P'SQUARE AND BEZ LEAD NOMINATIONS FOR THE HEADIES 2012!

As another edition of one of the most prestigious music awards in Nigeria, The Headies draws nearer, the nominees for this year’s awards have been revealed!

Pop giants Psquare, Soul-Jazz singer Bez Idakula lead the nominees list with six nods each.

The twin pop duo released their fifth album last year with the smash hit singles ‘Chop my money’ and ‘Beautiful Onyinye’ both garnering international remixes from US acts Akon and Rick Ross respectively. They received nods in the ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Artiste of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Best Pop single’, ‘Best R&B-Pop Album’ and ‘Best Collabo’ categories.

Bez who is signed to Cobhams Asuquo’s C.A.M.P is nominated in the ‘Recording of The Year’, ‘Recording Of The Year’, ‘Best R ‘N’ B Single’, ‘Best R ‘N’ B/ Pop Album’, ‘Best Collabo’, and ‘Best Vocal Performance’ categories. The 28-year-old released his debut ‘Super Sun’ mid-2011.

The likes of ‘Superstar’ rapper Ice Prince, pop sensations Wizkid, Davido and Soul singer Praiz follow closely with four nods each.

Pop giants D’banj and Wande Coal, rappers Naeto C, Vector, Olamide and pop singer Chuddy K trail with three nominations.

A keenly contested category is as expected the ‘Artiste of the Year’ which is occupied by P-Square, Wizkid, Ice Prince, Naeto C and D’Banj. All five acts have had a brilliant run in the last year.

Another interesting category is the ‘Producer of the year’ slot which will see the likes of Cobhams (Stupid Song by Bez), Tee-Y Mix (Super C Season album by Naeto C),Shizzi (Dami duro by Davido), Jesse Jagz (E.L.I by Ice Prince) and J Sleek (Private Trips by Wande Coal) slug it out for the coveted prize.

Modenine for the first time in the last five years is missing from the ‘Lyricist on the Roll’ categories. Those nominated include – rappers Vector, Yung6ix, Iceberg Slim, Phyno and South-South rapper Erigga.

The Headies 2012 will hold on Sunday October 20, at the Eko Hotels in Lagos

Check out the full list below…

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 (Alordiah)
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