Its already upon us ladies and gentlemen. This Saturday (May 5), the Headies Award will be holding its 12th edition at the famous Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. Buy tickets now on Netshop.ng.
This years nominations came with a lot of surprises as many musicians who put in an undeniable amount of incredible work were snubbed by the award. Although this is not another rant about who should have been nominated, it is not out of line to say that award shows; either through nominations or by who eventually gets awarded, have become annual offenders. More heartbreaking is the fact that this cannot be changed as it is nearly impossible for our faves or all those we consider the best to get nominated.
That being said, we are making-do with what we have! From this years nominations, here are the nominees we think should emerge winners in some of the major categories. Every nominee as they say; deserves to win but as always there’s only going to be one winner.
Although the ultimate determinant are your votes, we predict below.
Best Recording of the Year
Nominees: Butterflies – Omawumi, Hallelujah – Funbi, Ponmile – Reminisce, Heaven – Banky W, Joromi -Simi
Who Should Win – Funbi “Hallelujah”
This is not a popularity contest. It is more like a quality contest as this award is given to a record that hits all the right notes in terms of the production, vocals, engineering, writing and the overall experience. Although Simi’s Joromi and Reminisce’s Ponmile are worthy of this win, Hallelujah by new kid on the block – Funbi ticks all the boxes. Without the advantage of a million social media followers or an established name, the song became highly known as a result of its unignorable brilliance. This is what caught the ears of the award’s panel, and should be able to ultimately earn him the plaque.
Best Pop Single
Nominees: Mad Over You – Runtown, All Over – Tiwa Savage, Yeba – Kiss Daniel, IF – Davido, Iskaba – Wande Coal, FIA – Davido
Who Should Win: Runtown – Mad Over You
By common understanding, this category aims to award the Best Popular song in the year under review. Logically, this should go to Davido for IF (because of how much popularity it amassed) or FIA (as a result of its brilliant composition and fame as well). On a second thought, Davido is nominated in almost all the major categories so it wouldn’t hurt to award the Best Pop Single to another record that is equally deserving and Runtown’s “Mad Over You” is what comes to mind.
Best Reggae/Dancehall Single
Nominees: Kiss Daniel – Sofa, 2Baba “Holy Holy”, Wizkid “Come Closer”, Burna Boy “Rock Your Body”, Timaya ft Rudeboy “Dance”, Patoranking ft Diamond Platnumz “Love You Die”,
Who Should Win – Wizkid “Come Closer”
Although it’ll make sense if Burna Boy’s Rock Your Body snatches the plaque as a compensation for repeatedly being snubbed, or for Kiss Daniel to emerge winner with his dancehall experiment Sofa, or for 2Baba to win with his sermon against self-righteousness “Holy Holy”, it is more than right that Wizkid gets this. Come Closer featuring Canadian rapper Drake was the biggest African dancehall record in the year under review. Not just for its popularity, it also passes the reggae test (sonically) and represents a major cross-over for African music.
Best R&B/Pop Album
Nominees: Wizkid “Sounds From the Other Side”, Omawumi “Timeless”, Adekunle Gold “Gold”, Simi “Simisola”, Flavour “Ijele the Traveller”, Niniola “This Is Me”
Who Should Win: Adekunle Gold – Gold
Adekunle Gold’s debut 15-track project “Gold” falls into the category of contemporary Nigerian masterpieces. One can almost forget that the Gold album was released as far back as 2016 and this is a result of its high replay value.
More than any other album on this list, it has been out the longest and boasts of no less than five stand-alone hit songs that equally pass the test of quality content.
Best Rap Album
Nominees: AQ “Rose”, Olamide “The Glory”, Phyno “The Play Maker”, Reminisce “El Hadj”, Erigga “Trip To the South”, Falz “27”
Who Should Win: Phyno – The Play Maker
Although hip-hop purists may object, it cannot be denied that Phyno’s sophomore PlayMaker album holds everything in moderation; hits, flows, and substance. His writing skills and versatility as displayed on the album makes up for everything else. If the PlayMaker album was considered hip-hop enough to get nominated in this category, then it sure deserves to win.
