff - New York's Enuff is out for DJ of the Year after maintaining his inescapable presence on Hot 97, in clubs around the world and online with his site ThatsEnuff.com. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for Mohegan Sun)

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DJ Envy - New York's DJ Envy earned a DJ of the Year nomination after helping make Power 105's morning show, The Breakfast Club, must-listen radio. (Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images for Bacardi)

Photo By Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images

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DJ Funkmaster Flex - Funkmaster Flex is still arguably the most prominent hip-hop radio DJ in the world, holding down New York's Hot 97 and notching a nomination for DJ of the Year. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/WireImage)

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DJ Khaled - After releasing another star-studded album, Kiss the Ring, and appearing on bangers like Kanye's "Cold," Khaled is a serious contender for DJ of the Year. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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DJ Spinz - Atlanta-based beatmaker DJ Spinz is looking to take home Track of the Year for his bouncy, synth-driven production on Ca$h Out's inescapable banger "Cashin’ Out." (Photo: Facebook)

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Drake - After dropping his acclaimed sophomore album, Take Care, and continuing his reign as one of rap's busiest collaborators, Drake is up for Best Hip Hop Video, Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), Best Live Performer, CD of the Year, Best Club Banger, Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. (Photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

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Driicky Graham - North Carolina rookie Driicky Graham's out-of-nowhere smash "Snapbacks & Tattoos" is going head to head with some big names for the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. (Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images For BET

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Future - ATL rapper Future is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year with his debut album, Pluto, filled with raucous hits like "Same Damn Time," which is nominated for Club Banger of the Year. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Hit-Boy - SoCal up-and-comer Hit-Boy was nominated for Producer of the Year for his role in creating the epic, bouncy beat for The Throne's "Paris," along with Kanye West and Mike Dean. (Photo: Facebook)

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Hype Williams - Visionary lensman Hype Williams has dominated the Video Director of the Year category at the HHA for years, and in 2012, with his off-the-wall clips for Nicki Minaj, Busta and Kanye, he could prove to be victorious yet again. (Photo: John Shearer/WireImage)

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J. Cole - Tarheel State rapper-producer J. Cole, who made a chart-topping splash with his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story, is hoping for a big year at the HHAs, with nominations for Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, Producer of the Year, MVP of the Year and CD of the Year. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League - With standout productions for Rick Ross, Nas, Young Jeezy and Slaughterhouse, Tampa, Florida's J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League beatmaking crew are hoping to take home the gold for Producer of the Year. (Photo: Facebook)

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Jahlil Beats - Pennsylvania producer Jahlil Beats is looking to win Track of the Year via the riotous synth-horn blasts of Meek Mill and Rick Ross' hit "I'ma Boss."(Photo: Facebook)

Photo By Photo: Facebook

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Jay-Z - Jay-Z once again made the case that he's the best to ever do it over the past year with Watch the Throne. He's up for seven nominations individually and with Kanye: Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, MVP of the Year, Best Club Banger, Hustler of the Year, Impact Track and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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Joey Bada$ - Brooklyn teen Joey Bada$ is up for Best Mixtape, his first HHA nod, for his retro-leaning debut mixtape, 1999.   (Photo: Cinematic Music Group)

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Kanye West - After winning big over the past year with The Throne and his G.O.O.D Music crew, Kanye West is poised for another dominant year at the HHAs, where he leads all other nominees with 11 nods: Best Hip Hop Video, Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, Video Director of the Year, Producer of the Year, MVP of the Year, Best Club Banger, Hustler of the Year, Impact Track and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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Kendrick Lamar - Compton upstart Kendrick Lamar's dexterous flow on his 2011 album Section.80 and elsewhere not only earned him a deal on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment — he's also up for Lyricist of the Year at the HHAs. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Lil Wayne - Backed by his blockbuster album Tha Carter IV, fiery guest verses and stewardship of juggernaut label Young Money, Wayne pulled in four HHA nominations, for Best Hip Hop Video, Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), Best Club Banger and Hustler of the Year. (Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)

