Nigeria’s premier music award show held virtually and live media due to COVID-19 restrictions on February 21, 2021,
The year-in-review is between July 2019 and September 2020. It will be the 14th edition of an award heralded by Ayo Animashaun and his company, HipHop World.
Segmentation of nominations to just the superstars.
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.
- OZYMANDIAS – BRYMO
BEST POP SINGLE
A voting category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).
- NOBODY – DJ NEPTUNE FEAT. JOEBOY & MR. EAZI.
SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
- NOBODY – DJ NEPTUNE FEAT. JOEBOY & MR. EAZI
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
- PHEELZ – ‘BILLIONAIRE’ BY TENI
BEST RAP ALBUM
A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.
- GOD’S ENGINEERING – AQ
BEST R&B ALBUM
A category for the best r&b album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
- LAUGHTER, TEARS AND GOOSEBUMPS – FIREBOY DML
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
- ROOTS – THE CAVEMEN
BEST POP ALBUM
A category for the best pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
- APOLLO – FIREBOY DML
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.
- 1 MILLI – DAVIDO BY DIRECTOR K
BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
- TATTOO – FIREBOY DML
BEST COLLABORATION
A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
- KNOW YOU – LADIPOE FEAT. SIMI
BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.
- BOP DADDY – FALZ FEAT. MS. BANKS
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.
- PRAIZ – UNDER THE SKY
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
- NINIOLA – ADDICTED
NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.
- OMAH LAY
HEADIES 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.
- FIREBOY DML
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.
- ILLBLISS – COUNTRY
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.
- MAYORKUN – GENG
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.
- I WONDER – MOELOGO
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).
- APOLLO – FIREBOY DML
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste in the year under review.
- WIZKID
AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION
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.
- MASTER KG
HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE
A voting category to award the fan’s favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.
- WIZKID
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.
- BAD BOY TIMZ
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:
A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.
- SIMISOLA BOLATITO OGUNLEYE (SIMI – DUDUKE)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
A special recognition to an individual(s) for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
- EEDRIS ABDULKAREEM
HALL OF FAME:
A special recognition to an individual for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.
KING SUNNY ADE