Best R&B Single
Nominees: Simi “Smile For Me”, Banky W “Love You Baby”, Johnny Drille “Romeo & Juliet”, Praiz “Folashade”, Maleek Berry “Let Me Know”
Who Should Win: Johnny Drille – Romeo and Juliet
Even though Simi’s “Smile For Me” and Maleek Berry’s “Let Me Know” are also vying in this category, Johnny Drille’s introspective ballad; Romeo and Juliet seems more fit to make the snatch. Romeo and Juliet is a pond of rhythm. With this record, not only did he achieve critical acclaim, he also recorded a commercial victory.
Best Collaboration
Nominees: Tiwa Savage ft Wizkid “Ma Lo”, Skales ft Burna Boy ” Temper”, Ycee ft Maleek Berry “Juice”, Wizkid ft Drake “Come Closer”, Adekunle Gold ft Simi “No Forget”
Who Should Win: Sklaes ft Burna Boy – Temper
With solid joint efforts like; Ycee and Maleek Berry’s “Juice” and the widely loved “Ma Lo” by Tiwa Savage and Wizkid, Skales and Burna Boy are definitely in for a though competition. But the degree of chemistry the two displayed on Temper, was unforeseen as every word and ad-lib, along with their respective vocal range perfectly complimented each other. Although this is not the most famous collaboration in this category, it is in almost every way the best.
Best Rap Single
Nominees: M.I Abaga “Fix Up Your Lives”, Falz ft Ycee “Something Light”, Phyno ft M.I x Burna Boy “Link Up”, Show Dem Camp ft Funbi “Up To You”, Ice Prince “Me vs Me”
Who Should Win: Phyno ft M.I x Burna Boy – Link Up
That Link Up didn’t make it to the Best Collaboration category is already a slap on the records face. Burna Boy’s eccentric hook, Phyno’s full display of wordsmith-ism and M.I Abaga’s intelligent wordplay makes it a six-course meal.
Next Rated
Nominees: Maleek Berry, Mayorkun, Dice Ailes, Zoro, Johnny Drille
Who Should Win: Mayorkun
Here comes the most coveted. The biggest contender obviously is Maleek Berry who in some ways appears to have already surpassed this category. Berry is the only nominee that has released a project (two EP’s actually) and conducted an independent international tour. Amidst his several achievements, Mayorkun seems perfect for this win because unlike Maleek, his records have major local impact which is a very important criteria in a local (Nigerian) award. Mayorkun has also held a successful Nigerian inter-university tour.
Revelation Of the Year
Nominees: Mr Eazi, Niniola, Adekunle Gold, Reekado Banks
Who Should Win: Niniola
Although nominee in this category has had an outstanding run, this appears to be a battle between Niniola and Adekunle Gold. Reekado Banks since winning the 2015 Next Rated award has been a consistent hit maker. Mr Eazi has also been having an incredible run. But singer’s; Niniola and Adekunle Gold have been trailblazer’s of sort. Adekunle Gold has released a classic album, and kept things at par with his unique urban highlife sound while Niniola who rules the Afro-house genre has continued to impress – one song at a time. This is women empowerment season so we are quite convinced that the only lady in this category will snatch the plaque.
Lyricist On the Roll
Nominees: AQ “Political Science, M.I Abaga “Fix Up Your Lives”, Boogey “Liquor Night”, Erigga “Industry Nite”
Who Should Win: M.I Abaga – You Rappers Should Fix Up Your Lives
Every song in this category ticks the box of wordplay but a song like Fix Up Your Lives carried with it, a gut and influence that no other nominated record can stand next to. Even as daring, offensive and braggadocios as M.I sounded on this record, no one questioned his lyricism because there were no loop-holes. The discourse surrounded only his audacity. This is the most influential Nigerian hip-hop record in a decade.
