MUSIC

Wizkid , Ayra Starr, Portable & Tems Nominated for Headies | See Full List

Published

3 years ago

May 25, 2022

FAB.NG

Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria has just announced the nominees for the 15th Headies awards which is set to hold on September 4, 2022, in Atlanta Georgia.

Ayra Starr Names Wizkid, Rihanna & Burna Boy Among Artistes She Wishes To Collaborate With ⚜ Latest music news online

New categories have been introduced and they include Music Executive of the Year; Best Afrobeat Pop Single (Nigeria); Best Afrobeat Pop Album (Nigeria); Best African Collaboration; Best International Collaboration; African Artiste of the Year; and International Artiste of the Year.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, with the absence of an album in the year under review.

AV
FAVE
MAGIXX
PORTABLE
UGOCCIE

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artist or group in the year under review.

“CELEBRATE ME” – PATORANKING
“ESSENCE” – WIZKID feat. TEMS
“JOY” – FALANA
“LOVING IS HARDER” – JOHNNY DRILLE
“MEJI MEJI” – BRYMO
“SOMEBODY’S SON” – TIWA SAVAGE feat. BRANDY

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

BEATS BY JAYY – “GOLDEN” (A-Q)
BLAISE BEATZ – “SINNER” (ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. LUCKY DAYE)
NIPHKEYS – “FEEL GOOD” (MOHBAD)
P PRIIME – “OZUMBA MBADIWE” (REEKADO BANKS)
PHEELZ – “HIGH” (ADEKUNLE GOLD FEAT. DAVIDO)
SARZ – “MONALISA” (LOJAY & SARZ)

BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

“BABY RIDDIM” – FAVE
“BEGGIE BEGGIE” – AYRA STARR feat. CKAY
“ESSENCE” – WIZKID feat. TEMS
“RUNNING (TO YOU)” – CHIKE feat. SIMI
“PROMISE” – NINIOLA
“SINNER” – ADEKUNLE GOLD feat. LUCK DAYE

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.

ADEKUNLE GOLD – “SINNER”
AJEBO HUSTLERS – “LOYALTY”
BRYMO – “MEJI MEJI”
FALANA – “JOY”
FIREBOY DML – “PERU”
OMAH LAY – “UNDERSTAND”

BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.

“BREATHE” – A-Q feat. CHIKE
“CROWN OF CLAY” – VECTOR & MI ABAGA feat. PHEELZ
“EARLY MOMO” – VECTOR feat. GOODGIRL LA
“FEELING” – LADIPOE feat. BNXN
“TYCOON” – SHOW DEM CAMP feat. REMINISCE & MOJO
“LOADING” – OLAMIDE feat. BAD BOY TIMZ

BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG

A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.

“DOINGS” – FLAVOUR
“FREE YOUR MIND” – MADE KUTI
“GONTO” – IBEJII
“HUSTLE” – BASKETMOUTH, THE CAVEMEN, BEZ, DICE AILES
“MEJI MEJI” – BRYMO
“SELENSE” – THE CAVEMEN

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with the most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

AYRA STARR – “TOXIC”
LIYA – “ALARI”
NINIOLA – “6TH HEAVEN”
SIMI – “RUNNING (TO YOU)”
TEMS – “ESSENCE”
WAJE – “LAST TIME”

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

BRYMO – “MEJI MEJI”
JOHNNY DRILLE – “LOVING IS HARDER”
OXLADE – “OJUJU”
RIC HASSANI – “WHEN I’M GONE”
TAY IWAR – “PEAKING”

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

“CHAMPION” – (FIREBOY DML feat. D SMOKE) DIRECTED BY TG OMORI
“GINGER” – (WIZKID feat. BURNA BOY) DIRECTED BY MEJI ALABI
“ROJU” – (CHIKE) DIRECTED BY PINK
“RAIN” – (YEMI ALADE feat. MZANSI YOUTH CHOIR) DIRECTED BY OVIE ETSEYATSE
“BLING” – (BLAQBONEZ feat. AMAARAE & BNXN) DIRECTED BY TG OMORI
“RUNNING” – (LADIPOE feat. FIREBOY DML) DIRECTED BY DIRECTOR K

