THE 2016 VGMAs AND MY PREDICTIONS

The nominations for this year's VGMAs which happens to be the 17th edition was released on the 27th of February and as usual,came with so much controversy as to who deserved to be on the list and who didn't. The method of releasing the nominations this year was mainly on the EIB (Excellence In Broadcasting) platforms comprising Live FM,Starr FM and GHONE TV just to mention but a few.This was indeed novel but came with its own challenges as other media houses felt neglected but having lived in Ghana all my life with hopes of pursuing a masters degree in the US by the way, change is something we find difficult to embrace in our part of the world and so I was not surprised at the behaviour of the other media houses.Since we are learning from best practices like the GRAMMYs where the rights for the first announcement of nominations have been given to an exclusive media house,I do not think this is a big deal because after the first announcement,all other media houses can then announce the nominations on their platforms.

And now to the substantive matter of the nominations and my predictions, I will do this in two ways;who I think will win based on work actually done and success of the work done (My Head) and who I think will win because its a personal favourite (My Heart) .'My Head' predictions should be taken more seriously and will come with explanations not to say 'My Heart" predictions should be taken with a pinch of salt because it might just swap on the award night itself just saying though and in some instances the predictions will be the same.
And now to my predictions;

Artiste Of The Year
VVIP
Sarkodie
Bisa Kdei
Stonebwoy
SP Kofi Sarpong
E.L
MY HEAD: E.L (E.L's music was everywhere last year be it tv,radio and social media. He released three projects namely BAR(Best African Rapper) 2 mix tape, a sophomore album 'ELOM' (Everybody Loves Original Music)  and  a joint project called 'Project hip hop 2' with C-real which were all received very well. He was just the guy to beat and performed on all major shows from Ghana Meets Naija to S concert and even held his own concert at The World Trade Center christened "The Bar Concert" which I missed beacuse of an examination the next day.)

MY HEART: E.L
 
Most Popular Song Of The Year
Skolom- VVIP ft Sena Dagadu
Mansa- Bisa Kdei
Aporsor- Nicholas Omane Acheapong
Go Higher-Stonebwoy
Ekikime- Wisa ft Luther
Mi Naa bo po- E.L
Ye wo Krom- Atom
Susuka-Kofi Kinaata
MY HEAD: Mansa - Bisa Kdei (Mansa was the life of every party last year.I say this because I am a disc jockey(dj) myself who has specialized in drink-ups for now. It was so popular girls with the name just became proud bearing the name.)
MY HEART: Susuka - Kofi Kinaata

Album of The Year
Verified-Mzvee
Mary-Sarkodie
ELOM- EL
Breakthrough- Bisa Kdei
I Believe- SP Kofi Sarpong
MY HEAD: ELOM - E.L (ELOM is definitely taking this but not hands down. E.L is so versatile you don't know what to expect next. With radio hits like koko, minaa bo po and shelele,it was the dopest album last year no doubt )
MY HEART: ELOM - E.L

Gospel Song of The year
Hour by Hour – SP Kofi Sarpong ft Joyce Blessing
Yoboyo – Kofi Gyan
W'ow nkwa wo wor Ade – Mary Owusu
Hyebere Sesafuor – Obaapa Christie
Aporsor – Nicholas Omane Acheampong
MY HEAD: Hour by Hour - SP Kofi Sarpong ft Joyce Blessing (Good song by two gospel heavyweights and should win)
MY HEART: Hyebere Sesafour-Obaapa Christie

Gospel Artiste of the Year
Obaapa Christie
Joe Mettle
Nicholas Omane Acheampong
Patience Nyarko
SP Kofi Sarpong
Preachers
MY HEAD: SP Kofi Sarpong (This police officer with swag was just everywhere last year performing on shows you naturally expect just secular artistes to be billed for. He has a good management team that promotes his songs well too )
MY HEART: Joe Mettle

Highlife song of the Year
Take Away – Acka Blay ft Cabum
Hw3 – Becca
Mansa – Bisa Kdei
Pimpinaa – Obrafour ft Bisa Kdei
Makoma – R2bees
Susuka – Kofi Kinaata
Alewa – Ofori Amponsah ft Sarkodie
MY HEAD: Mansa - Bisa Kdei (How can it win the ultimate and not win highlife song of the year.#LOGIC..I will stop following the VGMAs if this does not happen.)
MY HEART: Susuka - Kofi Kinaata

