THE HEADIES AWARD 2021: PREDICTIONS

 

It's here again. Bigger; and better; and spicier. 14 years of rewarding artistic excellence and ingenuity, and still gunning for more. 

Over the last calendar year, the Nigerian music space has birthed several hits, new superstars, A-Class artistes reinforcing their elite status, et. al

Hence, it is no surprise that the 14th Headies award scheduled to hold (as at the time of writing) tonight, shall record a large number of audience watching keenly to see who wins what. 

And, in the spirit of the game, I thought it might be cool to join in the entire buzz and razzmatazz by chipping in with my very own set of predictions. 

Disclaimer: Maybe some of my verdicts may be guided by sentiments and favoritism, but I guess that's why I'm writing this blog post, and you are not. (Burnnnn!) 

And yeah. I also can't wait for the drama that comes with the Award ceremony, because I mean, is it ever a Headies night without some sort of drama?

Well, enough with the chit chat. Let's get into it:

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Ozymandias – Brymo

Smile – Wizkid ft. H.E.R

Wonderful – Burna Boy

Dreamer – Fireboy DML

Ghost Town – Wurld

JERZ'S VERDICT: WIZKID ft. H.E.R - SMILE 

All incredible pieces of recording. But I think SMILE might just edge this category. 

BEST POP SINGLE

Billionaire – Teni

Nobody – DJ Neptune Feat. Joeboy and Mr Eazi

Lady – Rema

Fem – Davido

Joro – Wizkid

Skeletun – Tekno

JERZ'S VERDICT: TENI - BILLIONAIRE

Now, talk about an incredibly tight category. All deserved nominees; but I'm tilting towards Teni's 'BILLIONAIRE' here. 

SONG OF THE YEAR

Fem – Davido

Nobody – DJ Neptune Feat. Joeboy and Mr Eazi

Joro – Wizkid

Mafo – Naira Marley

Duduke – Simi

JERZ'S VERDICT: SIMI - DUDUKE 

From the very first moment I heard this song, I immediately felt it was by far the best piece of music that'd grace 2020. I'm glad it got it's deserved nomination. I can't wait for it to get it's deserved award plaque. 

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Pheelz – ‘Billionaire’ by Teni

Spax – ‘Away’ by Oxlade

Kel P – ‘Pull Up’ by Burna Boy

Sarz – ‘Mad’ By Sarz and Wurld

JERZ'S VERDICT: SPAX - AWAY 

Yup. 

BEST RAP ALBUM

God’s Engineering – A-Q

Illy Chapo X – Illbliss

YPSZN2 – Psycho YP

Cult! – Paybac Iboro

The Erigma II – Erigga

JERZ'S VERDICT: ERIGGA - THE ERIGMA II 

Commercial appeal and success? Check. 

Headies award? Pending. 

But why isn't Show Dem Camp's "Palmwine Express" album nominated, though? 

BEST R&B ALBUM

Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps – Fireboy DML

I Like Girls With Trobul – Sarz & Wurld

King – Praiz

Boo of the Booless – Chike

Celia – Tiwa Savage

JERZ'S VERDICT: CHIKÉ - BOO OF THE BOOLESS

I love all the projects on this category. No kidding.  Either of them would be a worthy winner, but I feel "Boo of the Booless" might just about edge it here. 

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

Yellow – Brymo

Lucid – Asa

The Light – Bez

Pioneers – DRB Lasgidi

Roots – The Cavemen

JERZ'S VERDICT: THE CAVEMEN - ROOTS

A truly majestic piece of work. I'd love to see it win. 

BEST POP ALBUM

Apollo – Fireboy DML

African Giant – Burna Boy

A Good Time – Davido

Woman of Steel – Yemi Alade

Afro Pop Vol. 1 – Adekunle Gold

JERZ'S VERDICT: DAVIDO - A GOOD TIME

This is quite tight. Very, very tight. But there has to be a winner, and I feel that would be Davido's sophomore album. Solid album, plus it houses "IF" and "FIA". 

Thinkabourrit. 

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Eli – Fireboy DML 

1 Milli – Davido

Smile – Wizkid

Billionaire – Teni 

Shekere – Yemi Alade 

JERZ'S VERDICT: TENI - BILLIONAIRE

No brainer, really. 

BEST R&B SINGLE

Under the Sky – Praiz

Duduke – Simi

Mad – Sarz & Wurld

Bad Influence – Omah Lay

Tattoo – Fireboy DML

Dangerous Love – Tiwa Savage

JERZ'S VERDICT: FIREBOY - TATTOO 

Bruh. 

BEST COLLABORATION

Know You – Ladipoe ft. Simi

Nobody – DJ Neptune ft. Joeboy and Mr. Eazi

Sweet In the Middle – Davido ft. Naira Marley, Zlatan and Wurld

Don’t Call Me Back – Joeboy ft. Mayorkun

Totori – ID Cabasa Feat. Wizkid and Olamide

Get the Info – Phyno ft. Phenom and Falz

JERZ'S VERDICT: DJ NEPTUNE ft. JOEBOY & MR EAZI - NOBODY 

One of, if not the biggest single from the year under review. Deserves it's flowers. 

