ATLANTA (AP) - Lil Wayne will have another chance to show why he is the "Best Rapper Alive."

Wayne received 12 nominations for the third annual BET Hip-Hop Awards, which airs on Oct. 23. The rapper scored the year's best-selling album sales debut this month, with sales of 1 million copies of his new CD, "Tha Carter III."

Kanye West drew the second-most nominations with seven, while Jay-Z received six. T.I., who was arrested hours before he was to headline the show last year, grabbed three nominations.

The network will also recognize hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons with the "I Am Hip-Hop" icon award. Simmons is known for launching Def Jam Recordings with Rick Rubin.

The show will be hosted by Katt Williams for the third straight year.

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