Established in 2006 by Hip Hop World magazine, recognises outstanding achievement in the Nigerian music industry. The awards usually feature performances by established and promising artists.
In a press statement released by the organisers, Smooth Promotions, on Friday, April 13, 2018. The awards academy released the list after shortlisting thousands of entries submitted in the year under review -from July 2016 – December 2017.
There are new categories in this year’s award ceremony: The Viewer’s Choice Award, Best Performer and a special category to recognise the efforts of brands that have supported the entertainment industry for the past 3 years.
The awards will hold on 5th May 2018, at Eko Hotel & Suites while the nominee’s party will hold in Abuja on 29 April 2018.
See the nominations list
1. 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 artiste or group in the year under review.
Butterflies – Omawumi
Halleluyah – Funbi
Ponmile – Reminisce
Heaven – Banky W
Joromi – Simi
2. Best pop single
A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).
Mad Over You – Runtown
All Over – Tiwa Savage
Yeba – Kiss Daniel
Iskaba – Wande Coal and DJ Tunez
If– Davido
Fia – Davido
3. Producer of the year
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
(Fall, Mama) Kidominant
(Iskaba, Malo) Spellz
(If, Rara) Tekno
(Maradona, Come Closer) Sarz
Yawa, Virtuous Woman- Masterkraft
4. Best reggae/dancehall single
A category for the best reggae/dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group).
Love You Die – Patoranking ft. Diamond Platnumz
Dance – Timaya ft. Rudeboy
Holy Holy – 2baba
Rock Your Body – Burna Boy
Come Closer – Wizkid
Sofa – Kiss Daniel
5. Best rap album
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artist or group in year under review.
27 – Falz
Trip to the South – Erigga
El Hadj – Reminisce
The Playmaker – Phyno
The Glory – Olamide
Rose – Aq
6. Best r&b/pop album
A category for the best r&b/pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
Sounds from the Other Side – Wizkid
Timeless – Omawumi
Simisola – Simi
Gold – Adekunle Gold
Ijele the Traveller – Flavor
This is me – Niniola
7. 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.
Ma Lo – Tiwa Savage ft Wizkid (Meji Alabi)
Focus- Humble Smith (Clarence Peters)
Come Closer – Wizkid (Daps)
Been Calling – Maleek Berry (Meji Alabi)
Yolo – Seyi Shay (Meji Alabi)
Like Dat – Davido (Daps)
8. Best r&b single
A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
Tonight – Nonso Amadi
Folashade – Praiz
Let Me Know – Maleek Berry
Romeo & Juliet – Johhny Drille
Love You Baby – Banky W
Smile for Me – Simi
9. Best collabo
A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
Ma Lo – Tiwa Savage ft Wizkid
Temper Remix – Skales ft Burna Boy
Juice – Ycee ft Maleekberry
No Forget – Adekunle Gold ft. Simi
Come Closer – Wizkid ft. Drake
10. Best rap single
A Voting Category For A Single (Released On-Air) Recording Of A Rap Song.
You Rappers Should Fix up Your Lives – Mi
Something Lite – Falz ft Ycee
Link Up – Phyno ft. Burna Boy, M.I.
Up to You – Show Dem Camp Ft Funbi
Me Versus Me – Ice Prince
11. 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.
Perfect Woman – Faze
Folashade – Praiz
Romeo & Juliet – Johnny Drille
Tonight – Nonso Amadi
Love You Baby – Banky W
12. Best vocal performance (female)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
In The Air – Waje
Gone for Good – Simi
Jowo – Aramide
Saro – Niniola
Where’s the Love – Niyola ft. Adekunle Gold
Butterflies – Omawumi
13. Next rated
This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.
Maleek Berry
Mayorkun
Dice Ailes
Johnny Drille
Zoro
14. Hip hop world revelation
A voting category for the best new artiste with a debut album adjudged to be outstanding in terms of artistic quality and impact within the year under review.
Niniola
Adekunle Gold
Mr Eazi
Reekado Banks
15. 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.
You Rappers Should Fix up Your Lives – Mi
Political Science – Aq
Liquor Night – Boogey
Industry Nite – Erigga
16. 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.
Penalty – small doctor
Wo – Olamide
Sai Baba – CDQ
Shepeteri – Idowest ft. Dammy Krane, Slim Case
Pass the Agbara – Skuki
Legbegbe – Mr Real ft. Idowest, Kelvin Chuks, Obadice
17. 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.
Money – Adekunle Gold
Radio – Nonso Amadi
Romeo & Juliet – Johnny Drille
Ponmile – Reminisce
Fun Mi Lowo Mi – Aramide ft. Sound Sultan & Koker
Lagos Barbie – Bantu
18. Album of the year
A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).
Simisola – Simi
Gold – Adekunle Gold
Klitoris – Brymo
Ijele the Traveler – Flavour
Sounds from the Other Side – Wizkid
The Playmaker – Phyno
19. Artiste of the year
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste in the year under review.
Davido
Wizkid
Olamide
Simi
Tiwa savage
20. Song of the year
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
Penalty – Small Doctor
Wo – Olamide
If- Davido
Yeba – Kiss Daniel
Mad Over You – Runtown
Fia – Davido
21. African artiste
A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.
Sarkodie
Casper Nyovest
Nasty C
Sauti Sol
Vanessa Mdee
22. 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.
Come Closer- Wizkid
If- Davido
Wo -Olamide
Mad Over You – Runtown
Yeba- Kiss Daniel
Yawa -Tekno
23. Industry brand supporter
This is to say thank you to brands that have made the most impact in the entertainment industry in the last 3 years. An award to recognize brands who are supporting the industry at a time when opportunities are scarce
MTN
Pepsi
Glo
Hennessy
Firs
Nigeria breweries
Lagos state
24. Best performer
A non-voting category for the artistes whose stagecraft, showmanship and performance routines are exceptionally conceptualized and executed in the year under review with consideration of live performances.
Flavour
Falz
MI
2baba
Yemi Alade
Tiwa savage
25. 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.
Kidi
Air boy
Teni
Junior boy
Peruzzi
26. Special recognition
Kaffy
27. Hall of fame
Chris Ubosi
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