And who exactly doesn't like this song? Nobody. Nobody. Nobody. Nobody. 

BEST RAP SINGLE

OGB4IG – Reminisce

Shut Up – Blaqbonez

Country – Illbliss

Get The Info – Phyno, Falz and Phenom

Bop Daddy – Falz ft. Ms. Banks

JERZ'S VERDICT: FALZ ft. Ms. BANKS - BOP DADDY 

And rightly so. 

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

Ghost Town – Wurld 

Forgive– Chike 

Under the Sky – Praiz 

Plenti – Cobhams 

What Makes You Sure – Nonso Amadi

Count On You – Johnny Drille 

JERZ'S VERDICT: WURLD - GHOST TOWN 

Trust me, that was hard to pick. All deserved nominees. Either of them would make a worthy winner. 

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

No Longer Beneficial – Simi 

One on the Outside – Lindsey Abudei 

Addicted – Niniola 

Chi Efo – J-Dess 

Lai Lai – Yemi Alade 

Ajala – Imanse 

JERZ'S VERDICT: NINIOLA - ADDICTED 

I'm banking on the Queen of Afro House to take this award back to her house. (See what I did there? Okay, never mind.)

NEXT RATED 

Tems

Omah Lay

Oxlade

Bella Shmurda

JERZ'S VERDICT: OMAH LAY 

Big fan of all these guys. But it really, really has to be Omah Lay winning this. 

HEADIES REVELATION

Victor AD

Fireboy DML

Joeboy

Teni

Rema

Chike

JERZ'S VERDICT: FIREBOY DML 

I mean, 2 ground-breaking albums in the year under review. Insane numbers. Solid guest appearances on feature records.

How can it not be him?

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

A-Q 

Blaqbonez

MI Abaga – Trinity

Illbliss 

Phenom 

Phyno 

JERZ'S VERDICT: PHENOM

BEST STREETHOP ARTISTE

Naira Marley and Young John - Mafo

Mayorkun – Geng

Reminisce ft. Olamide and Naira Marley – Instagram

Rudeboy – Audio Money

IVD and Zlatan – Bolanle

Olamide – Pawon

JERZ'S VERDICT: NAIRA MARLEY & YOUNG JOHN - MAFO

I mean. No brainer. It can't not be this song. 

BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG

Corner – Lady Donly ft. VanJess & The Cavemen

I Wonder – Moelogo

Bitter – Deena Ade

Anita – The Cavemen

Money Devotion – Gbasky

God Save The Queen – Olu

JERZ'S VERDICT: LADY DONLI - CORNER

Has to be. 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

African Giant – Burna Boy

Apollo – Fireboy DML

Afro Pop Vol. 1 – Adekunle Gold

Yellow – Brymo

Boo of the Booless – Chike

JERZ'S VERDICT: BURNA BOY - AFRICAN GIANT

Because. Why not? 

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Burna Boy

Davido

Wizkid

Mayorkun

Tiwa Savage

JERZ'S VERDICT: BURNA BOY

The most successful and critically acclaimed Nigerian artiste from the year under review. Burna Boy himself. 

He is winning this. 

AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION

Master KG

Kuami Eugene

Sauti Sol

Shatta Wale

Stonebwoy

JERZ'S VERDICT: MASTER KG

Amapiano is taking over. So why shouldn't the brain behind that distinct sound be rightfully honored? 

HEADIES VIEWERS CHOICE

Davido

Omah Lay

Burna Boy

Falz

Fireboy DML

Mayorkun

DJ Neptune

Wizkid

JERZ'S VERDICT: MAYORKUN

Had a great year. Chart topping singles. And several hit features to boot. 

Give this man his award.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Olakira

Alpha P

Jamopyper

Zinoleesky

Bad Boy Timz

JERZ'S VERDICT: BAD BOY TIMZ 

Why? MJ and Loading. Nuff said. 

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye (Simi – Duduke)

Adedamola Adefolahan (Fireboy DML – Dreamer)

Damini Ogulu (Burna Boy – Way Too Big)

Stanley Omah Didia (Omah Lay – Bad Influence)

Sadiq Onifade (Wurld – Ghost Town)

Adekunle Kosoko (1 Million – Davido)

JERZ'S VERDICT: ADEKUNLE KOSOKO - 1 MILLI

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Eedris Abdulkareem

Timaya

Legends. Deserved. 

HALL OF FAME

King Sunny Ade

Been long overdue.

Before I go, it's important to note that these predictions are only just my opinion, anyway.  Every nominated artiste is deserving of an award, or even awards. But while awards are veritable for some level of validation, the biggest win of all is that the Nigerian music industry is growing bigger, and getting better. Year in, Year out. Massive props to the Artistes, Creatives, Media, Label Executives and Staff; and importantly, the teeming fans. Love and Light. 

And, erm, also, if you do not mind; check out my debut single: 'TATTOO', currently out on Audiomack and SoundCloud; and will go live on every platform in a bit. (Depending on when you are reading this.) 

Well. Signing out. Jerz.