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Ludacris - Luda capped off a big comeback year with a sick verse on Future's "Same Damn Time" remix, earning himself a nod for Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse — where he'll be competing with Diddy, who also appears on the song. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Usher's New Look Foundation)

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Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)" and "B---h Bad" are nominated for Impact Track; both songs feature make-you-think bars tackling controversial subjects that are what the brand-new category is all about. (Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

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Marz - Marz is competing for Track of the Year after co-producing 2 Chainz and Drake's chart-topping hit "No Lie" with Mike Will Made It.(Photo: twitter)

Photo By Photo: twitter

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Meek Mill - With his hit "I'ma Boss" and Dreamchasers mixtapes dominating playlists all year, MMG soldier Meek Mill nabbed nominations for Rookie of the Year, Best Mixtape and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. (Photo: Vallery Jean/FilmMagic)

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Miguel - Soulman Miguel's delicate crooning on the hook for Wale's hit ballad, "Lotus Flower Bomb," earned him nominations for Best Hip Hop Video and Reese's Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo). (Photo: C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Mike Dean - Veteran boardsman Mike Dean is looking to win Track of the Year for coproducing The Throne's massive hit "Paris" along with Kanye West and Hit-Boy.  (Photo: Candice Lawler)

Photo By Photo: Candice Lawler

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Mike Will Made It - ATL beatmaker Mike Will Made It's G-Funk-meets-the-trap backdrop for 2 Chainz and Drake's smash hit "No Lie," co-produced by Marz, is competing for Track of the Year. (Photo: Facebook)

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Missy Elliott - Missy made a triumphant return to the spotlight with her beautifully sung hook on J. Cole's "Nobody's Perfect," and she's up for Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo) as a result.   (Photo: Jerritt Clark/FilmMagic)

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Nas - Queensbridge legend Nas is up for Lyricist of the Year after checking in with Life Is Good, his best album in years. The LP features the poignant "Daughters," which is nominated for the brand new Impact Track award. (Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

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Nicki Minaj - Nicki Minaj's off-the-wall signature style — heavy on neon colors and unbelievable hairstyles — earned her a nomination for the Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style). (Photo: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire)

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No I.D. - Chicago vet No I.D. is nominated for Producer of the Year for helping both Nas and Common turn in their best albums in years and also landing tracks with Slaughterhouse, Melanie Fiona and others. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Moet Rose)

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Pusha T - Pusha T stacked up nominations for Best Hip Hop Video, Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo), Best Club Banger and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon after spitting an ice-cold verse on Kanye and G.O.O.D. Music's "Mercy." (Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for VEVO)

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Rick Ross - Ross loomed large over the past year with his album God Forgives, I Don't, banging mixtape Rich Forever and Maybach Music's Self Made Vol. 2, earning nods for MVP of the Year, Best Mixtape, Hustler of the Year and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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T-Minus - Toronto producer T-Minus crafted a bass-filled, hyphy-inspired banger for Drake's "The Motto" and its remix featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

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T.I. - Tip is nominated for Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse after giving his post-prison comeback a big boost via his brolic bars on Future's "Magic" remix.  (Photo: Chris McKay/WireImage)

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The Throne - After winning big at the BET Awards this summer, Kanye West and Jay-Z earned five nominations together (Best Live Performer, CD of the Year, Impact Track, Best Club Banger and the People’s Champ Award Presented by Verizon) for their collaborative Watch the Throne album — on top of all the nods they stacked up individually. (Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage)

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Tyga - Tyga's slinky verse on the remix to Drake's "The Motto," also featuring Lil Wayne, earned him nominations for Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo) and Best Club Banger. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Wale - "Lotus Flower Bomb," Wale's seductive hit duet with Miguel, is nominated for Best Hip Hop Video and Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo) after propelling his sophomore album, Ambition, up the charts. (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images

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Wiz Khalifa - Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Allderdice, which found the Pittsburgh spitter returning to his laidback, stoner-rap roots, is up for Best Mixtape. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

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Young Jeezy - Jeezy's well-worth-the-wait TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition is a strong contender for CD of the Year. (Photo: Scott Irby Ranniar via Flickr)

Photo By Photo: Scott Irby Ranniar via Flickr