August | 2012 | AfriQtalk Diaspora

*Psquare and Bez

Giant pop singing duo Psquare and soul stirring jaz recording artist Bez lead the park in another star studded nominees list just revealed for the annual music awards…the Headies.

After a deafening successful music year, they both have approval to gun for six top awards respectively.

Psquare released their fifth album last year with heart thumping singles ‘Chop my money’ and ‘Beautiful Onyinye’ knocking everyone into blistering ecstasy before going on to garner remixes from international recording acts Akon and Rick Ross respectively.

Paul and Peter or their album as the case may be, is nominated for ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Artiste of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Pop single’, ‘Best R&B-Pop Album’ and ‘Best Collabo’ categories.

28 year old Bez on the other hand who is signed to Cobhams Asuquo’s C.A.M.P is nominated in the ‘Recording Of The Year’, ‘Best R ‘N’ B Single’, ‘Best R ‘N’ B/ Pop Album’, ‘Best Collabo’, ‘Best Vocal Performance’ and Hip Hop World Revelation of the year categories. Observers are keen that his successful debut single ‘Super Sun’ released in mid-2011 which holds hit ‘Stupid song’ is a major contender to Psquare.

Bez and Psquare are closely followed by A-listers Wizkid, Davido and Ice Prince who grabbed four nominations each. Praiz, who continues to grow steadily as a singer to court, also got four nods from the awards committee.

Davido, Eva Alordia, Praiz and Chuddy K will battle stiffly in the popular ‘Next Rated’ category which comes with a brand new car.

Musical works under review will be those released into the Nigerian market between March 2011 and February 2012.

PLEASE SEE FULL NOMINEES LIST BELOW…

HEADIES 2012 NOMINEES LIST
As released by the screening committee on Tuesday August 28, 2012. Only music materials released into the Nigerian market between March 2011 and February 2012 are eligible for nomination for Hip-Hop World Awards 2012.

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
The Invasion                                          – P-Square
Superstar                                                 – 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.

P-Square
Wizkid
Ice Prince
Naeto C
D’Banj

SONG OF THE YEAR
Most popular song from an album in year under review. Decided by voting

Chop My Money                         – P-Square ft. Akon & May-D
Dami Duro                                     – Davido
Oliver Twist                                   – D’Banj
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
Ara                                                 – Brymo
I Love You                                   – Praiz

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                                     – 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)

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 (P-Square)      – Jude Okoye
Ara (Brymo)                                                 – Ajeh
Kosorombe (Dipp ft. 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
Nawti                                                 – Olu Maintain
Soundtrack                                     – 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                                   – D’Banj
Gaga Crazy                                     – Chuddy K
Chop My Money                         – P-Square
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                   – P-Square

BEST RAP SINGLE
Best single released on-air recording of a rap song

Too Much Money           – Iceberg Slim
Shutdown                         – Phyno
Angeli                                  – Vector ft. 9ice
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
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                               – 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           – P-Square ft. Akon & May-D
Angeli                                                 – Vector Ft. 9ice
Carolina                                            – Sauce Kid Ft. Davido
Stupid Song                                     – Bez Ft. Praiz
Orobo                                                 – Sound Sultan Ft. 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                                     – I 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, Love, Love Me
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

Kako 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 (Alordia)
Praiz
Chuddy K

HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION OF THE YEAR
Best New artiste in the year under review

Wizkid
Ice Prince
Bez
Timi Dakolo
Olamide

HEADIES HALL OF FAME
Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.

Femi Kuti

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Award winning and top selling contemporary Nigerian-style African-pop duo Bracket, after receiving citation from the city and State of Philadelphia at the African American Museum on Friday August 3rd, 2012, highlighted the exciting stage line up at the 5th Annual ACANA African Festival on Sunday, August 5th, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The festival took place at the River Stage on the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, a part of PECO Multicultural series.

Stage performances represented the African countries of Nigeria, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, and many others. They performed along with the musical sensation Bracket will be the sensational LIB Queen from Monrovia, Liberia, Rafiya, a Congolese artist, and Jay Q from Sierra Leone.

Other performers throughout the day included: Black Diamond, Peter Cole, Chillton Jah James, Rotimi & De Afrophonik Crew, and Sista Rose. Dance is also an important highlight of the ACANA African Festival. Also, taking the stage was the world famous Universal Dance & Drum Ensemble.

In previous years, ACANA Cultural Festival had brought on stage such big name artists like Maxi Priest of Jamaica, Trinidad’s queen of soca music Joan Tigress Rowley, as well as Liberia’s Gebah Swaray of the Safari Band. This year’s event featured Bracket who were set to repeat the success of the previous festivals, until they got rained in during their performance. See the below preview of concert.

Along with presenting sponsor, PECO, the festival is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts through the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, AfriQtalk, Brown Family Shop Rite, Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health, Children Crisis Treatment Center, , Arik Airlines, Western Union, Cozen O’Connor, Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on African & Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, The Welcoming Center, Chester Ave. Business Association, Funtimes Magazine, Liberian United Women In Progress, PNC Bank, and IT Solutions.

Bracket is one of the top selling contemporary Nigerian-style African-pop musicians. Bracket’s music is a composition of traditional Nigerian rhythms with contemporary pop and hip-hop influences.