The list is made up of 21 categories covering the different genres of Nigerian pop music culture.
See the complete list of nominees below: (YEAR IN REVIEW: JULY 2015 – JUNE 2016)
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.
- EMERGENCY – D’BANJ
- PRAY FOR ME – DAREY FEAT. SOWETO CHOIR
- LOVE DON’T CARE – SIMI
- ORENTE – ADEKUNLE GOLD
- SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING – BRYMO
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
- DJ COUBLON ‘GOOD TIME & RABA’
- PHEELS – ‘PICK UP & LAGOS BOYS’ – OLAMIDE
- LEGENDURY BEATS – ‘FINAL – BABA NLA’ WIZKID
- YOUNG JOHN – ‘MAMA’ – KISS DANIEL
- MASTAKRAFT – ‘FADA FADA’, ‘CONNECT’ – PHYNO
- OSCAR HERMAN-ACKAH – ‘PRAY FOR ME’ – DAREY
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.
- EMERGENCY (D’BANJ) – UNLIMITED LA
- MARY (SEYI SHAY) – MEJI ALABI
- SOLDIER (FALZ THA BAD GUY) – CLARENCE PETERS
- MADE FOR YOU – BANKY W
- BAD – TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. WIZKID – SESAN
BEST R&B/POP ALBUM
A category for the best R&B/Pop Album in the year under review (by single individual or group).
- NEW ERA – KISS DANIEL
- WANTED – WANDE COAL
- KLITORIS – BRYMO
- 4. NAKED – DAREY
- SEYI OR SHAY – SEYI SHAY
BEST R&B SINGLE
A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).
- LOVE DON’T CARE – SIMI
- MADE FOR YOU – BANKY W
- SUPER WOMAN – WANDE COAL
- PRAY FOR ME – DAREY
- ADUKE – TJAN
- SMILE – SHAYDEE
BEST POP SINGLE
A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group)
- MAMA – KISS DANIEL
- FINAL (BABA NLA) – WIZKID
- PICK UP – ADEKUNLE GOLD
- OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
- REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT. OREZI, IYANYA, OLAMIDE, KCEE
- EMERGENCY – D’BANJ
- FADA FADA – PHYNO FEAT. OLAMIDE
- MONEY – TIMAYA FEAT. FLAVOUR
BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE
A category for the best Reggae/Dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group).
- 1. NO KISSING’ – PATORANKING FT SARKODIE
- BODY HOT – PRAIZ FT. JESSE JAGZ & STONE BWOY
- JAGA LOVE – JESSE JAGZ
- OLOWO – CYNTHIA MORGAN
- PAM PAM – KETCHUP
- TIMAYA – I LIKE THE WAY
BEST RAP ALBUM
A Non-Voting Category for the Best Album By A Rap Artiste Or Group In Year Under Review.
- EYAN MAYWEATHER – OLAMIDE
- POWERFUL – ILL BLISS
- STORIES THAT TOUCH – FALZ
- LIL’ KESH – YAGI
BEST COLLABO
A voting category for the best R&B, Pop or Hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).
- SOLDIER – FALZ FEAT. SIMI
- REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT. OREZI, IYANYA, OLAMIDE, KCEE
- OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
- WAIT – SOLIDSTAR FEAT. TIWA SAVAGE
- NO KISSING – PATORANKING FEAT. SARKODIE
- MONEY – TIMAYA FEAT. FLAVOUR
BEST RAP SINGLE
A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap.
- EYAN MAYWEATHER – OLAMIDE
- ASAMALEKUN – REMINISCE
- JAGABAN – YCEE
- CHUKWU AGOZI GOGI – ILL BLISS
- AGU JI NDI MEN – A-Q
- SHOW YOU SOMETHING – BOOGEY
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.
- BRYMO – SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING
- DAREY FEAT. SOWETO CHOIR – PRAY FOR ME
- SHAYDEE – SMILE
- WANDE COAL – SUPER WOMAN
- RIC HASSANI – GENTLEMAN
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.
- SIMI – LOVE DON’T CARE
- SEYI SHAY – RIGHT NOW
- ARAMIDE FEAT. ADEKUNLE GOLD – LOVE ME
- OMAWUMI FEAT. ANGELIE KIDJO – PLAY NA PLAY
NEXT RATED
This category is a voting category for the most promising upcoming act in the year under review.
- YCEE
- TEKNO
- MR. EAZI
- HUMBLESMITH
- ARAMIDE
HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION
A voting category for the best new artiste in the year under review.
- KISS DANIEL – NEW ERA
- SEYI SHAY – SEYI OR SHAY
- LIL’ KESH – YAGI
- RUNTOWN – GHETTO UNIVERSITY
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.
- ILL BLISS – CHUKWU AGOZI GOGI
- REMINSCE – ASALAMALEKU
- YCEE – JAGABAN
- BOOGEY – SHOW YOU SOMETHING
- A-Q – AGU JI NDI MEN’
- MODENINE – NO MATTER WHAT
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.
- OLAMIDE – WHO YOU EPP
- AJEBUTTER FEAT. FALZ – BAD GANG
- KOKER – KO LE WERK
- YCEE – JAGABAN
- SMALL DOCTOR – GBERA
- 2T BOYS – CUSTOMER DADA NI
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.
- PICK UP – ADEKUNLE GOLD
- SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING – BRYMO
- YOU SUPPOSE KNOW – BEZ
- WAIT FOR ME – JOHNNY DRILLE
- GENTLEMAN – RIC HASSANI
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 promotion) and acceptability (Sales and popularity).
- STORIES THAT TOUCH – FALZ
- NEW ERA – KISS DANIEL
- WANTED – WANDE COAL
- SEYI OR SHAY – SEYI SHAY
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste for the year under review.
- WIZKID
- TIWA SAVAGE
- FALZ
- YEMI ALADE
- OLAMIDE
SONG OF THE YEAR
A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.
- FINAL (BABA NLA) – WIZKID
- OSINACHI – HUMBLESMITH FEAT. DAVIDO
- PICK UP – ADEKUNLE GOLD
- REGGAE BLUES – HARRYSONG FEAT.
- FADA FADA – PHYNO FEAT. OLAMIDE
AFRICAN ARTISTE
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.
- SAUTI SOL
- CASPER NYOVEST
- DJ MAPHORISA
- STONEBWOY
- SARKODIE