Nothing gets my goat quicker than the announcement of award nominations. It seems like the older I get, the more I realize how much awards are based on political considerations and not based on actual talent or even common sense. To wit-the nominations for the BET Awards were announced this week. Most of the nominations go according to what you’d typically expect for a BET-endorsed award show-Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and Beyonce are among the key nominees-hell, it seems like they’re among the key nominees EVERY year. However, there are always the head-scratchers. I don’t know if in this case they just provide a picture of how lousy R&B and hip-hop have gotten recently, or if it’s just a function of the BET powers that be making dumb decisions. Or being paid to make dumb decisions.

*Chris Brown’s “Graffiti” was a commercial and critical failure. Jaheim and R. Kelly have won the Best Male R&B artist category before. Both have won. Why is neither man nominated? And where’s Robin Thicke? I believe that he and Usher are the only male singers to have a #1 single on the R&B charts this year. Now, here’s the million dollar question. Rihanna’s nominated for two awards. Is BET angling for drama by potentially having CB and Ri-Ri in the Shrine Auditorium at the same time?

*What’s the point of having a Best Female Rapper category anymore? First of all, we all know that everyone’s dick riding on Nicki Minaj. Secondly, how does Lil Kim score a nomination when she hasn’t released an album in five years?

*Much as I like B.O.B., didn’t he come out, like, yesterday? How does he get nominated for Best Male Rapper? And, um…I don’t particularly care for the dude, but shouldn’t Lil’ Wayne be somewhere among the nominees?

*Why have a Best Group category? Do R&B groups even exist anymore?

*Justin Bieber? Best new artist? Seriously? Looks like BET is trying to get some of that crossover money. Either that or Usher paid for Justin’s nomination. My raised eyebrow over the nomination has absolutely nothing to do with Justin’s race (although, to be fair, this *is* the Black Entertainment Television awards show) and everything to do with the fact that Justin isn’t an R&B or hip-hop artist. Amy Winehouse nominated for a BET Award? No problem. Justin Timberlake? Robin Thicke? Eminem? Even Lady GaGa? Cool. But Justin Bieber? REALLY???

Check out the full list of nominees after the jump.

Best Female R&B Artist
» Beyoncé
» Mary J. Blige
» Melanie Fiona
» Alicia Keys
» Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
» Chris Brown
» Raheem DeVaughn
» Maxwell
» Trey Songz
» Usher

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
» Ester Dean
» Lil Kim
» Nicki Minaj
» Rasheeda
» Trina

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
» B.o.B
» Drake
» Fabolous
» Jay-Z
» Ludacris

Best New Artist
» Justin Bieber
» Melanie Fiona
» Nicki Minaj
» Wale
» Young Money

Best Gospel
» The Anointed Pace Sisters
» Kirk Franklin Presents: Artists United for Haiti
» Tamela Mann
» Marvin Sapp
» Vickie Winans

Best Group
» Black Eyed Peas
» Clipse
» Diddy-Dirty Money
» New Boyz
» Young Money

Best Collaboration
» Beyoncé (featuring Lady Gaga) – “Video Phone”
» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) – Nothin’ on You
» Drake and Trey Songz – “Successful”
» Drake (featuring Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Eminem) – “Forever”
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
» Trey Songz (featuring Fabolous) – “Say Aah”

Video Director of the Year
» Benny Boom
» Gil Green
» Anthony Mandler
» Chris Robinson
» Hype Williams

Video of the Year
» Beyoncé (featuring Lady Gaga) – “Video Phone”
» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) – Nothin’ on You
» Melanie Fiona – “It Kills Me”
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
» Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West – “Run This Town”

Best Actress
» Taraji P. Henson
» Regina King
» Mo’Nique
» Zoe Saldana
» Gabourey Sidibe

Best Actor
» Quinton Aaron
» Don Cheadle
» Idris Elba
» Jamie Foxx
» Denzel Washington

Best Movie
» “Avatar”
» “Law Abiding Citizen”
» “Michael Jackson’s This Is It”
» “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
» “The Blind Side”

Young Stars Award
» Selena Gomez
» Lil JJ
» Keke Palmer
» Willow Smith
» Tyler James Williams

Subway Sportswoman of the Year
» Tamika Catchings
» Vanessa James
» Candace Parker
» Serena Williams
» Venus Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year
» Carmelo Anthony
» Usain Bolt
» Kobe Bryant
» LeBron James
» Tiger Woods

Viewer’s Choice
» Beyoncé – “Sweet Dreams”
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
» Monica – “Everything to Me”
» Rihanna (featuring Young Jeezy) – “Hard”
» Trey Songz (featuring Fabolous) – “Say Aah”
» Young Money (featuring Lloyd) – “Bedrock”

Best International Act
» Kojo Antwi (Ghana)
» Chipmunk (U.K.)
» Dizzee Rascal (U.K.)
» Estelle (U.K.)
» Hip Hop Pantsula (South Africa)
» K’NAAN (Somalia)
» M.I. (Nigeria)
» P-Square (Nigeria)
» Corinne Bailey Rae (U.K.)
» Sade (U.K.)

Centric Award
» Melanie Fiona
» Maxwell
» Chrisette Michele
» Monica
» Sade