58th Grammys 2016: The Complete Winners List

Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd all came into the 58th annual Grammy Awards with strong chances of winning, with Lamar earning 11 nominations and Swift and the Weeknd up for seven each. But they were hardly the only nominees up for a Gramophone Monday. Here's a full rundown of all the Grammy winners. Rolling Stone will be updating this list as awards come in.

Album of the Year: Taylor Swift, 1989

Record of the Year: Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk"

Song of the Year: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

Best New Artist: Meghan Trainor

Best Rock Performance: Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"

Best Country Album: Chris Stapleton, Traveller

Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly

Best Musical Theatre Album: Hamilton

Best Pop Vocal Album: Taylor Swift, 1989

Best Instrumental Composition: Arturo O'Farrill, The Afro Latin Jazz Suite

Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"

Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals: Maria Schneider, "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)"

Best Recording Package: Still The King: Celebrating The Music Of Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys

Best Album Notes: Joni Mitchell, 'Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced'

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32)

Best Historical Album: The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Shawn Everett, Bob Ludwig, Sound & Color

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: Dave Audé, "Uptown Funk (Dave Audé Remix)"

Best Surround Sound Album: James Guthrie, Joel Plante, Amused To Death

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest, Sylva

Best New Age Album: Paul Avgerinos, Grace

Best Improvised Jazz Solo: Christian McBride, "Cherokee"

Best Jazz Vocal Album: Cecile McLorin Salvent, For One To Love

Best Jazz Instrumental Album: John Scofield, Past Present

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Thompson Fields

Best Latin Jazz Album: Eliane Elias, Made In Brazil

Best Reggae Album: Morgan Heritage, Strictly Roots

Best World Music Album: Angelique Kidjo, Sings

Best Children’s Album: Tim Kubart, Home

Best Spoken Word Album: Jimmy Carter, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety

Best Comedy Album: Louis CK,  Live At Madison Square Garden

Best Latin Pop Album: Ricky Martin, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Edition)

Best Regional Mexican Music Album: Los Tigres Del Norte, Realidades - Deluxe Edition

Best Tropical Latin Album: Ruben Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orchestra, Son De Panamá

Best American Roots Performance: Mavis Staples, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean'

Best American Roots Song: Jason Isbell,"24 Frames"

Best Americana Album: Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free

Best Bluegrass Album: The SteelDrivers, The Muscle Shoals Recordings

Best Blues Album: Buddy Guy, Born To Play Guitar

Best Regional Roots Music Album: Jon Cleary, Go Go Juice

Producer Of The Year, Classical: Judith Sherman

Best Opera Recording: Seiji Ozawa, Isabel Leonard, Dominic Fyfe, "Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade"

Best Choral Performance: Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Chorale, Kansas City Chorale, "Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil"

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: Eighth Blackbird, "Filament"

Best Classical Instrumental Solo: Augustin Hadelich, Ludovic Morlot, "Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L'Arbre Des Songes"

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall

Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Stephen Paulus, "Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances"

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: Antonio Sanchez, Birdman

Best Song Written For Visual Media: Common, Rhymefest, John Legend, "Glory"

Best Music Video: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood"

Best Music Film: Amy

Best Gospel Performance/Song: Kirk Franklin, "Wanna Be Happy?"

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: Francesca Battistelli, "Holy Spirit"

Best Gospel Album: Israel and Newbreed, Covered: Alive In Asia [Live]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: Toby Mac, This Is Not A Test

Best Country Solo Performance: Chris Stapleton, Traveller

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"

Best Country Solo Performance: Chris Stapleton, Traveller

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"

Best Country Song: Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, "Girl Crush"

Best Dance Recording: Skrillex, Diplo and Justin Bieber - "Where Are Ü Now"

Best Dance/Electronic Album: Skrillex and Diplo, Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack Ü

Best R&B Performance: The Weeknd - "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)"

Best Traditional R&B Performance: Lalah Hathaway, "Little Ghetto Boy"

Best R&B Song: D'Angelo, Kendra Foster, "Really Love"

Best Urban Contemporary Album: The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness

Best R&B Album: D'Angelo, Black Messiah

Best Metal Performance: Ghost, "Cirice"

Best Rock Song: Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"

Best Rock Album: Muse, Drones

Best Alternative Music Album: Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color

Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat, 'These Walls'

Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar, Kawan Prather, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams, "Alright"

Best Pop Solo Performance: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars,"Uptown Funk"

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap, The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Jeff Bhasker

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Cynthia Morgan insults Burna Boy

Simanitiya, the latest music video of I’m Taken singer, Cynthia Morgan, is one that just might get her in trouble with her male colleague, Burna Boy, who played the role of her lover boy in the video.

