Gregory Bortey Newman, sensational Ghanaian highlife and afrobeats singer-songwriter who goes by the stage name King Promise, has debuted as the only Ghanaian act to win a plaque at the 2019 edition of Headies music awards show in Nigeria.
The “As Promised” crooner’s won in the African Artiste Recognition category – 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.
The event was cheduled to hold on October 19th, 2019. King Promise competed against noticeable entertainment, creative arts performers across the continent, including Master KG – Skeleton Moves(South Africa), Afro B – Drogba (Joanna)(Ivory Coast), Sauti Sol – Melanin (Kenya), and DJ Maphoriza – iWalk Ye Phara (South Africa)
Running for over a decade, the 13th Headies award will feature 23 unique categories in recognition of Africa’s finest artistes, including; Best Recording of the Year; Best Pop Single; Producer of The Year; Best Rap Album; Best R&B/ Pop Album; Best Collabo; Best Rap Single; Best Vocal Performance (Male); Best Vocal Performance (Female); Next Rated; Hip Hop World Revelation; and Lyricist on The Roll.
Others are the Best Street-Hop Artiste; Album of The Year; Artiste of The Year; Song of The Year; African Artiste Recognition; Headies’ Viewer’s Choice; Industry Brand Supporter; Best Performer; Songwriter of The Year; Rookie of The Year; Special Recognition; Hall of Fame.
When nominations were opened, 29 categories were announced. But with the announcement of nominees, only 23 categories made the cut. Categories like Best Reggae/Dancehall, Best Alternative Album, Best R&B Single, Best Songwriter and two others were cut.
The Headies is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to television viewers across Nigeria. The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to television viewers across Nigeria.
List of winners below;
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.
Crayon
Buju
Barry Jhay (WINNER)
Oxlade
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
Tay Iwar – ‘Utero’
Johnny Drille – ‘Finding Efe’
Nonso Bassey – ‘411’
Funbi – ‘Serenade’
Wurld – ‘Wishes & Butterfly’ (WINNER)
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.
Erigga – ‘Motivation’
Chinko Ekun – ‘Able God’ (WINNER)
Zlatan – ‘Leg Work’
Barry Jhay – ‘Aiye’
Lyta – ‘Time’
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.
Adekunle Gold – Ire
Patoranking – Heal D World
Brymo – Olanrewaju
Teni – Uyo Meyo (WINNER)
Burna Boy – Ye
BEST RAP SINGLE. – A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.
‘Talk’ – Falz (WINNER)
‘We Don’t Do That Over Here’ – Hotyce
‘40ft Container’ – Illbliss featuring Olamide
‘Sacrifice’ – Payper Corleone featuring Alpha Ojini
‘Gang Gang’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon
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.
‘Cash’ – Lady Donli
‘Mr Rebel’ – Tems
‘Finding Efe’ – Johnny Drille (WINNER)
‘Heya’ – Brymo
‘Ire’ – Adekunle Gold
BEST RAP ALBUM. – A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.
‘Moral Instruction’ – Falz (WINNER)
‘Crown’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon
‘A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl’ – M.I Abaga
‘Clone Wars, Vol. IV (These Buhari Times)’ – Show Dem Camp
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.
YCEE – ‘Balance’
Boogey – ‘Implode’
Paybac – ‘Implode’
Ghost – ‘Crown’
Tec – ‘Crown’
AQ – ‘Crown’ (WINNER)
BEST COLLABO. – A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
‘Like’ – Reekado Banks featuring Tiwa Savage, Fiokee
‘One Ticket’ – Kiss Daniel featuring Davido
‘Fake Love’ – Starboy featuring Duncan Mighty, Wizkid
‘Killin’ Dem’ – Burna Boy featuring Zlatan (WINNER)
‘Amaka’ – 2baba featuring Peruzzi
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.
Falz
Tiwa Savage
Brymo
Yemi Alade (WINNER)
Adekunle Gold
BEST R&B SINGLE. – A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
‘Tipsy’ – Odunsi ft. RAYE
‘Serenade’ – Funbi
‘Uyo Meyo’ – Teni
‘Wishes and Butterflies’ – Wurld
‘Gimme Love’ – Seyi Shay featuring Runtown (WINNER)
BEST POP SINGLE. – A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).
‘Ye’ – Burna Boy
‘We Gain’ – Victor AD
‘Fake Love’ – Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid
‘Case’ – Teni (WINNER)
‘Jealous’ – Fireboy DML
‘Baby’ – Joeboy
BEST R&B / POP ALBUM. – A category for the best r&b/pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
rare. – Odunsi (The Engine)
Outside – Burna Boy
No Bad Songz – Kizz Daniel
Mayor of Lagos – Mayorkun (WINNER)
About 30 – Adekunle Gold
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.
Mr Eazi
Burna Boy
Teni (WINNER)
Fireboy DML
Rema
Joe Boy
Wizkid
Davido
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.
‘Dangote’ (Burna Boy) – Clarence Peters (WINNER)
‘Available’ (Patoranking) – Clarence Peters
‘Ire’ (Adekunle Gold) – Aje Films
‘Talk’ (Falz) – Prodigeezy
‘Jaiye’ (Ladipoe) – 88 Factor
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.
Odunsi
Mayorkun (WINNER)
Wurld
Humblesmith
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).
About 30 – Adekunle Gold
Outside – Burna Boy
Moral Instruction – Falz (WINNER)
No Bad Songz – Kizz Daniel
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR. – An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
Phantom – ‘Ye’ b Burna Boy
Ozedikus – ‘Dumebi’ by Rema
Spellz – ‘Askamaya’ by Teni
Killertunes – ‘Fake Love’ by Starboy featuring Duncan Mighty and Wizkid (WINNER)
Kel-P Vibes – ‘Killing Dem’ by Burna Boy featuring Zlatan
NEXT RATED. – This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.
Rema (WINNER)
Joeboy
Fireboy DML
Victor AD
Lyta
Zlatan
SONG OF THE YEAR. – A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
‘Ye’ – Burna Boy (WINNER)
‘Dumebi’ – Rema
‘Wetin We Gain’ – Victor AD
‘Fake Love’ – Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid
‘Case’ – Teni
‘Leg work’ – Zlatan
‘Baby’ – Joeboy
‘Jealous’ – 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.
Burna Boy (WINNER)
Wizkid
Davido
Tiwa Savage
Falz
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE) – A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
GoodGirl LA – ‘Bless me’
Waje – ‘Udue’
Teni – ‘Uyo Meyo’ (WINNER)
Tems – ‘Mr Rebel’
Falana – ‘Repeat’
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 – Skeleton Moves (SOUTH AFRICA)
Afro B – Drogba (Joanna) (IVORY COAST)
Sauti Sol – Melanin (KENYA)
King Promise – CCTV (GHANA) (WINNER)
DJ Maphoriza – iWalk Ye Phara (SOUTH AFRICA)
