NELLY - NELLY AND MISSY ELLIOT TOP BET AWARDS

Hip-hop stars MISSY ELLIOTT, ERYKAH BADU and NELLY have each received three nominations for the third annual BLACK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK (BET) AWARDS.

Comedian MO'NIQUE will host next month's (JUN03) event, which will feature performances by JAMES BROWN, DONNIE McCLURKIN, YOLANDA ADAMS, INDIA.ARIE, 50 CENT and SNOOP DOGG.

LIL' KIM, who has been nominated for best female hip-hop artist, believes the awards also highlight the importance of women in music.

She says, "When you're a female you do have to prove yourself, unfortunately. I feel like women are coming up and I thank God that we're able to be recognised for our talent in this game and not just for our bodies."

The ceremony will take place on 24 June (03) at the KODAK THEATER in Hollywood, California.

The list of music nominees in full:

BEST GROUP

B2K

The Roots

Mary Mary

Floetry

Clipse

BEST MALE R'n'B ARTIST

Ginuwine

Justin Timberlake

R. Kelly

Jaheim

Musiq

BEST FEMALE R'n'B ARTIST

Erykah Badu

India.Arie

Heather Headley

Amerie

Vivian Green

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Lose Yourself - Eminem

Work It - Missy Elliott

Love of My Life - Erykah Badu/Common

Girlfriend - B2K

Hot in Herre - Nelly

BEST MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Jay-Z

50 Cent

Snoop Dogg

Eminem

Baby

Nelly

BEST FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Trina

Missy Elliott

Lil' Kim

Ms Jade

Eve

BEST NEW ARTIST

Sean Paul

Heather Headley

50 Cent

Floetry

Justin Timberlake

BEST COLLABORATION

Dilemma - Nelly featuring Kelly

03 Bonnie + Clyde - Jay-Z featuring Beyonce

Gossip Folks - Missy Elliott featuring Ludacris + Ms Jade

Beautiful - Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams

Love Of My Life - Erykah Badu featuring Common