Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg will be honoured with the "I Am Hip Hop" award at BET Hip-Hop Awards FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Its that time again. The 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards are set to air in a two-hour special on 4 October. Fans can tune into the annual ceremony, which celebrates the best of hip hop at 8pm CST on BET.

The show first aired back in 2006 in Atlanta with comedian Katt Williams at the helm. This year's ceremony was taped at at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on 17 September and sees Snapchat impresario DJ Khaled play host.

Viewers who tune into the star-studded event will see Snoop Dogg receive the I Am Hip Hop award for his contribution to rap and entertainment.

Drake leads the pack for the third year in a row, racking up 14 nods in the wake of his new album Views, including the coveted best live performer and album of the year awards. Acts expected to take to the stage include Desiigner, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, and TI.

Full nominee list for nominees

Best Hip-Hop Video
2 Chainz - Watch Out
Desiigner - Panda
DJ Khaled F/ Jay Z & Future - I Got the Keys
Drake - Hotline Bling
Fat Joe & Remy Ma F/ French Montana & Infared - All the Way Up
Kanye West F/ Rihanna - Famous

Best Collabo, Duo or Group
DJ Khaled F/ Drake - For Free
DJ Khaled F/ Jay Z & Future - I Got the Keys
Drake & Future - Jumpman
Drake F/ Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Fat Joe & Remy Ma F/ French Montana & Infared - All the Way Up

Best Live Performer
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar

Lyricist of the Year
Chance the Rapper
Drake
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Colin Tilley
Director X
Hype Williams
Kanye West

DJ of the Year
DJ Drama
DJ Envy
DJ Esco
DJ Khaled
DJ Mustard

Producer of the Year
DJ Mustard
Dr. Dre
Metro Boomin
Mike WiLL Made-It
Pharrell Williams

MVP of the Year
DJ Khaled
Drake
Future
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar

Track of the Year
All the Way Up - Produced By Cool & Dre and Edsclusive (Fat Joe & Remy Ma F/ French Montana & Infared)
Controlla - Produced By BOI-1DA (Drake)
Hotline Bling - Produced By Nineteen85 (Drake)
I Got the Keys - Produced By Southside (DJ Khaled F/ Jay Z & Future)
Panda - Produced By Menace (Desiigner)

Album of the Year
DJ Khaled - I Changed A Lot
Dr. Dre - Compton
Drake - Views
Fetty Wap - Fetty Wap
Future -DS2
Kanye West - The Life of Pablo

Best New Hip-Hop Artist
Anderson .Paak
Bryson Tiller
Chance the Rapper
Desiigner
Tory Lanez

Hustler of the Year
DJ Khaled
Drake
Future
Jay Z
Kanye West

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip-Hop Style)
A$AP Rocky
Drake
Future
Kanye West
Nicki Minaj

Best Hip Hop Online Site/App
Allhiphop.Com
Complex.Com
Hotnewhiphop.Com
Worldstarhiphop.Com
XXLMag.Com

Best Mixtape
Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
French Montana - Wave Gods (Hosted By Max B)
Future - Purple Reign
Lil Uzi Vert - Lil Uzi Vert VS. The World
Young Thug - Slime Season 3

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
2 Chainz - No Problem (Chance the Rapper F/ Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
Drake - Work (Rihanna F/ Drake)
Kendrick Lamar - Freedom (Beyoncé F/ Kendrick Lamar)
Kodak Black - Lockjaw (French Montana F/ Kodak Black)
Nicki Minaj - Down In the DM - Remix (Yo Gotti F/ Nicki Minaj)

Impact Track
J. Cole - Love Yourz
Jay Z - Spiritual
Jidenna - Long Live The Chief
Raury F/ Key - Trap Tears
Sir The Baptist F/ ChuchPeople - Raise Hell

People's Champ Award
Desiigner - Panda
DJ Khaled F/ Drake - For Free
Fat Joe & Remy Ma F/ French Montana & Infared - All the Way Up
O.T. Genasis F/ Young Dolph - Cut It
Travis Scott - Antidote
Young Thug - Best Friend