Prior to the video’s release, the two of them had released suggestive pictures which made it seem like they were dating.

The video’s arrival however made it clear that their recent closeness is due to the fact that they were starring in the same video.

And being that they are both stars, the normal thing is that both their names should be in the video’s credits.

Shockingly, though, Burna Boy’s name isn’t on the video, and this omission, or more likely, commission, is one that might just sour whatever relationship he and Morgan has, as it’s nothing but a professional insult that he wasn’t credited.

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Wanted is for those who hate me —Wande Coal

Popular singer, Wande Coal, has finally disclosed the title and artwork of his highly anticipated sophomore album which is billed for release this month.

The long overdue album is appropriately titled Wanted and its artwork is attractive, to say the least.

Even as its yet to hit the market, Wanted is already generating ripples because, speaking about it, Coal has made comments that people believe are directed at D’Banj and Don Jazzy, his former bosses at Mo’ Hits Records, who released his extremely successful album, Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits, and then failed to release his sophomore album.

It’s believed in most quarters however that the Mo’ Hits non-release of Coal’s sophomore album was a deliberate ploy.

And so Coal had this to say about the album which s finally ready to see the light of day.

“Finally, Black Diamond presents Wanted, my sophomore album. This is for the diehard fans, the critics, haters, the media houses and more importantly, those who never stopped believing. This is a reminder of who I was and who I have evolved into. This is where I want to be. WANTED.”

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2face’s biography for public presentation on October 20

A Very Good Bad Guy: The Story Of Innocent ‘2face’ Idibia, the biography of Nigerian pop icon 2face will finally be released on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

The book launch, according to NET publisher and Idibia’s former publicist, Ayeni Adekunle, will hold at Terra Kulture, Lagos.

The 460-page book will contain a wide range of materials on Idibia’s life and times, including accounts from his mother, his wife, siblings, colleagues and mentors. It will also contain selected lyrics and discography, as well as editorial materials dating as far back as 2005.

The biography, done in commemoration of the singer’s 40th birthday, is a first-of-its-kind for any pop star in Idibia’s category, and the first by any contemporary Nigerian media platform. Fully funded and edited by NET News, owners of Newsroom, THENETNG, Orin, NECLive and Star, the biography is part of the NET Book Series, a dedicated project to document an important era in Nigeria’s creative industry.

“It’s the first of many,” Ayeni says.

Already confirmed for Idibia’s book launch are the duo of Tee A and Ali Baba who will serve as event host and book reviewer respectively.

The event will also feature a live conversation between book editor Ayeni Adekunle and 2face Idibia.

The 2face Idibia biography is the second installment in the NET Book Series, following the publication of Chris Ihidero’s Wanderings Of A Rapidly Degenerating Mind earlier this year. The book project is projected to replace the company’s weekly print newspaper which has in recent times been epileptic and is already scheduled to go off the stands later this month

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Olamide, Phyno, Lil Kesh, Others Set To Storm London For YBNL’s Concert

Olamide and his goons which includes Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Chinko Ekun and Dj Enimoney will thrill UK fans to their toes during YBNL‘s London Concert come Sunday October 25, 2015.

Also, Phyno will turn up as a special guest at the forthcoming concert which will be the first ever YBNL U.K. concert and is a one night only event, set to happen live at the venue TROXY in London.

“London has become the unofficial second home for African stars and its an honour to be performing for those fans in the UK that support me regardless of the distance between us’’ says Olamide, CEO YBNL.

The event is organised by Smade Entertainment, and will be hosted by UK comedian and OAP, Eddie Kadi.

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I’m Not Here to Inspire Your Children – Female Musician

Zambian singer Kachanana Simate is under immense pressure and criticism from the people of Zambia for stripping down to a bikini to promote her new single Sexy Body.

According to critics, the singer’s picture does not reflect the true character of Zambian culture and as such a disgrace to womanhood, however, the singer believes otherwise.

In a very blunt tete a tete  interview with BBC Africa’s Meluse Kapatamoyo in Lusaka, Kachanana Simate who believes sex sells disclosed she was not perturbed with the insults being hurled at her since her business is to make music and not to serve as an inspiration to young children.