BEST COLLABORATION

A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

“BEGGIE BEGGIE” – AYRA STARR feat. CKAY
“BLING” – BLAQBONEZ feat. AMAARAE & BNXN
“EARLY MOMO” – VECTOR feat. GOODGIRL LA
“ESSENCE” – WIZKID feat. TEMS
“FEELING” – LADIPOE feat. BNXN
“RUNNING (TO YOU)” – CHIKE feat. SIMI

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

BELLA SHMURDA – “CASH APP” feat. ZLATAN & LINCOlN
REXXIE & MOHBAD – “KPK”
MOHBAD – “FEEL GOOD”
NAIRA MARLEY – “KOLEYEWON”
NEKTUNEZ & GOYA MENOR – “AMENO AMAPIANO (REMIX)”
POCO LEE, PORTABLE & OLAMIDE – “ZAZOO ZEHH”

BEST AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best Afrobeats single in year under review (by single individual or group).

“BLOODY SAMARITAN” – AYRA STARR
“BOUNCE” – RUGER
“HIGH” – ADEKUNLE GOLD feat. DAVIDO
“MONALISA” – LOJAY & SARZ
“OZUMBA MBADIWE” – REEKADO BANKS
“PERU” – FIREBOY DML

HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE

A voting category to award the fan’s favourite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.

AYRA STARR – “BLOODY SAMARITAN”
FIREBOY – “PERU”
JOEBOY – “SIP”
LOJAY & SARZ – “MONALISA”
NEKTUNEZ & GOYA MENOR – “AMENO AMAPIANO (REMIX)”
OLAMIDE feat. OMAH LAY – “INFINITY”
REMA – “SOUNDGASM”
WIZKID feat. TEMS – “ESSENCE”

BEST WEST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Western African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

AMAARAE (GHANA)
ANGELIQUE KIDJO (BENIN)
AYA NAKAMURA (MALI)
GYAKIE (GHANA)
KIDI (GHANA)
NELSON FREITAS (CAPE VERDE)

BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Eastern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

DIAMOND PLATINUMZ (TANZANIA)
EDDY KENZO (UGANDA)
HARMONIZE (TANZANIA)
MEDDY (RWANDA)
NIKITA KERING (KENYA)
ZUCHU (TANZANIA)

BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Northern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

EMEL MATHLOUTHI (TUNISIA)
ELGRANDETOTO (MOROCCO)
LATIFA (TUNISIA)
MANAL (MOROCCO)
MUHAMAD RAMADAN (EGYPT)
SOOLKING (ALGERIA)

BEST SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Southern African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA)
DJ TARICO (MOZAMBIQUE)
ELAINE (SOUTH AFRICA)
FOCALISTIC (SOUTH AFRICA)
JAH PRAYZAH (ZIMBABWE)
SHA SHA (ZIMBABWE)

BEST AFROBEATS ALBUM

A category for the best Afrobeats album in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

“19 AND DANGEROUS” – AYRA STARR
“A BETTER TIME” – DAVIDO
“BARNABAS” – KIZZ DANIEL
“MADE IN LAGOS (DELUXE EDITION)” – WIZKID
“KPOS LIFESTYLE” – AJEBO HUSTLERS
“WONDALAND” – TENI

BEST REGGAE & DANCEHALL ALBUM

A voting category for the Best Reggae & Dancehall album (solo or group) in the year under review.

“GRATITUDE” – TIMAYA
“LOVE IS WAR” – PRETTYBOY D-O
“RAINBOW RIDDIM” – SHANK
“THREE” – PATORANKING
“YAADMAN KINGSIZE” – YUNG L

BEST R&B ALBUM

A category for the best r&b album in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

“BEFORE WE FALL ASLEEP” – JOHNNY DRILLE
“IF ORANGE WAS A PLACE” – TEMS
“LOVE DEEP HIGH LIFE” – OMAWUMI
“RISING” – FALANA
“THE PRINCE I BECAME” – RIC HASSANI
“WATER AND GARRI” – TIWA SAVAGE

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

“9: ESAN” – BRYMO
“INTERMISSION” – IBEJII
“LEGACY +” – FEMI KUTI & MADE KUTI
“LOVE AND HIGHLIFE” – THE CAVEMEN
“P.S. THANK YOU FOR WAITING” – WAVY THE CREATOR
“YABASI” – BASKETMOUTH

BEST RAP ALBUM

A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in the year under review.

