by Phil Chard

Award shows, Hip Hop and controversy. They go together like a gourmet meal and fine wine, like a bottle of Patron and a night of bad decisions, like a horse and carriage they are tied at the hip.

Nomuzi said some words

Earlier today I and many others were invited to board a train to the Soweto Theatre where the announcement of this year’s South African Music Awards would be taking place. After the opening remarks from the host Nomuzi Mabena, the SAMA Chairperson Refiloe Ramogase took the stage to provide some insights on what the SAMAs where hoping to achieve this year before plying us with a barrage of catch phrases and slogans for this year’s awards including the particularly witty “The Future Is Hear” tag line.

Unlike previous years, artists and nominees where not invited to take the stage and awakwardly announce the nominees. Instead all nominations where done via a video reel which can also be viewed below.

Things immediately got testy when the nominees in The Best Rap Category were announced. The most notable big omissions were Cassper Nyovest, Tumi and Reason.

In my opinion, despite the fact that Cassper became an award gobbling monster over the last two years (16 and counting) I honestly don’t feel that Refiloe was a strong offering by any means. Outside of Malome the album didn’t really feature any outstanding songs(Cooking in the Kitchen has the potential to be a radio hit, but it’s not my cup of tea either). After only securing 1 award at this year’s Metro FM awards it does feel like Cassper’s incredible momentum is waning in 2016. Surprisingly the rapper who is currently in the USA where he is set to speak to students at Harvard announced that he had deliberately not submitted his music for consideration and would explain in time.

Thanks for all the love.. pls note we deliberately did NOT submit for these awards. I'll explain it all through my music. Stay blessed 😉

— New Album in stores (@CassperNyovest) April 21, 2016

Reason’s Audio Re-Definition was initially meant to be released as a special edition of Audio HD. It sounded more like a compilation than a cohesive album so that effort being overlooked can also be understood.

However the omission of Tumi’s Return of The King has to be the greatest and most puzzling omission since I was not selected for the swim team back in 1996! In our review of the album we lauded the album for being a masterpiece. Return Of The King not being nominated is a massive blemish on the SAMA visage, one that will hopefully be explained. The album was released within the window for nominees – Return Of The King was released in June 2015 while Riky Rick’s nominated debut album was released two months prior in May for example. As a label head himself, I doubt Tumi overlooked the small matter of submitting his work for consideration.

Understandably the rapper was none too pleased after the snub and took to twitter to vent.

Tumi SAMA Rant

Back to those nominated; the last surprise was Kid X’s addition to the nomination list despite ¾ Pace being released and marketed as a free mixtape. Once again, a little clarity around this decision would be appreciated. Granted ¾ Pace is an incredible offering, but is it so incredible it transcends the nomination guidelines? If incredible free releases can be considered I would argue that Nasty_C’s Price City and its follow up Price City Deluxe both deserve consideration. As does Assessa’s Yim Lo Mixtape. As impressive as ¾ Pace may be it is not a better offering that Return Of The King.

There were similar question surrounding the Best Dance category for example with the omissions of Heavy K, Shimza and Prince KayBee. Heavy K and Shimza actually made their way to the event and it was extremely awkward for all parties involved.

Here is the nomination tally for Hip Hop acts.

Artist Nominations

Riky Rick 4

Emtee 4

Fifi Cooper 2

AKA 2

Witness Tha Funk 1

DJ Sliqe 1

Major League DJz 1

Khuli Chana 1

Kid X 1

Da L.E.S 1

Zakwe 1

The 22nd Annual South Africa Music Awards will be taking place on Saturday, 4 June. Tickets to the event are R350 and are available at Computicket.

[toggle title=' Full List Of Nominees.']

Album of the Year

Francois van Coke Francois van Coke

Emtee Avery

Nathi Buyelekhaya

Tresor VII

Black Coffee Pieces of Me

Duo or Group of the Year

Desmond & the Tutus Enjoy Yourself

Witness the Funk Finding Nomusa

Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR Jazz Orchestra One Night in the Sun

Junior Taurus & Lady Zamar Cotton Candy

Big Nuz For the Fans

Female Artist of the Year

Judith Sephuma One Word

Zahara Country Girl

Fifi Cooper 20Fifi

Karen Zoid Drown Out the Noise

Zonke Work of Heart

Male Artist of the Year

Nathi Buyelekhaya

Black Coffee Pieces of Me

Riky Rick Family Values

Emtee Avery

Francois van Coke Francois van Coke

Newcomer of the Year

Riky Rick Family Values

Emtee Avery

Tresor VII

Fifi Cooper 20Fifi

Nathi Buyelekhaya

Best Rock Album

Desmond & the Tutus Enjoy Yourself

Francois van Coke Francois van Coke

Shortstraw Youthless

Karen Zoid Drown Out the Noise

Saarkie Reisiger

Best Pop Album

Tresor VII

Lakota Silva Pop: The Mix Tape

Loki Rothman The Way Back

Can Skylark Overdrive

Vincent Bones Shaded Soul

Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans)

