MTV VMAs 2017 nominations: Kendrick Lamar scathing 'Humble' video leads with 8 nods

Rapper Kendrick Lamar earned a leading eight MTV Video Music Award (VMA) nominations on Tuesday for his searing critique on the excesses of fame and social media in his 'Humble' music video, while Katy Perry and The Weeknd scored five nods each.

Lamar's 'Humble' video, in which the rapper is seen lying on piles of cash, recreating Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting "The Last Supper" and with his hair on fire, will contend for video of the year, the top prize at the fan-voted, youth-orientated awards show.

Also nominated in the category is The Weeknd's "Reminder," Bruno Mars' "24K Magic," Alessia Cara's "Scars To Your Beautiful" and DJ Khaled's "Wild Thoughts" featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller.

Perry's big budget video for "Chained to the Rhythm," which saw her in a retro-futuristic theme park called Oblivia, landed four nods including best pop and visual effects and she also landed a nomination for best collaboration as a featured artist on Calvin Harris' summer track "Feels."

However, the pop singer was snubbed in the video and artist of the year categories, while The Weeknd made the shortlist for both.

The MTV Video Music Awards, which will air live from Inglewood, California on Aug. 27, has a reputation for irreverence, shock tactics and unpredictable moments.

Perry is nominated in the best collaboration category alongside her pop rival Taylor Swift, nominated for her duet with former One Direction member Zayn Malik in the video for "I Don't Wanna Live Forever."

Swift was part of one of MTV's most infamous VMA moments when in 2009, she was interrupted on stage during her acceptance speech by rapper Kanye West, who snatched the microphone out of her hand and declared that Beyonce should have won the category.

MTV moved away from gender-specific categories at its Movie Awards earlier this year and continued to do so for the Video Music Awards, swapping the former best female video and best male video categories for one category - artist of the year.

Lamar, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars will contend with Ariana Grande, Lorde and Ed Sheeran for the coveted award.

Notably absent this year are music's power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z, who did not release any new music in the eligibility period of June 25, 2016 to June 23, 2017.

Jay-Z's latest album 4:44, which gained praise for sharp social commentary including in the music video for "The Story of O.J.," missed the deadline with its June 30 release.

Here's the complete list of nominations - 

Video of the Year

Kendrick Lamar - "HUMBLE."
Bruno Mars - "24K Magic"
Alessia Cara - "Scars To Your Beautiful"
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller - "Wild Thoughts"
The Weeknd - "Reminder"

Artist of the Year

Bruno Mars
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd
Lorde

Best New Artist

Khalid
Kodak Black
SZA
Young M.A
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus

Best Collaboration

Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez - "We Don't Talk Anymore"
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller - "Wild Thoughts"
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty - "Broccoli"
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - "Closer"
Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean - "Feels"
Zayn & Taylor Swift -- "I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)"

Best Pop

Shawn Mendes - "Treat You Better"
Ed Sheeran - "Shape of You"
Harry Styles - "Sign Of The Times"
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane - "Down"
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley - "Chained to the Rythm"
Miley Cyrus - "Malibu"

Best Hip Hop

Kendrick Lamar - "HUMBLE."
Big Sean - "Bounce Back"
Chance the Rapper - "Same Drugs"
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty - "Broccoli"
Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert - "Bad & Boujee"
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne - "I'm The One"

Best Dance

Zedd and Alessia Cara - "Stay"
Kygo x Selena Gomez - "It Ain't Me"
Calvin Harris - "My Way"
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ - "Cold Water"
Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign - "Gone"

Best Rock

Coldplay - "A Head Full of Dreams" (Parlophone/Atlantic Records)
Fall Out Boy - "Young And Menace" (Island)
Twenty One Pilots - "Heavydirtysoul" (Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Records)
Green Day - "Bang Bang" (Warner Bros. Records)
Foo Fighters - "Run" (RCA Records)

Best Fight Against the System

Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson - "Black SpiderMan"
The Hamilton Mixtape - "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)" (Immigration)
Big Sean - "Light" (Race)
Alessia Cara - "Scars To Your Beautiful"
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley - "Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL" (Environment)
John Legend - "Surefire" (Immigration & Anti-Muslim hate)