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. For example, Omarion was a member of the hip hop quartet B2K from 2001 until 2004 and B2K had already been nominated for a BET Award for Best New Artist in 2002. Despite this, Omarion was nominated for the category in 2005 because he made his solo debut in the same year. 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. Willow Smith is the youngest person to be nominated for this award.
| Best New Artist | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2011 | Wiz Khalifa | Willow Smith J. Cole Bruno Mars Miguel |
| 2010 | Nicki Minaj | Justin Bieber Melanie Fiona Wale Young Money |
| 2009 | Keri Hilson | Kid Cudi Ryan Leslie M.I.A. Jazmine Sullivan |
| 2008 | The-Dream | Estelle Flo Rida Chrisette Michelle Soulja Boy Tell 'Em |
| 2007 | Jennifer Hudson | Lupe Fiasco Gnarls Barkley Mims Corinne Bailey Rae |
| 2006 | Chris Brown | Ne-Yo Rihanna Paul Wall Chamillionaire |
| 2005 | John Legend | Fantasia The Game Ciara Omarion |
| 2004 | Kanye West | Pharrell Ruben Studdard Anthony Hamilton Chingy |
| 2003 | 50 Cent | Floetry Heather Headley Sean Paul Justin Timberlake |
| 2002 | Alicia Keys | Craig David B2K Tweet Ashanti |
| 2001 | Nelly | Lil' Bow Wow Musiq Jill Scott India.Arie |