“I think people are now getting to know me as a sexy girl who loves to flaunt it. I’m an artist. I’m not a role model. I’m not an inspiration. I’m not here to inspire your children. You, parents need to inspire your children. My business is music creation.”

Although she admits the picture in bikini sis a bit controversial, she also believes it is just a way of being free and feeling proud in her skin.

“This picture…yes it’s controversial…yes it’s different. People don’t see people proudly showing off their bodies particularly Zambian musicians but I think I look so hot.”

She also believes the heavy backlash is due to the fact that she is a dark-skinned girl.

” I know the negativity is coming from the fact that I am a dark-skinned girl proud enough to put on a bikini and get out there like not a black girl but I’m a dark-skinned girl so I think that negativity also points to the hypocrisy of lot of Zambians”, she said.

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Moelogo keeps rising, nominated for MOBO

Coming on the back of his 2015 NEA Awards nomination for Diaspora Artist of the Year and the success of his latest single, Do You Love Me, which is being championed by everyone from BBC 1 Xtra, Beat FM, Capital Xtra and Bang Radio to Africa’s leading online publications, Moelogo has now been nominated for Best African Act at this year’s MOBO Awards.
 Ever since bursting onto the scene with his breakthrough single, Pangolo, Moelogo has been growing from strength to strength, from his debut EP, Moe Is My Name, Music Is My Logo, in 2013, and collaborations with DRB LasGidi and Fuse ODG among others, to last year’s underground hit single, The Baddest, featuring Giggs, and Island Records-signed, My Sweetie, Moelogo has become a force to be reckoned with in the international afrobeat landscape.
Moelogo needs your help to make it into the final five nominees for the Best African Act, which will be decided by your votes! This year, the MOBO Awards head to Leeds’ First Direct Arena for the first time ever for their 20th award ceremony on November 4th.
Other nominees for the Best African Act category include Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Davido and Patoranking.

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Afropop princess Katongo drops Baba video

With support from tastemakers such as Nigeria’s Beat FM and Naija FM, Zambia’s Power FM, Hot 87 FM and Flava FM, as well as the UK’s BBC 1 Xtra for her single, JOY, fast-rising afropop princess, Katongo, returns with the visuals for her brand new single, Baba, produced by award-winning Zambi an beatmaker and songwriter, Chali Bravo.
 Fun and flirty in essence, Baba is an exciting record that celebrates the African man. Already being described as one of the best international afropop songs of the year, Baba is simply good music for your listening pleasure, from its uptempo African drums to the catchy chorus to Katongo’s sultry vocals. It’s also a welcome return for Katongo who is set to take African music by storm.
Filmed on location at the renowned Orange Studios in London and directed by Krish Knightstar (Future Productions) and Katongo, the visuals are a bright and colourful affair, while remaining simple and sexy, as it visually expresses Katongo’s sentiment on Baba, paying homage to African men, represented by her lush leading man in the 3-minute long video.
Soon to embark on a nationwide UK university tour this month plus a South African tour scheduled for early next year, Katongo is hard at work, writing and recording her debut album, which is due to be released next year, and if JOY and new hit Baba are the indicators, her debut album will definitely be one to watch out for.

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Oritse Femi, Kiss Daniel bag award as MAFP Queen emergeswork

 The Peace Ambassador Agency made history delivering a well packaged event during its fourth edition of Miss Ambassador for peace and achievers award this year at the Sheraton hotels Abuja.

Capturing some big wigs in the entertainment industry and different sectors of society, a combined three ballrooms of the Sheraton hotel which was filled to an overflow, came alive with excitement when Kiss Daniel, Eucharia Anunobi, MC Shakara, Alex Ekubo, Mr. Nigeria Emmanuel Ikubese, Okeke Zandas, AIT, John Fashanu and so many others received awards for outstanding and impactful performances in their various fields of endeavor.

The excitement came to a crescendo when Oritse Femi gave a studding performance of his smash hit ‘Double Wahala’ just before receiving his award as Artiste of the year.

Speaking to Friday Flavor, a recipient of peace achievers award 2014 edition, Rachel Bakam, challenged the recipients of this year’s award and the seven peace queens to step up and defend their award and ensure they contribute their quota to the fight for peace both within and outside the country.

“I am looking forward to seeing people who are passionate about contributing to not only the peace of Nigeria but the peace of the world. I received last year and I have been a peace ambassador since then that and I expect people who are officially either crowned as queen of peace ambassador and whomever receives this award will take it upon themselves to carry on with this fight.”