Karlien van Jaarsveld My Hartjie

Brendan Peyper Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie

Vaughan Gardiner Sit Vanaand op Herhaal

Pierre Rossouw In my Bloed

Suzanne Vuurbestand

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Judith Sephuma One Word

Watershed Watch the Rain

Karen Zoid & Various Republiek van Zoid Afrika Vol. 2

Kahn Salt

Josie Field & Laurie Levine Tigerlily

Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album

Elvis Blue Êrens in die Middel van Nêrens

Andriëtte Pêrel vir ’n Kroon

Neil Somers Hierdie Hande

Bok van Blerk Sing Afrikaner Sing

Stiaan Reynierse Sonde

Best African Adult Album

Dizu Plaatjies & Friends Ubuntu – The Common String

Kabomo Sekusile

Thiwe Soul Therapy

L’wei Netshivhale Mudzimu washu

Jessica Mbangeni Busisiwe – Tribute to the African Heroines

Best Alternative Album

Petite Noir La Vie Est Belle/Life is Beautiful

Sannie Fox Serpente Masjien

The Plastics In Threes

Moonchild Sanelly Rabulapha!

Die Heuwels Fantasties Ja. Nee. Lekker (Deluxe)

Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album

Nathi Buyelekhaya

Zonke Work of Heart

Olwethu Imbewu

Zahara Country Girl

The Muffinz Do What You Love

Best Rap Album

Emtee Avery

Kid X 3 Quarter Pace

Da L.E.S North God

Riky Rick Family Values

Zakwe Impande

Best Kwaito Album

Big Nuz For the Fans

Dbn Nyts Believe

Kabelo Mabalane Immortal Vol. 3

Dj Bongz Game Changer

Mzansi North Coast Vibe

Best Dance Album

Black Coffee Pieces of Me

Mi Casa Home Sweet Home

Mobi Dixon Tribal Soul Special Edition

DJ Merlon Original Copy

Junior Taurus & Lady Zamar Cotton Candy

Best Traditional Faith Music Album

TYGC Family The Journey Begins

Worship House Project 12 Praise Live

Worship House True Worship 2015

Dumi Mkokstad Ukhona Uthixo

Women in Praise Various Artists

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

Ntokozo Mbambo Spirit and Life

Mark Counihan To the Brave Ones

Mahalia Buchanan Redeemed to Worship

24 Skies Endless Anthem

Benjamin Dube Sanctified in His Presence

Best Maskandi Album

Imithente Ichakijana

Thokozani Langa Khuzeka Mshana

Shwi no Mtekhala Bazali Bami

Buselaphi Gabi Gabi

Phuzekhemisi Woze Durban

Best Jazz Album

Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR

Jazz Orchestra One Night in the Sun

Nduduzo Makhathini Listening to the Ground

Benjamin Jephta Quintet Homecoming

Amandla Freedom Ensemble Bhekisiwe

Bokani Dyer World Music

Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album

Wouter Kellerman Love Language

Guy Buttery Guy Buttery

Deep South Heartland

Cape Consort Christoph & Sebastian

KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Mintirho ya SJ Khosa

Orchestra

Best Live Audiovisual Recording

Jimmy Dludlu Live at Emperors Palace

Krone Krone 2

Ntokozo Mbambo Spirit and Life

Neyi & Omega Friends in Praise

Benjamin Dube Sanctified in His Presence

Best Collaboration

Dbn Nyts ft. Zinhle Ngidi & Trademark Shumaya

Shekinah x Kyle Deutsch Back to the Beach

AKA ft. Redsan, Burna Boy & Stoneboy All Eyes on Me

Major League DJz ft. Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, Riky Rick & Carpo Sylza Tsotsi

Khuli Chana ft. Patoranking No Lie

Best Music Video of the Year

Jack Parow & Freshly Ground Army of One

Riky Rick ft. Cassper Nyovest & Anatii Fuseg

Al Bairre & PH Fat Caviar Dreams

iFani Ayadelela

Monark Negatives Deluxe

Best Produced Album of the Year

Zahara Country Girl

Mi Casa Home Sweet Home

Sannie Fox Serpente Masjien

Mark Counihan To the Brave Ones

Zonke Work of Heart

Best Engineered Album of the Year

Black Coffee Pieces of Me

Brendan Peyper Stop, Wag, Bly Nog ’n Bietjie

Zonke Work of Heart

Mi Casa Home Sweet Home

Marcus Wyatt & the ZAR One Night in the Sun

Jazz Orchestra

Best Remix of the Year

DJ Sliqe Do Like I Do Remix

AKA Baddest Remix

Mobi Dixon My Sugar

Mobi Dixon Never Let Me Go Remix

The Fraternity Bheka Mina Ngedwa Amplified

Veterans to square off against new kids at 22nd South African Music Awards

Five acts are in the race with four nods apiece, with a cross-section of genres sharing the spotlight

Dreamy Afro-soul newcomer Nathi, house music supremo Black Coffee, rising rappers Riky Rick and Emtee, and sultry songbird Zonke Dikana share the nominations spoils at the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards, grabbing an impressive four nods each.