“CARPE DIEM” – OLAMIDE
“CLONE WARS VOL. 5 – THE ALGORHYTHM” – SHOW DEM CAMP
“GOLDEN” – A-Q
“MAFIA CULTURE, VOL. 2.0” – IDOWEST
“PROVIDENCE” – LADIPOE
“SEX OVER LOVE” – BLAQBONEZ

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in the year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).

“9: ESAN” – BRYMO
“19 & DANGEROUS” – AYRA STARR
“CARPE DIEM” – OLAMIDE
“LEGACY +” – FEMI KUTI & MADE KUTI
“MADE IN LAGOS (DELUXE EDITION)” – WIZKID
“YABASI” – BASKETMOUTH

SONG OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

“CELEBRATE ME” – PATORANKING
“DOINGS” – FLAVOUR feat. PHYNO
“ESSENCE” – WIZKID feat. TEMS
“HIGH” – ADEKUNLE GOLD feat. DAVIDO
“MONALISA” – LOJAY & SARZ
“PERU” – FIREBOY DML

BEST FEMALE ARTISTE

Overall most successful female artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

SIMI
TEMS
TIWA SAVAGE
TENI
NINIOLA

BEST MALE ARTISTE

Overall most successful male artiste (with artistic quality and/or impact) in the year under review.

ADEKUNLE GOLD
BURNA BOY
DAVIDO
FLAVOUR
OLAMIDE
WIZKID

NEXT RATED

This category is a voting category for the most promising act (with an EP or Album) in the year under review.

AYRA STARR
BNXN
LOJAY
RUGER
ZINOLEESKY

AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the International music scene within the year under review.

BLACK COFFEE (NIGERIA)
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
DAVIDO (NIGERIA)
DIAMOND PLATINUMZ (TANZANIA)
SOOLKING (ALGERIA)
WIZKID (NIGERIA)
AYA NAKAMURA (MALI)

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE RECOGNITION

Special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact on the Nigerian entertainment industry within a specific period and/or the year under review.

WYCLEF JEAN
AKON
DIDDY

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry within the year under review.

BOSE OGULU
SUNDAY ARE
EFE OMOROGBE

HALL OF FAME

Special recognition to an individual of African Descent, for excellence and outstanding impact on the African entertainment industry, home and abroad.

ANGELIQUE KIDJO

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

A non-voting category for the rap artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.

A-Q – “THE LAST CYPHER”
BLAQBONEZ – “THE LAST CYPHER”
JESSE JAGZ – “VIPERS”
LADIPOE – “PROVIDENCE”
PAYPER CORLEONE – “IN DON WE TRUST”
VECTOR – “CROWN OF CLAY”

HUMANITARIAN AWARD OF THE YEAR

A voting category to recognize and Award extraordinary individuals and/or groups who have positively impacted the lives of people, nature and society within the year in review.

2FACE IDIBIA
RUGGEDMAN
DAVIDO
DON JAZZY

BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting award category for an individual African artiste or group (of Central African Descent) with the most outstanding achievement and impact across Africa in the year under review.

CALEMA (SAO TOME & PRINCIPE)
BLANCHE BAILLY (CAMEROON)
DADJU (DR CONGO)
FALLY IPUPA (DR CONGO)
INNOSS’B (DR CONGO)
SORAIA RAMOS (CAPE VERDE)

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Davido To Headline UK Stadium Concert Alongside 50 Cent & Mary J Blige

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2024

Reporter

Davido to headline UK stadium concert | fab.ng

Davido, one of Africa’s most successful music exports, will headline the highly anticipated 2025 concert alongside global icons 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige.

Known for his chart-topping hits, Davido has earned multiple awards and packed arenas worldwide, solidifying his position as a global superstar.

His success continues to grow, and on July 3, 2025, he will reach another career milestone. This is when he headlines the 60,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the United Kingdom.

This concert will be a significant moment for the Nigerian singer, as it marks his first headline stadium show in the UK.

