T-Pain leads this year’s 2008 BET Awards. The “Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin)” rapper earned five nominations when this year’s honorees were announced on Thursday.

“T-Pain is everywhere,” BET Executive Vice President Stephen Hill told The Associated Press. “He’s had a great year; he’s introduced a new element. He’s got five nominations.”

“Besides being the best black awards show that we have, also being one of the best awards show period, their ratings are through the roof,” says Nelly, who is set to perform at the live awards show. “They’re tuning in – black, white, Japanese, Chinese – you got it, they’re tuning in, which says a lot.”

The BET Awards will be presented in Los Angeles on June 24th.