LOS ANGELES: Rapper Cardi B is leading this year's MTV VMA nominations with a high 10, including the Artist of the Year and Best New Artist categories.
She is closely followed by The Carters - Beyonce and JAY-Z with eight nods for their surprise, first-ever full-length album 'Everything is Love', while Childish Gambino and Drake found recognition with seven each.
The most important category of the awards, Video of the Year saw Ariana Grande - "No Tears Left to Cry", Bruno Mars ("Finesse" remix featuring Cardi B), Camila Cabello ("Havana" featuring Young Thug), The Carters ("APES**T"), Childish Gambino ("This Is America") and Drake ("God's Plan") being nominated.
Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Camila Cabello, Drake and Post Malone were also recognised in the Artist of the Year category.
Bazzi, Chloe x Halle, Hayley Kiyoko, Lil Pump and Lil Uzi Vert bagged the nods in the Best New Artist segment.
The 2018 VMAs also saw striking a balance between male and female performers in its nomination list.
In the Best Latin category, this year's nominees are Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Jennifer Lopez, Luis Fonsi, Maluma and Shakira.
Bruno Mars' "Finesse (Remix)" featuring Cardi B, Camila Cabello's "Havana" featuring Young Thug, Drake's "God's Plan", Dua Lipa's "New Rules", Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" and Post Malone's "rockstar" featuring 21 Savage are in the run-up for the Song of the Year trophy.
A picture is worth a thousand words but the impact of a video is surpasses that of a single photograph and hence, Video With a Message category has a line-up of critically-acclaimed tracks such as Childish Gambino's "This Is America", Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges' "Liberated", Drake's "God's Plan", Janelle Monae's "PYNK", Jessie Reyez's "Gatekeeper" and Logic's "1-800-273-8255" (featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid).
The 2018 VMAs will air live from Radio City Music Hall in New York on August 20.