By Nike Fagbule
Things are not the same…..
‘This is our time; the last theme song was produced by old artistes‘, WizKid told project coordinators of The Headies on May 25 when he was contacted as one of the artistes to produce this year’s theme song. May 25? My thoughts exactly. Is that not supposed to be the month of the headies? Ahem! And why Headies? Thought Hip-Hop World Awards was the only awards ceremony that happened in this part of the world in May?
A year ago, we referred to the annual urbane music awards as Hip Hop World Awards, but so many things have changed since then! Don’t be surprised, Nigeria’s biggest music awards ceremony is undergoing a number of changes!
Why Headies?
Pass me the headie headie, pass me the headie! The voice on radio urges. Wow, it is gradually becoming a household name I thought
It was just a matter of time. Everyone in house has been calling the award- The Headies for more than five years; the transformation from Hip Hop World Awards to The Headies is a plus on the organizers’ part according to Animashaun who founded the awards in 2006.
He says ‘It helps us place proper focus on the prize, which is the plaque; the headies; the prize to die for‘.
Gradually becoming a house hold name amongst industry players, artistes and fans, one question that comes to fore is- Can the fans relate the headies to Hip Hop World Awards?
Heady Plaque
The Headie plaque represents the image and the yell of a young, vibrant man whose talent can challenge that of Nas, Modenine, Kanye West, Sound Sultan and Jay Z combined but who has almost lost confidence in his abilities in the face of daunting odds presented by the Nigerian environment.
A total of twenty plaques (called headie) made up of 21 carat gold will be given out to deserving music industry professionals whose works have been screened by a team of select critics and practitioners commissioned by the organizers.
The Headie plaque is designed by ACE Awards in England, an international awards, plaques and trophies manufacturing company. Over the years they have manufactured the plaques of many notable awards such as the Grammys.
The Hosts
This year’s hosts eLDee and Rita Dominic were formally announced in July 2011. Rita Dominic has an unrepentant love for the Entertainment industry. She has starred in more than 100 movies since she started her career in 1998. Paired with Rita Dominic to take the audience through this year’s event is Osun State born Lanre Dabiri popularly known as eLDee. Dabiri is an original member of the band Trybesmen. With four albums to his credit, eLDee has over the years become a force to reckon with in the music industry. Past hosts of the awards include Darey Art Alade (2006), Dbanj and Tana (2007), Dakore Egbuson and Basket mouth (2008), Banky W and Kemi Adetiba (2009), Voice of God (2010).
The Nominees
In all fifty eight (58) artistes battle to win a desirable ‘Headie’ this year
The nominees for the annual urban music awards were announced on August 2, 2011 via the official website www.theheadies.com, and on the Beat 99.9 FM by Radio personality Oreka Godis.
Chocolate City scored a remarkable 15 nomination including nine nominations for Ice Prince (Song of the year, Producer of the year, Best Rap Single for Oleku and She and my Swagga, Lyricist on the roll,’Best Collabo’ for Oleku and Joor Oh Remix, ‘Next Rated’ and ‘Best street hop’ for Joor Oh Remix), Five nominations for M.I (Artiste of the year, Album of the year, Best Collabo, Best Conscious music and lyricist on the roll) while Jesse Jagz has two nominations for Producer of the Year and Hiphopworld revelation of the year.
Mo’Hits Records yet again got thumbs up from members of the Headies screening committee with six nominations for Dr. Sid in ‘Album of the Year, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Pop single’, ‘Best RNB/ Pop album’, ‘Producer of the Year’ and ‘Revelation of the Year’ categories. D’banj follows closely with nominations for ‘Artiste of the Year’, Cong of the year (Give it to me and Pop something), ‘Pop Single’ and ‘Producer of the Year’; D’Prince has two nominations for ‘Best Pop Single’ and ‘Song of the Year’ while Don Jazzy is nominated for ‘Producer of the Year’. In all Mo’Hits Records is up for 10 nominations at this year’s Headies.
Soul Muzik‘s Darey was also recognized by The Headies screening committee as he scores six nominations in ‘Artiste of the year’, ‘Best RNB/ Pop Album, ‘Best RnB Single’, ‘Producer of the Year’, ‘Recording of the Year’ and ‘Best male vocal Performance’. Following in the footsteps of mentor Banky W, ‘EME Record’s Wizkid gets a first time nomination in ‘Next Rated’, ‘Best Pop Single’, ‘Best Music Video’ and ‘Producer of the Year’ categories.
