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.
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