Rihanna and Drake both lead the MTV Video Music Awards 2012 with five nominations apiece.

The Bajan beauty will take on the rapper for the Video of the Year prize after her 'We Found Love' video got a nod, and the pair are also up for the accolade thanks to Drake's hit 'Take Care', which features the 24-year-old singer.

The pair face stiff competition in the category from Gotye, M.I.A. and Katy Perry, who is second in the nominations list with four nods.

Coldplay and M.I.A. have three apiece and British pop stars The Wanted are one of a handful of acts who have gained their first nod.

The boy band have been nominated for Best Artist along with 'Call Me Maybe' singer Carly Rae Jepsen and Frank Ocean, who have both scored their first ever nominations at the event.

The awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on September 7, and feature performances from One Direction and Alicia Keys.

MTV Video Music Awards 2012, full list of nominations:

Video of the Year:

Katy Perry, 'Wide Awake'

Gotye, 'Somebody That I Used To Know'

Rihanna, 'We Found Love'

Drake feat. Rihanna, 'Take Care'

M.I.A., 'Bad Girls'

Best New Artist:

Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, 'We Are Young'

Carly Rae Jepsen, 'Call Me Maybe'

Frank Ocean, 'Swim Good'

One Direction, 'What Makes You Beautiful'

The Wanted, 'Glad You Came'

Best Hip-Hop Video:

Childish Gambino, 'Heartbeat'

Drake feat. Lil Wayne, 'HYFR'

Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, 'Mercy'

Watch The Throne, 'Paris'

Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz, 'Beez in the Trap'

Best Male Video:

Justin Bieber, 'Boyfriend'

Frank Ocean, 'Swim Good'

Drake feat. Rihanna, 'Take Care'

Chris Brown, 'Turn Up the Music'

Usher, 'Climax'

Best Female Video:

Rihanna, 'We Found Love'

Katy Perry, 'Part of Me'

Beyoncé, 'Love on Top'

Nicki Minaj, 'Starships'

Selena Gomez & The Scene, 'Love You Like a Love Song'

Best Pop Video:

One Direction, 'What Makes You Beautiful'

Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, 'We Are Young'

Rihanna, 'We Found Love'

Justin Bieber, 'Boyfriend'

Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, 'Payphone'

Best Rock Video:

Coldplay, 'Paradise'

The Black Keys, 'Lonely Boy'

Linkin Park, 'BURN IT DOWN'

Jack White, 'Sixteen Saltines'

Imagine Dragons, 'It's Time'

Best Electronic Dance Music Video:

Duck Sauce, 'Big Bad Wolf'

Calvin Harris, 'Feel So Close'

Skrillex, 'First of the Year (Equinox)'

Martin Solveig, 'The Night Out'

Avicii, 'Le7els'

Best Video With a Message:

Demi Lovato, 'Skyscraper'

Rise Against, 'Ballad of Hollis Brown'

Kelly Clarkson, 'Dark Side'

Gym Class Heroes, 'The Fighter'

K'Naan feat. Nelly Furtado, 'Is Anybody Out There?'

Lil Wayne, 'How to Love'

Best Art Direction:

Katy Perry, 'Wide Awake'

Drake feat. Rihanna, 'Take Care'

Lana Del Rey, 'Born to Die'

Regina Spektor, 'All the Rowboats'

Of Monsters & Men, 'Little Talks'

Best Choreography:

Chris Brown, 'Turn Up the Music'

Rihanna, 'Where Have You Been'

Beyoncé, 'Countdown'

Avicii, 'Le7els'

Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull, 'Dance Again'

Best Cinematography:

M.I.A., 'Bad Girls'

Adele, 'Someone Like You'

Drake feat. Rihanna, 'Take Care'

Coldplay feat. Rihanna, 'Princess of China'

Lana Del Rey, 'Born to Die'

Best Direction:

M.I.A., 'Bad Girls'

Duck Sauce, 'Big Bad Wolf'

Coldplay feat. Rihanna, 'Princess of China'

Frank Ocean, 'Swim Good'

Watch the Throne, 'Otis'

Best Editing:

Beyoncé, 'Countdown'

A$AP Rocky, 'Goldie'

Gotye, 'Somebody That I Used to Know'

Watch the Throne, 'Paris'

Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean and 2 Chainz, 'Mercy'

Best Visual Effects:

Katy Perry, 'Wide Awake'

Rihanna, 'Where Have You Been'

David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, 'Turn Me On'

Linkin Park, 'BURN IT DOWN'