Hip Hop Award Winners

So the Hip Hop World Awards came and went and it was a lovely show on the whole.
If u want to find out what I thought about the vibe, look and feel of the show, then you can read my article in GUARDIAN LIFE but here, I just want to talk about the winners!

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
For this category, I had said that I would have voted FAZE if asa was not on the list but I felt asa would win anyways.
The winner was…. asa!

Congratulations asa!
It was an award well deserved when you think about it; I mean, every song was on point and all that jazz

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Here, I was casting my vote for PSquare.
I felt that they had a good album, and that they also had some solid performances. I later got ‘schooled’ by Mike Majic on why TU FACE deserves that award and it made a lot of sense.
In the end, the winner was the Koko Master himself… D’BANJ

Well deserved?
Let all the arguments begin now, but what cannot be denied is that DBAnj is a mega star. You should see the way any crowd reacts to him; even the most snobbish set.

SONG OF THE YEAR
In my exact words, “Come on, what else should win but 'awon ko waiye wa sise, awon ko waiye wa jaiye”?

And guess who won?
Of course it was… YAHOOZEE
I mean, that was the song of the year.
I’m not going to argue on the lyrical content or whether it is a masterpiece. I’m just supporting the song that even old women sing in church
LOL

RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Like I said in my very insightful and enlightened way, “Recording of the year is about technical sturves right? Bibanke cannot be tried”

And it was not tried
This song was well recorded, masterfully mixed, and well-mastered.
So congrats to the Producer, Engineers and the Masters (hey, what else do you call the person that mastered the song?)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
I was confused concerning this cos I thought there so many good songs and I was content to sit on the fence.
Well, the winner was … COBHAMS (for Bibanke)
Yes oh!
And according to Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Cobhams also gave the best acceptance speech.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
I said I wanted it to go to ABBEY and TY BELLO for Greenland,
This category didn’t leave me too satisfied.
While I felt that our videos need more content, I still thought there was massive competition going on, and no matter who won, there would always be tongues wagging.

The award went to… DJ TEE for STYLEE!

BEST REGGAE / DANCEHALL
I said it had to be TImaya oh, and on this one, I think I had very strong opinions.

The award went to… TRUE STORY by TIMAYABEST R'n' B / POP ALBUM

Like I said, not sure what a Nigerian R ‘n’ B / Pop album should sound like, plus, I still do not get why Niyola was nominated in that category.

The award went to … GRASS TO GRACE, TUFACE IDIBIA

BEST RAP ALBUM
Do not have much to say on this category.
Oh wait, I might have something to say though.It was funny being at the show to see that at the HIP HOP world awards, the HIP HOP categories and performers got the least applause and crowd acceptance. I guess that’s why they had to diversify and include other award categories
Lol.

The winner on the night… RUGGEDY BABA, RUGGEDMAN

BEST COLLABO
I declared that the winner of this award should be ‘I have no booty…’
I did stomp my feet a bit when the winner was announced although once again, Mike Majic ‘schooled’ me and told me why they won.
It is a collabo with quite a number of heavy weights from different labels and different egos. And it was a good song wasn’t it.
So I’m convinced.

The winner was … STYLEE (Jimmy Jatt, Mode 9, 2Face and Ela Joe)

BEST RAP SINGLE
Okay!
I might have wanted a certain song to win for sentimental reasons (blood, water, rock), but I must admit that the first award given on the night, went to Africa’s most anticipated hip-hop artiste. And what is even more amazing is, this guy does not have an album released yet, but is building his career one show at a time. I love any artiste that focuses on performing as much as recording, and any artiste willing to pay his dues so I was very excited!

The winner… CROWD MENTALITY (M.I)
And guess what?
He will be performing at the JEANS FOR GENES Fashion Exhibition!

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
I was going to sit on the fence for this category simply because I did not agree with the SONG choices.
I loved the artistes nominated but felt the nominations should have been for different songs.

In the end, you all know I was ecstatic when the winner was announced!

The winner? 9ICE in RUGGEDY BABA

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

Lara George should have won this award.
Here, I WILL fight!

I think we get carried away sometimes and forget what the award category is about.
Lara killed every note on ‘Ijoba Orun’, and it was a fantastic delivery.
That’s who I felt should have won, and I will defend that any day.

The award went to.. asa for BIBANKE

NEXT RATED
I had an opinion here as well. I said I thought it should be M.I, but that because it is easier in Nigeria to be a pop star than a rap star, I was voting WANDE COAL
I was impressed with the way the winner reacted to his win, and I am glad he won.

The winner was… WANDE COAL
So, next rated… you know we are all waiting for you abi?

HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION

What is a revelation?
The act of revealing or disclosing; especially a striking disclosure, as of something not before realised.

I have heard people say none of the artistes nominated is a new artiste and that infact, ‘asa’ has won a similar award at the previous Hip Hop World award show.
Well, that is the definition of ‘Revelation’ and I can defend practically all the artistes nominated in that regard.
9ice has been known as the collabo master, but this is him coming to his own;
TY BELLO was in the group, KUSH; this was her coming out on her own;
Sasha has always been on the scene but now has her album;
Olu was of course in MAINTAIN and so this was his first solo effort.

Having said all that, it is time to once again announce the winner.

9ICE! Yes, apparently, Gongon ti so!

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL was MODE NINE for the song, ‘CONTRADICTION’, and AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR was BATMAN SAMINI for ‘LAMBORI’.

And of course, two people were honoured and inducted into the Hip Hop World Awards HALL OF FAME
- Olisa Adibua
- Obi Asika

So,
Hip Hop World Awards 2009 came and it was altogether for me, a glam night spent with the UNRULIES.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners, especially 9ICE, M.I and asa.