HIP HOP Song of the Year
All Black – E.L ft Pappy Kojo, Joey B
Fire Bon Dem – Flowking Stone
Yakubu – Kwaw Kese
Hand to Mouth – Sarkodie
Nineteen Ninety – Omar Sterling
Ay3 Late – Pappy Kojo ft Sarkodie
MY HEAD:All Black - EL ft Pappy Kojo, Joey B (All Black wins this because the song was released at a time when perhaps the most anticipated Ghanaian song of the this decade 'New Guy' by Sarkodie featuring Ace Hood was also released but it still held its own and won in my view and that of many music lovers in the country. It was also released at a time Ghana faced arguably its biggest disaster which was a gas explosion at a Goil filling station near Kwame Nkrumah Circle on 3rd June and in a way was the official song for this sad event event we pray does not occur again because we were all supposed to be in 'all black'. Sorry if I brought back sad memories. I am deeply sorry. Musically, the song was very good too.)
MY HEART: All Black - EL ft Pappy Kojo, Joey B

HIPLIFE Song of the Year
Crusade – Donzy ft Kofi Kinaata
Ye Wo Krom – Atom
Koko – E.L
Ekiki Me – Wisa ft Luther
Skolom – VVIP ft Sena Dagadu
MY HEAD: Ekikime- Wisa ft Luther (This song was very popular everywhere u went..It could easily pass for song of the year if not for mansa. Sarkodie contacting Wisa Greid for a remix just took it to the next level n made it a monster hit)
MY HEART: Skolom- VVIP ft Sena Dagadu

REGGAE/DANCEHALL Song of the Year
Serwaa Akoto – Black Rasta
It’s So Crazy – De Voice
Hold Me Now- Mzvee
Go Higher – Stonebwoy
Holiday – A.K Songstress
Fire – Jupitar ft Stonebwoy
MY HEAD: Go higher-Stonebwoy (This is by far the easiest category.. Go higher wins it hands down..Needs little explanation)
MY HEART: Go higher-Stonebwoy

Best Female Vocalist
Boom Boom Beat – Adina
Me Do Wo -Irene Logan
Hold Me Now – Mzvee
Ego Bee – Nana Yaa
Sarkcess Story – Efya
Dumb Drum – Yaa Yaa
MY HEAD: Sarkcess story - Efya (It looks like Efya would bounce back to win an award she kinda monopolized until last year when Noella Wiyaala spoilt her party. She really sang on Sarkcess story and might just win the award.)
MY HEART: Hold me now - Mzvee

Best Male Vocalist
Afriyie – Go Gaga
De Voice – It’s Crazy
Knii Lantey – Thinking Out Loud
Pat Thomas – Bra
Mugeez – Concert Party
Akwaboah Jnr – Mewu
MY HEAD: Knii Lantey-Thinking Out Aloud (Knii Lantey won this award some years back to the surprise of virtually everyone because we did not actually know him and not necessarily because he did not deserve it. We then took notice of him and he has not flattered to deceive at all and his version of Ed Sheeran's "thinking out aloud" was really dope and brought out his vocal prowess and I think he stands tall in this category and would most likely win.)
MY HEART: Akwaboah Jnr-Mewu

Afro Pop Song of The Year
Only – Fuse ODG
Gboza – R2Bees ft Davido
Nyedzilo – Edem ft Reekado
Banks Abofra – Mzvee ft Efya
Coastal Vibes – Adina ft Trigmatic
Mi Naa Bo Po – E.L
MY HEAD: Mi Naa Bo Po-E.L(I cant really define what an afro pop song is but looking at past winners and the kind of sound they won with and popularity,'Mi Naa Bo Po' will soar highest.)
MY HEART: Mi Naa Bo Po-E.L

Producer of the Year
Mo Beat – Skolom
Bisa KDei/Kaywa– Mansa
Kwadwo Akwaboah – Aporsor
Beatz Dakar – Go Higher
E.L – MI Naa No Bo Po
Dr. Ray – Ye Wo Krom
King Dee – Susuka
MY HEAD: Bisa Kdei/Kaywa-Mansa (The producer of the song of the year  normally wins the producer of the year.The mansa instrumental was quite dope too so its cool Bisa Kdei/Kaywa wins)
MY HEART: Mo Beat-Skolom