The contenders for this year’s awards were announced amid great excitement and anticipation in Soweto on Thursday, 21 April 2016. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), the official passenger rail transport sponsor, ferried the VIP guests and media on the Metrorail Business Express to the Soweto Theatre, a landmark venue, located in Jabulani in the heart of Soweto, for the nominations “reveal”. Guests were escorted into the venue and then entertained by young performers from the Morris Isaacson High School, which is the very school that played a major role in the Soweto Uprising in 1976, forty years ago.

Chairperson of the South African Music Awards, Refiloe Ramogase welcomed everyone with a poignant speech about the stance that the Annual South African Music Awards have taken this year with the statement that “The Future is Here”. “Soweto not only serves as a reminder of the selfless bravery of our youth 40 years ago, but also reminds us that actions motivated by yesterday, taken today, set the course for the tomorrow. If one is bold enough, one can change not only the course of history, but the course of the future. This is the dawn of a bold new horizon within the Industry; the mass adoption of technology, the rise of the independent label, the endless stream of new distribution channels, seemingly limitless opportunities for cross-genre collaboration, Virtual Reality concerts on your phone, Digital Maskandi, Urban Gospel; all indicators of the transformation of our musical landscape.” Commented Refiloe.

Young blood features strongly in this year’s nominations, with three of the five Album of the Year nominees being breakthrough artists: Emtee, Nathi and Tresor, who’ll be competing against seasoned campaigners Francois van Coke and Black Coffee. The same three young guns will also vie against Riky Rick and Fifi Cooper in the Best Newcomer category.

Van Coke and fellow Afrikaans rocker Karen Zoid made a strong showing, with three nominations apiece. Other artists and bands that have been singled out for creative excellence this year, bagging three nominations each, include jazzman Marcus Wyatt and the ZAR Jazz Orchestra, dance music favourites Mi Casa, house DJ Mobi Dixon, Afro-soul songstress Zahara and acoustic pop-folk sensation Tresor.

The race for Best Male Artist is guaranteed to be a closely fought one, with globetrotting superstar Black Coffee and influential rock rebel Van Coke hoping that experience will see them triumph over the newbies Nathi, Riky Rick and Emtee. In the Best Female Artist category, the three Zs – Zoid, Zonke and Zahara – will slug it out for top honours with Fifi Cooper and Judith Sephuma.

On hosting the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards, The Mayor of the City of Durban, CLLR James Nxumalo said "For us as the City of Durban, we are very excited to host the SAMAs. The City of Durban has worked hard to build its brand, and our partnership with the SAMAs will further strengthen the position of Durban as the number one tourism destination in the country and one of the best in the world. As the City of Durban we are ready to welcome the music and entertainment industry to Durban, the warmest place to be”

The shortlist of nominees for the Amstel Record of the Year will be announced on Live Amp this Friday, 22 April on SABC 1, with the public being invited to vote for their favourite song of 2015. The 22nd edition of the South African Music Awards will take place at the Durban International Convention Centre on Saturday, 4 June 2016, and will be broadcast live on SABC1.

Ticket sales for the 22nd Annual South Africa Music Awards taking place on Saturday, 4 June will be open to the public on Friday, 22 April at 12 noon. Tickets are R350 and available from Computicket.

Notes to Editor:

The annual South African Music Awards are organised by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).

The City of Durban is the hosting partner for the Annual South African Music Awards; SABC is the official broadcast partner; Apple Music and iTunes is the Digital Music Partner; PRASA is the transport partner.

SAMA 22 Nominee Announcement will be live streamed from 10am on all SAMA digital platforms.

The new SAMA app is available for all Android devices via Google Play Store and will soon be available on iOS.

Follow the South African Music Awards on the following digital platforms:

Twitter: @OfficialSAMAs (www.twitter.com/OfficialSAMAs)

Website: www.samusicawards.co.za

Facebook: South African Music Awards (www.facebook.com/SAMusicAwards)

Apple/ iTunes Music: www.applemusic.com/SAMA22

Mobisite: www.samatv.mobi

Instagram: @OfficialSAMAs

YouTube channel: samusicawards (www.youtube.com/samusicawards)

Flickr: samusicawards (www.flickr.com/samusicawards)