The battle line is drawn for this year’s Headies as the nominees for the awards have been revealed!
Pop giants Psquare and Soul-Jazz singer Bez Idakula lead the nominees list with six nods apiece.
The pop duo released their fifth album last year with the smash hit singles ‘Chop my money’ and ‘Beautiful Onyinye’ both garnering international remixes from US acts Akon and Rick Ross respectively. They received nods in the ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Artiste of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Pop single’, ‘Best R&B-Pop Album’ and ‘Best Collabo’ categories.
Bez who is signed to Cobhams Asuquo’s C.A.M.P is nominated in the ‘Recording of The Year’, ‘Recording Of The Year’, ‘Best R ‘N’ B Single’, ‘Best R ‘N’ B/ Pop Album’, ‘Best Collabo’, and ‘Best Vocal Performance’ categories. The 28-year-old released his debut ‘Super Sun’ mid-2011.
Following closely are the likes of ‘Superstar’ rapper Ice Prince, pop sensations Wizkid, Davido and Soul singer Praiz with four nods each.
Pop giants D’banj and Wande Coal, rappers Naeto C, Vector, Olamide and pop singer Chuddy K trail with three nominations.
A keenly contested category is the ‘Artiste of the Year’ which has P-Square, Wizkid, Ice Prince, Naeto C and D’Banj as nominees. All five acts have had an amazing year under review.
Another interesting category is the ‘Producer of the year’ slot which will see the likes of Cobhams (Stupid Song by Bez), Tee-Y Mix (Super C Season album by Naeto C), Shizzi (Dami duro by Davido), Jesse Jagz (E.L.I by Ice Prince) and J Sleek (Private Trips by Wande Coal) slug it out for the highly coveted prize.
Modenine for the first time in the last five years is missing from the ‘Lyricist on the Roll’ category. Those nominated include – rappers Vector, Yung6ix, Iceberg Slim, Phyno and South-South rapper Erigga.
The Headies 2012 will hold on Sunday October 20, at the Eko Hotels in Lagos.
Check out the full list below…
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (in every realms: songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (sales, popularity)
Everybody Loves Ice Prince- Ice Prince Zamani
The Invasion- PSquare
Super Star- Wizkid
Super C Season- Naeto C
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review Overall most successful artiste for the year under review.
Psquare
Wizkid
Ice Prince
Naeto C
DBanj
SONG OF THE YEAR
Most popular song from an album in year under review. Decided by voting
Chop My Money- Psquare feat. Akon & May D
Dami Duro- Davido
Oliver Twist- Dbanj
Gaga Crazy- Chuddy K
Kukere- Iyanya
RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Best single recording (on-air only or released) by artiste or group in year under review. Originality and production very essential
Stupid Song- Bez
Private Trips- Wande Coal
I Love You- Praiz
Ara- Brymo
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
The individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed songs/album in the year under review. His CV for the year includes top-notch tracks and production credits no one can fault.
Cobhams Asuquo- Stupid Song (Bez)
Tee Y Mix- Super C Season (Naeto C)
Shizzy- Dami Duro (Davido)
J Sleek- Private Trips (Wande Coal)
Jesse Jags – E.L.I (Ice Prince Zamani)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO (AWARD GOES TO DIRECTOR)
Best conceptualised, best edited, best picture, best directed and most exciting video in year under review as voted by fans and decided by the jury.
5 & 6 (Naeto C)- Clarence Peters
Chop My Money Remix (Psquare feat May D & Akon)- Jude Engees Okoye
Ara (Brymo)- Aje
Kosorombe (DIPP feat Da Grin)- MEX
BEST R ‘N’ B SINGLE
Best R&B single in year under review (by single individual or group)
Private Trips- Wande Coal
Stupid Song- Bez
N.A.W.T.I- Olu Maintain
Sound Track- May D
Love Me (3x)- Tiwa Savage
BEST POP SINGLE
Best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group)
Dami Duro- Davido
Oliver Twist- Dbanj
Gaga Crazy- Chuddy K
Chop My Money- Psquare
Kukere- Iyanya
BEST R ‘N’ B/ POP ALBUM
Best R&B or pop album in year under review (by single individual or group)
Superstar- Wizkid
Super Sun- Bez
Versus- 9ice
The Invasion- Psquare
BEST RAP SINGLE
Best single released on-air recording of a rap song
Too Much Money- Iceberg Slim
Shutdown- Phyno
Angeli- Vector feat. 9ice
OMG (Oh My Gosh)- Yung6ix
Young Erikina- Olamide
BEST RAP ALBUM
Best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review
E.L.I- Ice Prince
The Dreamer Project- Show Dem Camp (SDC)
Rapsodi- Olamide
Super C Season- Naeto C
LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
Rap Artist with best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album
Vector- Angeli
Yung6ix- OMG (Oh My Gosh)
Iceberg Slim- Too Much Money
Phyno- Shutdown
Erigga- Mo Street Gan
BEST COLLABO
Best R&B, Pop or hip hop collaborative track (including cameos) in year under review
Chop My Money remix- Psquare feat. Akon & May D
Angeli- Vector feat. 9ice
Carolina- Sinzu feat. Davido
Stupid Song- Bez feat. Praiz
Orobo- Sound Sultan feat. Excel & Flavour
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
Single male artiste with most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album
Wande Coal- Private Trips
Banky W- Low Key
Praiz- Love You
Brymo- Ara
Bez- Stupid Song
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
Single female act with most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album
Tiwa Savage- Love Me (3x)
Chidinma- Kedike
Ijeoma- Oloomi
Waje- Na The Way
AFRICAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Non Nigerian category
Sarkodie (Ghana)- Azonto
Camp Mulla (Kenya)- Feel No Pain
D-Black (Ghana)- Get On The Dancefloor
Zahara (South Africa)- Loliwe
BEST STREET HOP
The most popular street-hop single in year under review
Kaoko Bi Chicken- Reminisce
Gaga Crazy- Chuddy K
Akpako- Terry G
Roll- Rayce
Mo Street Gan- Erigga
NEXT RATED
Most promising upcoming officially unreleased act in the year under review
Davido
Eva (Alordiah)
Praiz
Chuddy K
HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION OF THE YEAR
Best New artiste in the year under review
Wizkid
Ice Prince Zamani
Bez
Timi Dakolo
Olamide
HEADIES HALL OF FAME
Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry
Femi Kuti
ERIGGA is the best lyricist and best street hip hop musician.