Record of the Year
Coastal Vibes – Adina ft Trigmatic
Abofra – Mzvee ft Efya
Concert Party – R2Bees
Bra – Sarkodie ft Pat Thomas
Dumb Drum – Yaa Yaa
Shine A Light – Rocky Dawuni
Forget Dem – M.anifest
MY HEAD: Abofra-Mzvee ft Efya (The record of the year is the song that was really good(dope) but did not get enough buzz and media presence. Abrofra,which came with a very nice video definitely did this and would win record of the year.)
MY HEART: Forget Dem-M.anifest

Song Writer of the Year
Rex Omar – Paapa
Knii Lantey – Beautiful Virgo
Kofi Kinaata – Susuka
Mzvee, Richie & Efya – Abofra
Obrafour – Nkontompo
Stonebwoy – Go Higher
MY HEAD: Kofi Kinaata-Susuka (I won't talk much about this category because it is kinda straight forward to me. Kofi Kinaata is deep wati..herh)
MY HEART: Kofi Kinaata-Susuka

Best Group of the Year
VVIP
R2Bees
Keche
Gallaxy
Preachers
MY HEAD: VVIP (There was a time in Ghanaian music when groups dominated but that is not the case any longer.All groups but VVIP are struggling to make hits and make a consistent impact on the music scene. VVIP has really worked well in my view with Reggie Rockstone bringing a different dimension to the group which is consistency on social and traditional media with his fluency and oratory skills and they are therefore mentioned on all major entertainment shows. They also embarked on Corporate Social Responsibility by leading the fight against poor sanitation in the country by participating actively in the monthly sanitation day initiative.)
MY HEART: VVIP

Best Rapper of the Year
E.L – King Without A Crown
Flowking Stone -Fire Bon Dem
Omar Sterling – Nineteen Ninety
Pappy Kojo – Ay3 Late
Sarkodie – Hand to Mouth
MY HEAD: E.L – King Without A Crown ("I am the representation of  Hiphop from Africa"-those are the words of E.L who would defend his crown as Rapper of the year for his lyrical dexterity and good and timely use of puns and metaphors on the track "KWAC" on which he rapped in English,pidgin English,Ga and twi. Who does that! I think he would monopolize this category if he continues on his current path. He has a new song out called "Fire Cant Cool" ft Mzvee )
MY HEART: E.L-King Without a Crown

Best Collaboration of the Year
Skolom – VVIP ft Sena Dagadu
Mewu – Sarkodie ft Akwaboah Jnr
Ay3 Late – Pappy Kojo ft Sarkodie
Ekiki Me – Wisa ft Luther
Crusade – Donzy ft Kofi Kinaata
Pimpinaa – Obrafour ft Bisa KDei
MY HEAD:Crusade – Donzy ft Kofi Kinaata (This is how a collaboration ought to be.The synergy between the two artistes on the song was so smooth and effortless and therefore properly carried the intended message across. No wonder this song is liked by all due to its funny lyrics and even video.)
MY HEART: Skolom – VVIP ft Sena Dagadu

Best Music Video of the Year
Shelele – E.L
Nkontompo – Obrafour
Dumb Drum – Yaa Yaa
Girlfriend – Edem
Crazy for God – Preachers
MY HEAD: Shelele-E.L (E.L is known for quality videos ever since he burst onto the music scene even with his first commercial video "Obuu mo" and Phamous Philms with such masterpiece of a video did not put a dent on his record at all. This song and video had massive airplay everywhere and the song would have being nominated for song of the year if not released in October,2014. Shelele wins with its popularity.)
MY HEART: Shelele-E.L

New Artist of the Year
Nero X
Donzy
Wisa
Teephlow
Atom
Kofi Kinaata
MY HEAD: Kofi Kinaata (The 'susuka' hit maker wins this award hands down for the good work he did last year.)
MY HEART: Kofi Kinaata

Highlife Artiste Of The Year
Bisa Kdei
Ofori Amponsah
Afriyie
Nero X
MY HEAD: Bisa Kdei (This is one of the easiest categories in this year's awards scheme. Bisa Kdei all the way).
MY HEART: Bisa Kdei

African Artist of the Year
Wizkid
Olamide
Korede Bello
Harry Song
Patoranking
MY HEAD: Wizkid (Wizkid is redefining African Music and taking it to the world collaborating with artistes who matter in the hiphop and RnB genres like Drake(he is on Drake's album),Chris Brown,Tyga and Designer just to mention but a few. Even if he did nothing last year,for the mere fact that he will be performing on May 7 is enough grounds he would win due to what has happened in the past when some artistes did not deserve the awards but won because they performed at the event)
MY HEART: Olamide
And there you have it.Comments and suggestions are welcome.