Other new comers to the list include Kas (Song of the year, Best Pop single), oLamide (Best Music Video, Rap Single, Street Hop and Next rated), Samklef (Producer of the year, StreetHop), Gini (Best Music Video), J Sleek (Producer of the year), Flavour (Best Collabo and Best RNB Single) Tiwa Savage ( Next Rated and Best Female Vocal performance), Lynxx (Revelation of the year), Vector (Lyricist on the roll), Goldie (Best Music Video and collabo of the year), Wizboyy (Street Hop), Essence (Best Collabo) and Patrick Ellis (Best Music Video).
Other usual suspects like Waje (Best RNB single and Best Female Vocal performance), Mo’Cheddah (Best Music Video and Revelation of the year), Eva (Best Female Vocal performance and recording of the year), Modenine (Lyricist on the roll), Terry Tha Rapman (Best Rap Single, Best Rap album and Lyricist on the roll) Timi Dakolo (Best conscious music, Producer of the year and Best Male vocal performance) also make the nominees list for the highly coveted awards. As usual 2face makes his mark on The Headies list as he attains seven nominations in the ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Artiste of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Producer of the Year’, ‘Best RnB Single’, ‘Best Conscious Music’ and ‘Best RnB / Pop Album’ categories.
New category
A new category was included in 2011, and this has increased the number of artistes eligible for the headies, as eLDee, M.I, Omawumi, Timi Dakolo and 2face make their first entry into the ‘Best Conscious Music’ category.
Theme Song
This year’s awards has been tagged ‘Stand Out, Surpass, Break from the Norm‘ making the list of talents to reinforce the message of the theme this year are Waje, Illbliss, Ice Prince and Wizkid.
The Headies theme song was produced by Samklef. The 3 minutes 43 seconds song was released on Tuesday July 12, 2011 on ‘The Beat Morning Rush with Olisa and Oreka‘.
Performers
The Headies is not all about rewarding talents. Organizers released a list of artistes who will be thrilling guests and delivering series of remarkable performances at the upcoming event. They include Sir Shina Peters, Banky W, M.I, Ice Prince, Brymo, Tiwa Savage, Sound Sultan, Flavour and Dr. Sid.
Others include Omawumi, Waje, Muna and Olamide
Presenters
To present the headie to those who will be named winners at this year’s awards ceremony are renowned individuals who are grounded in what they do. They will cut across different industries, be it comedy, music, TV, Nollywood, media all the way to radio.
Top on the list: Kate Henshaw, Nse Ikpe Etim, Omoni Oboli, Daniel Amokachi, Deji Awokoya, IK Osakioduwa, Joseph Benjamin, Obi Asika and Funke Kuti. This year’s list of presenters accommodates personalities from M-NET Africa‘s esteemed soap operas- Tinsel and Jacob’s Cross. Cast members Matilda Obaseki, Gideon Okeke and Kendra will make their debut at the 6th edition of the Headies.
Others include Toni Payne, Matse, Dan Foster, Weird MC, Djinee, Kefee, Lara George, Olu Maintain, Kween, Yinka Davies and Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage: A regular name on the Headies list!
If by just being a nominee, guest presenter and performer, you could cart home three headie plaques, Miss Savage will need an extra hand after the show on Saturday October 22, 2011
Clothiers
Bolaji Animashaun will be working with the awards team this year. She is in charge of styling the Hip TV reporters as well as the hosts.
Venue
This year’s edition will hold at the New Ekpo Hall Eko Hotel. This is the second time the venue will play host to the headies. Past venues include Muson Centre (2006 & 2007), Planet One, Maryland (2008), International Conference Centre (2009) and Eko Hotel (2010).
Change has to change again!
Known for daring to achieve the seemingly impossible, Hip hop World Awards has over the years set new standards and has been able to carve a niche in an industry where mediocrity reigned supreme. And fortunately, it often happens that the ambitious but painstakingly executed experiments embarked upon usually work out. This is why more than a decade after the magazine first hit news shelves, there has been a number of remarkable events and achievements that highlight the power of possibilities. It is no wonder the awards has not only been considered as the best organized awards, but as the most credible music awards in Nigeria.
Possible Winners
Tiwa Savage, Olamide, WizKid, Ice Prince, Vector, Darey, MI, 2face, Asa, WizKid, Clarence Peters, Dr. Sid, Waje and Don Jazzy….. Did we forget Mode 9? You too can predict who you think will win what.
Red Carpet
Nominees, artistes, invitees and special guests will be treated to a red carpet reception from 7pm after which the event will kick off. The red carpet activities will be aired live on STV, HipTV and TVC.