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Headies2015 Nominees list : Olamide leads list with 8

1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Eyo – Asa

3. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo

4. Bez – There’s A Fire

5. Cobhams – Do the right Thing

2. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

1. Don Jazzy – Godwin (Korede Bello)

2. Mastakraft – Wiser (Flavour)

3. Young John – Bobo (Olamide)

4. Shizzi – Fans Mi (DavidO)

5. Legendury Beatz – Ojuelegba

6. Cobhams – There’s A Fire (Bez)

3. 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. Jamb Question (Simi) – Mex

2. Crazy (Seyi Shay) – Meji Alabi

3. The Sound (DavidO Feat. Uhuru & Dj Buckz) – Sesan

4. Katapot (Reekado Banks) – UnLimited LA

5. Baby Jollof (Solid Star Feat. Tiwa Savage) – Clarence Peters

4. BEST R&B/POP ALBUM

A category for the best R&B/Pop Album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

1. Bed of Stone – Asa

2. A.Y.O. – Wizkid

3. King of Queens – Yemi Alade

4. Rich & Famous – Praiz

5. Double Trouble – Psquare

5. BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

1. Heartbeat – Praiz

2. Baby Daddy – Iyanya

3. Say You Love Me – Leriq ft. Wizkid

4. Do the Right Thing – Cobhams Ft. Bez

5. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo

6. BEST POP SINGLE

A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group)

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Collabo – P-Square Feat. Don Jazzy

3. My Woman, My Everything – Patoranking Feat. Wande Coal

4. Woju – Kiss Daniel

5. Godwin – Korede Bello

6. Bobo – Olamide

7. BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE

A category for the best Reggae/Dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group).

1. German Juice – Cynthia Morgan

2. Sanko – Timaya

3. My Body – Solid Star Feat. Timaya

4. Daniella Whyne – Patoranking

5. Cheques and Balance – Burna Boy

6. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay

8. BEST RAP ALBUM

A Non-Voting Category for the Best Album By A Rap Artiste Or Group In Year Under Review.

1. Baba Hafusa – Reminisce

2. Street OT – Olamide

3. Chairman – M.I.

4. Above Ground Level – Modenine

9. BEST COLLABO

A voting category for the best R&B, Pop or Hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

1. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide & Phyno

2. Hold on – Joe El Feat. 2Face Idibia

3. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay Feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay

4. Shoki (Remix) – Lil’Kesh Feat. Olamide & David O

5. Do The right Thing – Cobhams ft. Bez

6. Sisi – Praiz ft. Wizkid

10. BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap.

1. King Kong – Vector

2. Bad Belle – M.I

3. Bank Alert – Ill Bliss

4. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide, Phyno & Stomrex

5. G.O.D – T.R

11. 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.

1. Praiz – If I fall

2. Shaydee – High

3. Timi Dakolo – Wish Me Well

4. Cobhams – Do The Right Thing

5. Bez – There’s A Fire

12. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

1. Waje – Coco Baby

2. Aramide – Iwo Nikan

3. Asa – Bed of Stone

4. Simi – Tiff

5. Yemi Alade – Duro Timi

13. NEXT RATED

This category is a voting category for the most promising upcoming act in the year under review.

1. Reekado Bankz

2. Kiss Daniel

3. Cynthia Morgan

4. Korede Bello

5. Lil’ Kesh

14. HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION

A voting category for the best new artiste in the year under review.

1. Praiz – Rich n Famous

2. Yemi Alade – King of Queens

3. Skales – Man of the Year

15. 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.

1. Ill Bliss – Bank Alert (remix) Feat. Ice Prince, Eva Alordiah & Phyno

2. Vector – King Kong

3. Reminisce – Baba Hafusa

4. G.O.D – T.R

16. 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.

1. Reminisce – Skillashi

2. Olamide – Bobo

3. Small Doctor – Mosquito Killer

4. Mastakraft feat. Olamide, CDQ and David O – Indomie

5. Falz The Bad Guy Feat. Yemi Alade & Poe – Hello Bae

17. 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.

1. Di’Ja – Awwwwww

2. Bez – There’s A Fire

3. Asa – Satan Be Gone

4. Adekunle Gold – Sade

5. Ugovinna – Rain On Me

6. Simi – Tiff

18. 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).

1. Rich n Famous – Praiz

2. King of Queens – Yemi Alade

3. Street OT – Olamide

4. Chairman – M.I.

5. A.Y.O. – Wizkid

6. Double Trouble – P Square

19. ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste for the year under review.