Although Davido has sold out several arenas, including the iconic O2 Arena, this stadium performance represents an exciting leap in his career.

He will share the stage with American rap legend 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige, a nine-time Grammy winner. Both artists bring over two decades of global success to the event.

The concert, presented by Iconic, is part of their ongoing series of headline shows that feature an impressive lineup of artists from various genres.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Davido (@davido)

These performances provide fans with a unique live music experience. Also, it will be celebrating different eras of music while showcasing the talents of diverse, influential artists.

As a four-time Grammy nominee, Davido’s international appeal is undeniable. Fan favourites will fill the concert because of his extensive collection of hit singles.

Additionally, in March 2025, he will release his much-anticipated fifth album, 5ive, which is expected to add even more excitement to his setlist.

This performance will not only reinforce Davido’s status as a global music icon but also solidify his place alongside other legendary artists like 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige.

FAB FRESH

Burna Boy Set To Release New Single, “Bundle” This December

Published

1 day ago

December 17, 2024

Reporter

Burna Boy to release new single 'Bundle' | fab.ng

Burna Boy is gearing up to release a new single, “Bundle,“ as he prepares to close out 2024 in grand style.

Following a hectic and record-breaking year, the African Giant aims to soundtrack the Detty December celebrations with this highly anticipated release.

In a recent update on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Burna Boy confirmed that the new single will drop on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

The announcement came after he teased the song on social media, sparking excitement among his fans.

His long-time collaborator, Telz, produced multiple hits on Burna Boy’s Grammy-winning album, “Twice As Tall.” He also hinted at the upcoming release with a similar post.

“Bundle” marks the second release of 2024 for Burna Boy, following the success of his Grammy-nominated single “Higher.”

The music video for “Higher” took fans on an emotional journey back to his hometown of Port Harcourt. He showed his deep connection to his roots.

This single wraps up what has been an extraordinary year for Burna Boy, filled with groundbreaking achievements.

Earlier in 2024, he became the first African artist to perform at the Grammys main ceremony. However, he shared the stage with rapper 21 Savage and R&B legend Brandy.

Burna Boy also broke records for the highest-grossing concert by an African artist in both the United States and Canada. Further, this solidifies his global dominance.

“Bundle” is expected to be part of Burna Boy’s upcoming 8th studio album. Apparently, the album is rumoured to be titled “No Sign of Weakness“, slated for release in 2025.

As Burna Boy continues to break boundaries and elevate Afrobeats on the global stage, fans eagerly await what promises to be another hit song to close out the year.

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Timaya Releases Music Video For New Single, “Mase”

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2024

Reporter

Timaya drops music video for new single 'Mase' | fab.ng

Award-winning Afro-dancehall artist Timaya has officially dropped the highly anticipated music video for his latest single, Mase, directed by the acclaimed PinkLine.

The video is a visual masterpiece that perfectly captures Timaya’s signature charisma, engaging storytelling, and high-energy performance style.

Vibrant and artistic, the video is a testament to Timaya’s growth as an artist, showcasing his evolution while staying true to his Afro-dancehall roots.

Every frame radiates creativity, drawing viewers into Timaya’s unique world of music and culture.

The release of Mase is particularly significant as it arrives just weeks before the highly anticipated third edition of the Timaya Day Concert, set for January 1, 2024, at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Bayelsa.

This annual event has quickly become one of Nigeria’s most important New Year celebrations, attracting thousands of fans who are eager to enjoy an electrifying live music experience.

As the event’s popularity continues to grow, the 2024 edition promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Now in its third year, the Timaya Day Concert is much more than just a music festival; it serves as a homecoming event that celebrates Timaya’s remarkable journey from his humble beginnings in Bayelsa to becoming an internationally recognised music icon.

With Mase already creating waves, excitement for the concert is at an all-time high.

This year’s concert will feature performances from top Nigerian stars, including D’banj, Phyno, and Portable, who will deliver a thrilling show filled with their biggest hits.

Fans are in for an unforgettable night of unforgettable performances and high-energy vibes.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Timaya Day Concert will continue to set the bar high, offering an experience filled with powerful music and a celebration of Afro-dancehall excellence.

Watch the video below.