Partners
Organized by Smooth Promotions this year’s event is in Partnership with Hip TV, KFC, Arik Air, Best Western, Nigerian Entertainment Today, LASAA, The Beat 99.9, STV, Wazobia FM and Rhythm FM. Other Partners include TVC and BlackHouse Media
What to expect?
As the massive red carpet rolls out at the sixth edition of Hip hop world awards, it’ll not just be a platform for celebs and their dates to stroll and sashay and rock and roll; It will also be a night of fun, it will be a tribute to all the artistes who have worked hard to have their voices heard; the power of possibilities, and the ‘can do’ spirit that propels Nigeria’s biggest urbane music awards. When D banj performed at the maiden edition of the awards, he had a towel on and a brigade band in tow. He surprised all and shocked many. Remember 9ice with his native attire on stage in 2009? What will rule the night this year? Fingers crossed…
Live Broadcast
The headies red carpet will be available to a potential viewing audience via STV, AIT and HIP TV. In addition, its convergent programming and content will reach the entire interactive online community.
Who gets the SUV?
The ‘Next Rated’ category is regarded by many as its most famous category. It is the only category that has a prize attached to it and is aimed at rewarding the most promising upcoming officially unreleased act in the year under review. The first two editions saw Asa and Overdose win the Next Rated award respectively with monetary prizes affixed to their trophies. It was in 2008 that a brand new car was attached to the category. That year Wande Coal went home with a brand new Hyundai Sonata after he won the Next Rated category. The following years, Omawumi and Skuki took the keys to a new Kia Optima after they won the highly famous category. This year, the organizers have raised the stake- A brand new SUV!
Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are now littered with requests from the nominees persuading their fans to vote for them. As the battle for the prize thickens in the days ahead. One question we can’t stop but ask is- Who gets the SUV? Tiwa Savage, WizKid, Ice Prince or Olamide?
19 comments
It is unfair.Hoq can you hold an award without P-SQUARE?
I wonder why PSquare has never found a place in the award.. Could it be that the award is too local for them??
Why 9ice&p square are left out in dis prestigious award?may b because they have so many in their shelves,bt this totaly unfair,ha 9ICE baba o…..@OLUMBA
evry day is not christmas,am a nice fan o but in 2010 or 2009 9ice bagged abt 4 awards so leave it for dis ones ehn,dbanj didnt even take any.
there was a yr p square got about 5awards and nobody complained.d folowin yr cos dey got notin,they started castin aspersions on d organizers.they even refered to it as a yoruba award.if i was d organizers too,i would do away with dem.
Dats wassap!
Nobody gets d SUV other dan the promicing child “wizkid”
2 far to c d headie.hop to be in lagos 1 day d hapenin place.p squre nor get level.
I luv all d nominees,u rated dem as dey are in my list. As 4 9ice d inspiratn 4 song dis year is too low, except his collaboratn& for psQ are too late 4dis year.
Everybody keep on say’n d award belongs 2 wizkid……well as 4 me i think wizkid as won enough already…..dey should consider olamide…….
Yea, who’s gonna go home with the SUV? Olamide? NO… Wizkid? *thinking* hmmmn… NO. ICE PRINCE ZAMANI? Yeaaaa yes yes
Most ppl here don’t seem to get it…psquare and 9ice never released an album or sIngles under the year bin reviewed…or maybe 9ice myt av drop some but none that I cud remember and I don’t think they are heavy enof to av gotten him a nomination….not convinced …pick out a category where yu think 9ice or psquAre shud av bin a cotender nd tell me who isn’t suppose to be dia and plS tell us the song u thInk u shud av given theem the lead! Simple!..
Who goes home wit d SUV? sure it’s OLAMIDE(yahoo boi no laptop)
Next rated goes 2 d boi dat reps OJUELEGBA SHITTA.Go get it wizzy.U won MOBO.Get d headies and l8r we’ll go for d EMA(Ogunlade 4 real)
This must be the most sentimentally selective award on the globe. So an artist like Duncan Mighty and Wakonzy do not even get a mention for their songs Port Harcourt Son and Iworiwo respectively? Is your panel so stuck to the ‘it’s either Lagos and Abuja or no one else’ mentality that it is immaterial how a song is played nationwide? Shame on you and whatever pathetically myopic bunch form your panel. It is a shame that the entertainment industry is even more corrupt than the government we all blame.
I think everyday is not xmas,psquare and 9ice have done well but they should be happy for dis new acts cos they have had it before besides what should d likes of duncan mighty,wacomzy,steel, etc do so let ’em just accept it d way it comes
Indeed duncan mighty did a very great job,he should’nt have religated to the background this much.Organisers pls shine your eyes nxt time.