1. Olamide

2. David O

3. Wizkid

4. Yemi Alade

5. P-Square

20. SONG OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Godwin – Korede Bello

3. Kiss Daniel – Woju

4. Olamide – Bobo

 21. 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.

1. Diamond Platnumz

2. Cassper Nyovest

3. Sarkodie

4. Uhuru

5. AKA

HALL OF FAME

Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.

2Face Idibia

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Grace Adenekan’s ‘Bigger than the Biggest’

Grace Adenekan, popularly called Akorin, will be launching her debut gospel album and video tagged “Bigger than the Biggest” on the 1st of November, 2015 at the Centre for Management Development Hall, Magodo, Lagos.

In a statement, it was unveiled that Grace Adenekan has been a gospel artiste for many years; she started out as a youngster in the church choir and has since then followed her passion by proclaiming the gospel through music. 

The album has 8 tracks has been done in partnership with her husband, Kehinde Adenekan, who composed and co-arranged the music with Segun Joshua. Akin Jazzy, featured in the track that the album is named after ‘Bigger than the Biggest’, and EMX mixed the track, ‘Sope’ and directed the video.

Currently, one of the songs titled ‘Most High’ has been trending on Youtube in recent times. Some of the A-list gospel artistes billed for the launch includes Kenny Kore, Mike Abdul, Pelumi Strings, Nixon Sax and Ann.

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MTV VMA 2015 winner list

Who took home the prizes at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards? 

Check out the full list of winners below!

Taylor Swift Brings 'Bad Blood' Squad to VMAs 

Video of the Year:

Beyoncé - "7/11"

Ed Sheeran - "Thinking Out Loud"

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood" -- WINNER

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - "Uptown Funk"

Kendrick Lamar - "Alright"

 

Best Male Video:

Ed Sheeran - "Thinking Out Loud"

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - "Uptown Funk" -- WINNER

Kendrick Lamar - "Alright"

The Weeknd - "Earned It"

Nick Jonas - "Chains"

 

Best Female Video:

Beyoncé - "7/11"

Taylor Swift - "Blank Space" -- WINNER

Nicki Minaj - "Anaconda"

Sia - "Elastic Heart"

Ellie Goulding - "Love Me Like You Do"

 

MTV VMAs' 15 Craziest Moments of All Time

Best Hip Hop Video:

Fetty Wap - "Trap Queen"

Nicki Minaj - "Anaconda" -- WINNER

Kendrick Lamar - "Alright"

Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth - "See You Again"

Big Sean ft. E-40 - "IDFWU"

 

Best Pop Video:

Beyoncé - "7/11"

Ed Sheeran - "Thinking Out Loud"

Taylor Swift - "Blank Space" -- WINNER

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - "Uptown Funk"

Maroon 5 - "Sugar"

 

Best Rock Video:

Hozier - "Take Me To Church"

Fall Out Boy - "Uma Thurman" -- WINNER

Florence + the Machine - "Ship To Wreck"

Walk the Moon - "Shut Up and Dance"

Arctic Monkeys - "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"

 

Artist to Watch:

Fetty Wap - "Trap Queen" -- WINNER

Vance Joy - "Riptide"

George Ezra - "Budapest"

James Bay - "Hold Back The River"

FKA Twigs - "Pendulum"

 

Best Collaboration:

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood" -- WINNER

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - "Uptown Funk"

Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth - "See You Again"

Ariana Grande & The Weeknd - "Love Me Harder"

Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj - "Bang Bang"

 

Video With a Social Message:

Jennifer Hudson - "I Still Love You"

Colbie Caillat - "Try"

Big Sean ft. Kanye West and John Legend - "One Man Can Change the World" -- WINNER

Rihanna - "American Oxygen"

Wale - "The White Shoes"

Song of the Summer:

David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Afrojack & Bebe Rexha - "Hey Mama"

Demi Lovato - "Cool For The Summer"

Fetty Wap ft. Monty - "My Way"

Fifth Harmony ft. Kid Ink - "Worth It"

Five Seconds of Summer - "She's Kinda Hot" -- WINNER

Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ - "Lean On"

OMI - "Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)"

Selena Gomez ft. A$AP Rocky - "Good For You"

Silento - "Watch Me"

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood"

The Weeknd - "Can't Feel My Face"

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES

 

Best Art Direction:

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood" (Charles Infante)

