Hustler of the Year? Alabama’s Yung Bleu up for two BET Hip Hop Awards

Alabama rapper Yung Bleu is nominated in two categories at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards, including the superstar-heavy “Hustler of the Year” race.

The nominations were announced Thursday afternoon. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion tied for most nominations, with nine each, and Drake had eight.

Yung Bleu, who is from Mobile, made waves in 2020 with a collaboration featuring Drake, then hit the Billboard charts again in 2021 with the album “Moon Boy.” While it’s far from being his first album, the breakthrough landed him among BET’s candidates for Best New Hip Hop Artist. The other nominees are Blxst, Coi Leray, Don Toliver, Morray and Pooh Shiesty.

The competition appears heavier in the Hustler of the Year category, where Yung Bleu’s fellow nominees include Cardi B, Drake, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and Saweetie. Several of them are household names, but there’s no denying Yung Bleu’s work ethic: A prolific series of albums and mixtapes preceded his so-called debut with “Moon Boy,” and he’s an independent artist who has capitalized on streaming and social media exposure.

In the top categories, Artist of the Year nominees are Cardi B, Drake, J. Cole, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and Tyler, the Creator. Album of the Year nominees are Moneybagg Yo’s “A Gangsta’s Pain;” Tyler, the Creator’s “Call Me If You Get Lost;” Migos’ “Culture III;” Megan Thee Stallion’s “Good News;” DJ Khaled’s “Khaled Khaled;” J. Cole’s “The Off-Season;” and the 21 Savage-Metro Boomin collaboration “Savage Mode II.”

The awards will be broadcast Oct. 5.