I have nothing but mad love and respect for Ayo Animashaun.Matter of fact,I hope to get an autograph from 'Egbon' someday.This young man (abi Senior boy.Lol) built an Empire from nothing.A lot of people in conforming with the Hiphop culture brag about going from nothing to something.Even billionaire kids like Davido and Naeto C (No Hate) but truth be told,only few have genuine bragging rights.If i were to re-make Drake's STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM,I would put 'Egbon' on the cover.
Ayo started publishing Hiphop World magazine way before we even had what we now refer to as an industry.It was our own version of Benzino's The Source Magazine; the street bible.Shoutsout my momz and all the vendors she had reserve me a copy as a kid.
Many years later,he is not only still here but much bigger.Smooth Promotions now has HipTv and the Hiphop World awards in its portfolio.The Headies is the biggest Music awards in Nigeria; our Grammies so to speak.It is packaged, organised and hosted in a most laudable manner.Like every Award show,it is not devoid of controversy.From rumours of Mode9 owing all his 6 Lyricist on the Roll awards to his friendship with Ayo (they were both in Bida Polytechnic together) to Skuki winning the Next Rated Award because they paid part of the Car gift price.Then you have Burna Boy not winning when he was nominated for it because he was a Glo Ambassador while MTN were major sponsors of the Headies.We have heard them all.
Like everyone I have my 2cents on this years winners.Walk with me.
First Category-BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR which is a non-voting category.No big hit among the songs and I am happy 2face's-LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU didn't win because it would have been a 'paddy-paddy' thing (Apologies to Fela).Cobhams's-ORDINARY PEOPLE was a worthy winner.Great Song.
Second category-PRODUCER OF THE YEAR.A very tight one which was won by Don Jazzy for DOROBUCCI.Nice song like we all know and one of the anthems of the year.Don Baba J is in my opinion,the best Producer in the land but you can't help but feel sorry for Legendury Beatz who was nominated for Wizkid's CARO.Dude killed it and I think side by side,CARO was just as popular a song as DOROBUCCI and spoke more of the Producer's prowess.You would give DOROBUCCI more props for composition but not production.Well,here I have no doubt it was the people's voice.We all love Don Jazzy plus DOROBUCCI was I think the last hit so far this year.Very fresh in a lot of voters' minds.
Then the BEST MUSIC VIDEO was won by the Genius-Clarence Peters for Flavour's ADA ADA.He deserved it.Feel sorry for Kemi Adetiba though, a woman on a fast rise in a man's world. She did a great job on Niyola's TOH BAD.Watch out for this lady.
Sean 'Oluwa' Tizzle beat Burna Boy for the 2nd year in a row though in 2 different categories.While I was a part of voices raised last year over Burna Boy's Next Rated category snub,I remain mute this time out.Burna had a great album but again,one has to take into consideration the time voting started.A lot of albums had passed under '3rd Mainland' since then.I would have given it to Burna if it were up to me.But Sean Tizzle I must admit,won me over with THE JOURNEY album.Tight stuff.Songs like TAKE IT and PERFECT GENTLEMAN will be on my playlist for a long time.He had LOKE LOKE with 9ice which was really awesome.
LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU by 2face won the Best R&B Single.Personally,I thought Timi Dakolo's IYAWO MI was a better song but like we all know,2baba has that star power.A lot of people would have voted for him even if the song were unreleased.Is that a bird or a plane?.No.Its 2face fool.Carry go,No Shaking.People who haven't even heard both songs are already arguing in his favour.
Then the BEST POP SINGLE headie was carted away by The Mavin Crew's DOROBUCCI; Its second of the night.This was really tight as well and quite frankly,anyone would be deemed most deserving.Yemi Alade's JOHNNY was my most radio friendly song of the year.Whenever it came on anywhere,it just BANGed you hard.No getting used to it.Davido's AYE was something else, plain lyrics and most pleasant on the ears.Again I feel sorry for Wizkid and all the little kids who sang 'Looking for CARO' for most of the year.Even MMG's Wale tweeted these lyrics.Oritsefemi's DOUBLE WAHALA was on fire for a long time and no one would have bated an eyelid if it won.Same with Dr Sid's SURULERE.A song i love so much.When the crown fits all,you just throw it into the air and see on whose head it lands.DOROBUCCI won.
Onto the BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE.It went to Patoranking's GIRLIE OH featuring Tiwa Savage who in my opinion made the song what it was.No disrespect to Patoranking,kid has done great for himself but this song's emergence as a winner and as a hit (Not a Monster one though) generally speaking is a testament to what a good promo can do.In this case,it blew a decent effort out of proportion.Song just kept on popping up everywhere till you loved it-HipTv,MTV Base,AIT et al.For me,Cynthia Morgan is a better reggae artiste than Patoranking.All her singles since been signed onto Jude Okoye's Northside Inc have been top notch.I see him fizzling out just like General Pype when the 'fresh air' he has brought turns stale.Sheyi Shay has not had a wack song out thus far and MURDER was a more than decent effort but I think Jesse Jagz's BAD GIRL deserved this award more than all other nominees.Love it like crazy.Song was off the hook and is by miles 'Reggae' Jagz best post-Choc City effort.
And then (Drum rolls).......the BEST RAP ALBUM category which surprisingly is listed as non-voting.Olamide owned the year under review no doubt.His BADDEST GUY EVER LIVETH album won this category and deservedly so but give this award to Phyno for NO GUTS NO GLORY and I will tell you No qualms.Phyno re-defined Ibo rap and paved the way for a lot of 'UnNigga Raw' dope cats from the East who remind you just how powerful Hiphop is.It makes a plain fool out of you.You could bump a good joint like forever without even understanding the lyrics.Those were the only two true contenders as far as am concerned and I would have handed it to Phyno.NGNG was ill.To say his rise has been meteoric is an understatement.Like he said in the MAN OF THE YEAR (Obago) joint-'2years ago,I introduced myself,2years later now they introduce themselves'.Choice was okay sha,Baddo did huge things.
