Kanye Gets Another Chance to Be a Jackass

It's safe to say the 2009 BET Hip-Hop Awards will be getting a little more media attention than usual this year after giving Kanye West another opportunity (nine, actually) to let the world know, in true jackass fashion, how much better Beyoncé is than everyone else.

It's probably also safe to say that Taylor Swift will not be among the viewers tuning into the ceremony. Unless the country kitten has a stronger taste for schadenfreude than we thought.

But what started as one of West's worst weeks ever has taken a turn for the better thanks to some oddly timed positive reinforcement from BET, who this morning gave the controversy king a leading nine nominations for next month's Hip-Hop Awards.

Following on his egomaniacal heels are Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, who scored seven nods apiece, and T.I., who landed six. DJ AM also scored a posthumous nod for DJ of the Year.

West's nominations include Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, Producer of the Year, MVP of the Year, Interrupter of the Year and CD of the Year for 808 & Heartbreak.

Also making the cut are Eminem, Busta Rhymes, John Legend, Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy and Rihanna, who, thanks to her "Live Your Life" collaboration with T.I., is the show's only female nominee.

The song netted her joint nods for Best Hip-Hop Video, Track of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Collabo (their shorthand, not ours).

Meanwhile, Ice Cube will be the recipient of this year's I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award, the ceremony's lifetime achievement equivalent. This year also sees the introduction of two new categories for the show, the Made-You-Look Award, honoring best style, and the Best Hip-Hop Blog Site.

Mike Epps hosts the shindig on Oct. 27.

Here's the complete list of nominees:

Best Hip-Hop Collaboration

• "Pop Champagne," Jim Jones & Ron Browz feat. Juelz Santana
• "Mrs. Officer," Lil Wayne feat. Bobby Valentino
• "Magnificent," Rick Ross feat. John Legend
• "Live Your Life," T.I. feat. Rihanna
• "Put On," Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West

Best Live Performer

• Busta Rhymes
• Jay-Z
• Lil Wayne
• T.I.
• Kanye West

Lyricist

• Drake
• Eminem
• Jay-Z
• Lil Wayne
• Kanye West

Video Director

• Gil Green
• Anthony Mandler
• Mr. Boomtown
• Chris Robinson
• Hype Williams

Producer

• Ron Browz
• Cool & Dre
• Tha Bizness
• T-Pain
• Kanye West

Track

• "Day 'N' Nite," Kid Cudi
• "D.O.A. (Death of Auto Tune)," Jay-Z
• "Every Girl," Young Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Jae Mills, Gudda Gudda & Mack Maine)
• "Live Your Life," T.I. feat. Rihanna
• "Turn My Swag On," Soulja Boy Tell'Em

CD

• Relapse, Eminem
• The Renaissance, Q-Tip
• Paper Trail, T.I.
• 808 & Heartbreak, Kanye West
• The Recession, Young Jeezy

Rookie of the Year

• B.O.B.
• Dorrough
• Drake
• Kid Cudi
• Wale

Best Hip-Hop Video

• "Ice Cream Paint Job," Dorrough
• "We Made You," Eminem
• "D.O.A. (Death of Auto Tune)," Jay-Z
• "Day 'N' Nite," Kid Cudi
• "Live Your Life," T.I. feat. Rihanna

MVP

• Drake
• Jay-Z
• Lil Wayne
• T.I.
• Kanye West

DJ

• DJ AM
• DJ Drama
• DJ Khaled
• DJ Tony Neal
• DJ Greg Street

Hustler

• Diddy
• Drake
• Jay-Z
• Lil Wayne
• Kanye West

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip-Hop Style)

• Jay-Z
• Kid Cudi
• Lil Wayne
• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• Kanye West

Best Hip-Hop Blog Site

• All Hip Hop
• Nah Right
• SOHH
• This Is 50
• World Star Hip Hop

People's Champ (Viewers Choice)

• "Ice Cream Paint Job," Dorrough
• "Throw It In the Bag," Fabolous feat. The-Dream
• "Day 'N' Nite," Kid Cudi
• "Turn My Swag On," Soulja Boy Tell'em
• "Amazing," Kanye West feat. Young Jeezy