BET Award for Best New Artist
The BET Award for Best New Artist is given to an artist who made their debut the previous or same year of the awards ceremony. A former group member can be nominated for the award if they have made their solo debut. For example, Omarion was a member of the hip hop quartet B2K from 2001 until 2004 and B2K had already been nominated for a BET Award for Best New Artist in 2002. Despite this, Omarion was nominated for the category in 2005 because he made his solo debut in the same year. Controversy arose when Jennifer Hudson won the award in 2007 even though her only solo release at the time was a single of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"; her first album was scheduled for release in October 2007. Willow Smith is the youngest person to be nominated for this award. Sam Smith is so far the only Caucasian artist to have won the award, winning it in 2015.
Nominees and winners
| Best New Artist | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Nominees | Result |
| 2016 | Bryson Tiller | Won |
| Alessia Cara | Nominated | |
| Andra Day | Nominated | |
| Kehlani | Nominated | |
| Tory Lanez | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Sam Smith | Won |
| Bobby Shmurda | Nominated | |
| Dej Loaf | Nominated | |
| Fetty Wap | Nominated | |
| Rae Sremmurd | Nominated | |
| Tinashe | Nominated | |
| 2014 | August Alsina | Won |
| Ariana Grande | Nominated | |
| Mack Wilds | Nominated | |
| Rich Homie Quan | Nominated | |
| ScHoolboy Q | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Kendrick Lamar | Won |
| Azealia Banks | Nominated | |
| Joey Badass | Nominated | |
| Trinidad James | Nominated | |
| The Weeknd | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Big Sean | Won |
| ASAP Rocky | Nominated | |
| Diggy | Nominated | |
| Future | Nominated | |
| Meek Mill | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Wiz Khalifa | Won |
| Willow Smith | Nominated | |
| J. Cole | Nominated | |
| Bruno Mars | Nominated | |
| Miguel | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Nicki Minaj | Won |
| Justin Bieber | Nominated | |
| Melanie Fiona | Nominated | |
| Wale | Nominated | |
| Young Money | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Keri Hilson | Won |
| Kid Cudi | Nominated | |
| Ryan Leslie | Nominated | |
| M.I.A. | Nominated | |
| Jazmine Sullivan | Nominated | |
| 2008 | The-Dream | Won |
| Estelle | Nominated | |
| Flo Rida | Nominated | |
| Chrisette Michelle | Nominated | |
| Soulja Boy Tell 'Em | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Jennifer Hudson | Won |
| Lupe Fiasco | Nominated | |
| Gnarls Barkley | Nominated | |
| Mims | Nominated | |
| Corinne Bailey Rae | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Chris Brown | Won |
| Ne-Yo | Nominated | |
| Rihanna | Nominated | |
| Paul Wall | Nominated | |
| Chamillionaire | Nominated | |
| 2005 | John Legend | Won |
| Fantasia | Nominated | |
| The Game | Nominated | |
| Ciara | Nominated | |
| Omarion | Nominated | |
| 2004 | Kanye West | Won |
| Pharrell | Nominated | |
| Ruben Studdard | Nominated | |
| Anthony Hamilton | Nominated | |
| Chingy | Nominated | |
| 2003 | 50 Cent | Won |
| Floetry | Nominated | |
| Heather Headley | Nominated | |
| Sean Paul | Nominated | |
| Justin Timberlake | Nominated | |
| 2002 | Alicia Keys | Won |
| Craig David | Nominated | |
| B2K | Nominated | |
| Tweet | Nominated | |
| Ashanti | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Nelly | Won |
| Lil' Bow Wow | Nominated | |
| Musiq | Nominated | |
| Jill Scott | Nominated | |
| India.Arie | Nominated | |
Statistics
BET Best New Artist Nominees/Winners who won or earned nominations for the Best New Artist Grammy Award:
- 2015 Grammys: Sam Smith (winner),
- 2012 Grammys: J. Cole (nominee), Nicki Minaj (nominee)
- 2011 Grammys: Justin Bieber (nominee)
- 2010 Grammys: Keri Hilson (nominee)
- 2009 Grammys: Jazmine Sullivan (nominee)
- 2007 Grammys: Corinne Bailey Rae (nominee), Chris Brown (nominee)
- 2006 Grammys: John Legend (winner), Ciara (nominee)
- 2005 Grammys: Kanye West (nominee)
- 2004 Grammys: 50 Cent (nominee), Sean Paul (nominee), Heather Headley (nominee)
- 2003 Grammys: Ashanti (nominee)
- 2002 Grammys: India.Arie (nominee), Alicia Keys (winner)
- 2001 Grammys: Jill Scott (nominee)