Best Street-Hop Artiste
Nominees: Small Doctor “Penalty”, Olamide “WO”, CDQ “Sai Baba”, Idowest ft Dammy Krane x Slim Case “Shepeteri”, Skuki “Pass the Agbara”, Mr Real “Legbegbe”
Who Should Win: Olamide – WO
Olamide might not be the originator of the wobe sound (which is the make up of every song in this category), but he was the bridge. None could tell if the now-buzzing shaku-shaku trend would have hit the mainstream without the strength of Olamide through the crossover song “WO”. This record is both influential and popular.
Best Alternative Song
Nominees: Adekunle Gold “Money”, Reminisce “Ponmile”, Nonso Amadi “Radio”, Johnny Drille “Romeo & Juliet”, Aramide ft Sound Sultan x Koker “Fun Mi Lowo Mi”, Bantu “Lagos Barbie”
Who Should Win: Reminisce – Ponmile
A satisfactory amount of consciousness and soulfulness is what Reminisce offers on Ponmile. It is the most mainstream in the alternative category.
Album Of the Year
Nominees: Adekunle Gold “Gold”, Brymo “Klitoris”, Simi “Simisola”, Flavour “Ijele”, Wizkid “Sounds From the Other Side”, Phyno “The Play Maker”
Who Should Win: Simi – Simisola
Strong contenders like; Brymo’s “Klitoris” and Adekunle Gold’s debut “Gold” album makes this a tough battle but Simi’s 2017 sophomore “Simisola” album is equally a masterpiece and again as the only woman pitted against five men in this category, she should be handed the plaque.
Artiste Of the Year
Nominees: Davido, Wizkid, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Simi
Who Should Win: Davido
How else can one explain this? Davido is credited to have the three hottest African pop songs of the year before IF, FIA and Fall. The singer also collaborated with Rapper – Yung Thug and American Trap group – Rae Sremmurd on his third release themed ‘Pere’.
He also conducted a very successful worldwide tour ’30 Billion World Tour’ and wrapped up his run with an historic homecoming concert in Lagos.
Song Of the Year
Nominees: Small Doctor “Penalty”, Olamide “WO”, Runtown “Mad Over You”, Davido “IF”, Kiss Daniel “YEBA”, Davido “FIA”
Who Should Win: Davido -IF
Immediately the song was released (February 2017), it instantly became a national anthem with both adults and children screaming ’30 Billion for the account ooo’.
Not only was it a national hit record, it also crossed the borders of the African continent scoring a remix with RnB singer – R Kelly. Over ten months have gone and IF still remains everybody’s favourite.
Best African Artiste
Nominees: Vanessa Mdee, Sarkodie, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Sauti Sol
Who Should Win: Cassper Nyovest
Cassper is a true African and his bravery is a proof of it. Since 2015, he has been on a streak of shutting down stadiums. First was a 20,000 capacity, then a 40,000 and last year, he stepped things up to 80,000. His influence surpasses music. He is a symbol of bravery. Not only does he shut-down stadiums, he is also the highest selling African rapper.
Best Performer
Nominees: Flavour, Falz, M.I, 2Baba, Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage
Who Should Win: Falz
It is known that his showmanship and stagecraft is next to none. This was well proven at his 2017 end of year concert “The Falz Experience”. His dancers, costumes, multiple characters and showmanship is never a let down.
Rookie Of the Year
Nominees: Kidi, Air Boy, Teni, Junior Boy, Peruzzi
Who Should Win: Peruzzi
The new kid on the block has already made a fantastic impression. His musical dexterity and ability to turn heads isn’t hard to notice. On his solo record “Mata” he delivered and also finds a way stand-out on every DMW joint record he features in.
Peruzzi holds the promise longevity. He’s here to stay.
#REPLAYTUNES: Here Is Our predictions For Who Should Win At The Headies Awards Tonight.
Reviewed by Unknown
on
04:10
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Reviewed by Unknown
on
04:10
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