Last year was a weird year for hip hop. While it produced what we’re dubbing The Year of The Singles, it didn’t really produce any albums – which means that come award season it’s going to pretty interesting. Case in point – this year for the Metro Awards, there are only THREE nominees! iFani, L-Tido & Kwesta all got the nod which is good. However – where are the other artists at? On one hand it means that 2014 will be THE year for album drops from the likes of AKA, Tumi, Reason, Khuli and everyone else. On the other hand it means that one of the three Metro nominees in the hip hop category will be crowned for the first time. And that means a brand new SAMA winner as well.
iFani is a 4-time nominee this year, while AKA, Khuli Chana & Da L.E.S also got the nod in the Best video and Best Hit Single categories. The awards will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Conference Centre (ICC), in Durban on 1 March and will be broadcast live on SABC1 at 8PM. To vote, SMS the category followed by the name of the artist to 34764.
Nominees:
Best hip hop album
- iFani – I Believes In Me
- Kwesta – Dakar
- L-Tido – All of Me
Best African pop album
- Mafikizolo – Reunited
- Zahara – Phendula
- Naima Kay – Umsebenzi
- Danny K – Good Look
- Ntando – Monday to Sunday
Best compilation album
- Euphonik – For the Love of House Vol. 5
- Soul Candi Sessions – 2014
- The Fresh Drive – Ultimix @ 6 Vol. 4
- DJ T-Deep – Fundamentals of House
- DJ Fresh – Fresh House Flava Vol. 7
Best dance album
- Uhuru – Our Father
- Mi Casa – Su Casa
- Lulo Café – Soul Africa
- Heavy K – Respect the Drumboss 2013
- Zakes Bantwini – My Music Bible
Best female artist
- Zama Jobe – Thula Mntwana
- Zahara – Phendula
- DJ Cndo – Finest Lady of House Vol. 5
- Indwe – Indwe
- Naima Kay – Umsebenzi
Best duo/group
- Mi Casa – Su Casa
- Mafikizolo – Reunited
- Muzart – Muzart
- Uhuru – Our Father
- Big Nuz – Made in Africa
Best hit single
- DJ Ganyani – Xigubu
- Khuli Chana – Mnatebawen
- Black Coffee – Buya
- AKA – Kontrol
- Gino Brown – Body Language
Best music video
- Da Les – Heaven
- Khuli Chana – Mnatebawen
- Veezo – Money, Sex, Clothes, Girls
- iFani – Milli
- Donald – Your Joy
Best urban jazz album
- Julius Schultz – Colour Blind
- Zama Jobe – Thula Mntwana
- Indwe – Indwe
- Swazi Dlamini – Soul of Me
- Nomfundo – Kusile
Best Kwaito Album
- Character – Self Control
- Big Nuz – Made in Africa
- Alaska – Revival
- Mandoza – Sgantsontso
Best male artist
- Zakes Bantwini – My Music Bible
- Vusi Nova – Walk Into Light
- iFani – I Believes In Me
- Lulo Café – Soul Africa
- Culoe De Song – Exodus
Best Newcomer
- Muzart – Muzart
- Happy – Ahead of Time
- iFani – I Believes In Me
- Naima Kay – Umsebenzi
- Indwe – Indwe
Best RnB album
- GB Collective – Collective Conscience
- Presss – Black
- Vusi Nova – Walk Into Light
- Danny K – Good Look
- Lungi Naidoo – I Am
Best urban gospel album
- Takie Ndou – Palmist
- Thapelo Tau – Sediba Sa Nnete
- Judith Sephuma – The Experience
- We Will Worship – YHWH
- Nqubeko Mbatha – Sentiments of a Worshiper
Best collaboration
- Revolution ft Black Motion, Yasira – Noqatiko
- Mafikizolo ft May D – Happiness
- Uhuru ft Oskido, Professor, DJ Bucks – Y-Tjukuja
- Lulo Café ft Black Motion Nape Leon – Whistling to Bed
- DJ Ganyani ft FB – Xigubu
Song of the year
- Mi Casa – Jika
- Mafikizolo – Happiness
- Mafikizolo – Khona
- Heavy K – Wena
- Uhuru – Y-Tjukuja
- Big Nuz – Inazo
- Big Nuz – Hawaii
- Zahara – Phendula
- Lulo Café – Whistling To Bed
- Naima Kay – Lelilanga (remix)