Artists Nominated at the NAACP Awards

The competition is fierce for the 42nd NAACP Image Awards. 50 Cent was on hand to announce the nominees earlier today in Beverly Hills, with Sade leading the music categories with four nominations, while Rihanna, Kanye West, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Willow Smith, Beyoncé, Maxwell, and Alicia Keys all nabbed nods for their respective accomplishments.

Sade, who released her critically-acclaimed Soldier of Love last year, was honored in Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Song and Music Video for “Soldier of Love,” and Outstanding Album. In the latter category, Sade is up against Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, John Legend and The Roots’ Wake Up!, and Smokey Robinson’s Now and Then.

Nicki Minaj goes head-to-head with Willow Smith for Outstanding New Artist, where they’ll duke it out against Bruno Mars, B.o.B, and Jason Derulo. Rihanna received two nods for OutstandingFemale Artist and Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration with Eminem for “Love the Way You Lie,” while Alicia Keys was honored for “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” in Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Song.

Tune in to see who takes home a statue when the winners are revealed live on March 4 at 8 p.m. on FOX.

Outstanding New Artist

• B.o.B
• Bruno Mars
• Jason Derulo
• Nicki Minaj
• Willow Smith

Outstanding Male Artist

• Cee Lo Green
• Jay-Z
• Kanye West
• Ne-Yo
• Usher

Outstanding Female Artist

• Chrisette Michele
• Corinne Bailey Rae
• Mary J. Blige
• Rihanna
• Sade

Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration

• Diddy-Dirty Money
• Eminem and Rihanna
• Herbie Hancock (feat. India.Arie, Chaka Khan, and others)
• John Legend and The Roots
• The Black Eyed Peas

Outstanding Music Video

• “Fistful of Tears” – Maxwell
• “Soldier of Love” – Sade
• “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” – Alicia Keys
• “Whip My Hair” – Willow Smith
• “Why Don’t You Love Me” – Beyoncé

Outstanding Song

• “Bittersweet” – Fantasia
• “Fistful of Tears” – Maxwell
• “Forget You” – Cee-Lo Green
• “Soldier of Love” – Sade
• “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” – Alicia Keys

Outstanding Album

• My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
• Now and Then – Smokey Robinson
• Raymond v. Raymond – Usher
• Soldier of Love – Sade
• Wake Up! – John Legend and The Roots

Janet Jackson was nominated for "Actress in a Motion Picture" and Justin Timberlake for "Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.

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