Producer Wizzy Pro's EMERGENCY clinched the BEST COLLABO award and I bet that Headie (Or Sound Sultan like Julius Agwu would say) is still shedding tears.This song reminds you of those songs you listen to not because you feel them but because they were thrust at you by nature-Cool FM,HipTv,MTV Base and co.Dr Sid and Don Jazzy's SURULERE ought to have taken this one.Now you start to wonder if people actually voted for this song.Even a lot of radio presenters,DJs and VJs don't know this song talk more regular folk who just do downloads,TV & radio.Perhaps someone mobilised voters from their 'constituency'.
Next Up, BEST RAP SINGLE and Phyno's PARCEL took that away.Had to be landslide.This joint is just so copasetic.From the beat which was something else (Big up Major Bangz.Deserved a Best Producer nomination for this) to Phyno's delivery and also the Video which was the best I had seen in a long while.Clarence Peters ought to be bronzed for it.
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE(Male) went to Timi Dakolo's IYAWO MI.Another worthy winner.Cobhams's ORDINARY PEOPLE was there as well.Could have gone either way.The female version of this award went to Niyola for LOVE TO LOVE YOU.Well......Warreva!!
Then the big one-NEXT RATED category which comes with a car.First I must say Skales had no business being here.I am a huge Runtown fan but I didn't expect him to win.Orezi is starting to get the respect he deserves and that is good but it was always going to be between Patoranking and Yemi Alade.Yemi hasn't really done anything huge since JOHNNY.She set a standard so high with that song, it was always going to be hard to keep up.Her TANGERINE is a very good song but JOHNNY is JOHNNY and she better find him fast!!!
Patoranking though was the clear favourite.Generated quite a lot of buzz, had endless features and is the current industry darling.Had to win.
I hate it when I love something and my obsession with the truth wouldn't just let its faults slide.Another Headies talk point-Kcee's TAKE OVER winning the REVELATION OF THE YEAR Headie.A category that had Tiwa Savage,Sean Tizzle and Burna Boy.I don't think this is the voice of the people but again,maybe someone mobilized their 'Constituency'.
Then a non-voting category; LYRICIST ON THE ROLL and the Headie went to Jesse Jagz's for GOD ON THE MIC.Ice Prince was a nominee with SHOTS ON SHOTS.Only two destinations it had to go if you ask me.I doubt if the organisers or panelists heard Phenom's TKG Freestyle.Sheer Lyrical Genius.Best Freestyle I ever heard by a Nigerian MC.Every line was one for the archives.Would have handed him this headie and made him pay for burning my headphones.
Oritsefemi won the BEST STREET HOP Headie with DOUBLE WAHALA.Indeed it was the streets' voice and he should thank his stars The Mavins didn't do a DOROhatrick here.Could have been a different story if the Original and not Remix of Lil Kesh's SHOKI was nominated.Streets hopped to it no doubt.
Then the BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG category which was won by BOJ'S BOLAJI.Really an 'I no send' category So....Warreva!!
Then another big one-ALBUM OF THE YEAR which was probably the tightest of the lot.It had Burna Boy,Phyno,Sean Tizzle and was clinched by Olamide-BADDEST GUY EVER LIVETH.This category makes me think how good a polygamist I could be because I really love all of them!!.And from an objective stand point,they all are phenomenal.Congrats Baddo the lucky bride.I take solace in the fact that others are 'Chopping the Money' and smiling for a lot of cameras.
Mavin, Reekado Banks won the ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Headie.My kid sister mimics his DOROBUCCI dance moves a lot and his singles are okay.Great talent I must say.What would you expect anyway if he was good enough to be signed by Don Baba J?.But if it were up to me,I would have nominated POSLY TD and LIL KESH and handed 'KESHI' the award.BADDO said on stage-'F**k that Sh*t..Lil Kesh is the Rookie of the Year'.Mean as it gets.Lol.i love POSLY and Kid is capable of doing huge things.He is taking no prisoners,busy killing everything in sight.Best watch out.
Davido was deservedly ARTISTE OF THE YEAR.Been long an artiste had two monster hits in the space of less than a year-SKELEWU and AYE.Plus the MAMA Awards; he owned the year so to speak.And his carting home the SONG OF THE YEAR Headie with AYE is a testament to that.Mad props.Feel sorry again for Miss Alade who popped up in that category as well with JOHNNY.She deserves something for it and *In her Voice*-'I don't know what to DOooo!!!'
Then the Most Controversial talk point of the night,Sarkodie winning the BEST AFRICAN ACT category.Wait for this...He beat Mafikizolo!!.Naaaah!!.Mafikizolo owned Africa with KHONA,even my Grandma knows that.It would raise a lot of eyebrows if they didn't win by a landslide (Thank God the Headies has no INEC) but an outright loss?Haba!!.This Headie must be shedding tears on Sarkodie's shelf.Someone please take it home-Jo'burg!!
Sir Victor Uwaifo was this Year's HALL OF FAME inductee.A true legend.Will tell my Mama that whenever I'm in the mood to hear her sing-'Joromi oo Jo mi Doh..Kichi Kacha'.Lol.
Overall, i must commend the whole crew, the 2014 Headies is one for the archives.Waiting for Next Year (No postponements please).
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