The BET Award for Best New Artist is given to an artist who made their debut the previous or same year of the awards ceremony. A former group member can be nominated for the award if they have made their solo debut. Controversy arose when Jennifer Hudson won the award in 2007 even though her only solo release at the time was a single of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"; her first album was scheduled for release in October 2007. Sam Smith is so far the only Caucasian artist to have won the award, winning it in 2015.
Winners and nominees Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
Grammy Award for Best New Artist winning artist – † Grammy Award for Best New Artist nominated artist – ‡
Award Milestone
Nelly became the Inaugural winner of this award in 2001
Sam Smith became the first and only non-black person to win the Award in 2015. They also became the first Non -American to Win this.
Tyla became the first African to win this award in 2024.
2000s Year Artist Ref 2001 Nelly India Arie ‡ Lil' Bow Wow Musiq Jill Scott ‡ 2002 Alicia Keys † Ashanti ‡ B2K Craig David Tweet 2003 50 Cent ‡ Floetry Heather Headley ‡ Sean Paul ‡ Justin Timberlake 2004 Kanye West ‡ Chingy Anthony Hamilton Ruben Studdard Pharrell Williams 2005 John Legend † Ciara ‡ Fantasia The Game Omarion 2006 Chris Brown ‡ Chamillionaire Ne-Yo Rihanna Paul Wall 2007 Jennifer Hudson Corinne Bailey Rae ‡ Gnarls Barkley Lupe Fiasco Mims 2008 The-Dream Estelle Flo Rida Chrisette Michele Soulja Boy 2009 Keri Hilson ‡ Kid Cudi Ryan Leslie M.I.A. Jazmine Sullivan ‡
2010s Year Artist Ref 2010 Nicki Minaj ‡ Justin Bieber ‡ Melanie Fiona Wale Young Money 2011 Wiz Khalifa J. Cole ‡ Bruno Mars Miguel Willow Smith 2012 Big Sean ASAP Rocky Diggy Future Meek Mill 2013 Kendrick Lamar ‡ Joey Badass Azealia Banks Trinidad James The Weeknd 2014 August Alsina Ariana Grande Rich Homie Quan ScHoolboy Q Mack Wilds 2015 Sam Smith † Dej Loaf Fetty Wap Bobby Shmurda Rae Sremmurd Tinashe 2016 Bryson Tiller Alessia Cara † Andra Day Kehlani Tory Lanez 2017 Chance the Rapper † 21 Savage Cardi B Khalid ‡ Young M.A 2018 SZA ‡ GoldLink A Boogie wit da Hoodie H.E.R. ‡ Daniel Caesar 2019 Lil Baby Blueface City Girls Juice Wrld Queen Naija
2020s Year Artist Ref 2020 Roddy Ricch DaniLeigh Lil Nas X ‡ Pop Smoke Summer Walker YBN Cordae 2021 Giveon Coi Leray Flo Milli Jack Harlow Latto ‡ Pooh Shiesty 2022 Latto ‡ Baby Keem ‡ Benny the Butcher Bleu Muni Long ‡ Tems 2023 Coco Jones ‡ Ambré Doechii ‡ FLO GloRilla Ice Spice ‡ Lola Brooke 2024 Tyla 41 4Batz Ayra Starr BossMan Dlow Fridayy October London Sexyy Red 2025 Leon Thomas ‡ Ayra Starr BigXthaPlug BossMan Dlow Dee Billz 41 October London Shaboozey ‡Teddy Swims ‡ 2026 Olivia Dean † Belly Gang Kushington Destin Conrad Jaydon Kwn Miles Minnick Monaleo Raye ‡ Trap Dickey
References