Snoop Dogg - "So Many Pros" (Jason Fijal) -- WINNER

Jack White - "Would You Fight For My Love" (Jeff Peterson)

The Chemical Brothers - "Go" (Michel Gondry)

Skrillex & Diplo - "Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)

 

Best Choreography:

Beyoncé - "7/11" (Beyoncé, Chris Grant, Additional choreography: Gabriel Valenciano)

OK Go - "I Won’t Let You Down" (OK Go, air:man and Mori Harano) -- WINNER

Chet Faker - "Gold" (Ryan Heffington)

Ed Sheeran - "Don’t" (Nappy Tabs)

Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Never Catch Me" (Keone and Mari Madrid)

 

Best Cinematography:

Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Never Catch Me" (Larkin Sieple) -- WINNER

Ed Sheeran - "Thinking Out Loud" (Daniel Pearl)

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood" (Christopher Probst)

FKA Twigs - "Two Weeks" (Justin Brown)

Alt-J - "Left Hand Free" (Mike Simpson)

 

Best Direction:

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood" (Joseph Kahn)

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - "Uptown Funk" (Bruno Mars and Cameron Duddy)

Kendrick Lamar - "Alright" (Colin Tilley & The Little Homies) -- WINNER

Hozier - "Take Me To Church" (Brendan Canty, Conal Thomson)

Childish Gambino - "Sober" (Hiro Murai)

 

Best Editing:

Beyoncé - "7/11" (Beyoncé, Ed Burke, Jonathan Wing) -- WINNER

Ed Sheeran - "Don’t" (Jacquelyn London)

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood" (Chancler Haynes at Cosmo Street)

A$AP Rocky - "L$D" (Dexter Navy)

Skrillex & Diplo - "Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer)

 

Best Visual Effects:

Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Bad Blood" (Ingenuity Studios)

FKA Twigs - "Two Weeks" (Gloria FX, Tomash Kuzmytskyi, and Max Chyzhevskyy)

Childish Gambino - "Telegraph Ave." (Gloria FX)

Skrillex & Diplo - "Where Are U Now" with Justin Bieber (Brewer) -- WINNER

Tyler, The Creator - "F****** Young/Death Camp" (Gloria FX)

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MUSIC: Man of the Year

It appears Skales is more man of the moment than of the year. Here is why

Few debut albums have been as long in the works as Skales’. Since signing with Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) in 2009, the artiste, born Raoul John Njeng-Njeng has struggled to achieve the kind of success that came almost naturally to his former comrade in arms Wizkid.

The lowlights of his unfruitful spell at EME are common knowledge for pop culture enthusiasts but none more conspicuous than his inability to record a solo album in all that time. After he was put out of his EME misery, Skales scored his first hit single, Shake body in 2014. Like Iyanya before him, the need to recapture the commercial appeal of the breakout single has overwhelmed both he and his Baseline record label. The disc, Man of the year is the unfortunate evil fruit of this obsession.

Really it is hard to fault an artiste who chooses to rely on what worked the last time to stay atop the food chain, especially for someone like Skales who has had his stock as an artiste plummet so terribly in the past. For whatever you say about Iyanya and his seeming refusal to do any form of decent singing these days, it is the explosion of the incoherent but lovable Kukere that catapulted him onto the A-list and into this particular conversation. Skales quickly abandons any promise he on

ce showed of heading for a Grammy and goes the predictable formulaic route on Man of the year.

For a while, he achieves some success and it seems as if audiences are in for a harmless, pleasurable ride. After a forgettable and barely decipherable intro by Cool FM’s Do2DTun, the action swings instantly into the Burna Boy assisted I’m a winner, a joyous delight that manages to survive Skales’ opening lines, I don popular pass Jaja of Opobo/Them go regret cos dem one do me ojoro.

He rallies soon enough with his rap verse in the final act. This quickly segues into Lo Le. It is produced by South Africa’s Uhuru so you have heard it before, more times than you care to recall but that doesn’t make it any easier to resist. This is obviously the club banger of the 22 track disc. The first half of the album is the most pleasurable with other radio friendly treats like Always, Wonder and Ijo ayo (featuring guests Davido, Reekado Banks and Olamide respectively.)

After this promising start, the disc quietly disintegrates as Skales and his team abandon rhyme and reason in their search for whatever has worked for every wannabe pop star in the past 2 years. The blatant lack of personality is off putting and further alienates listeners looking for a clue as to what Skales is about as an artiste or even as a person. What he offers in place of distinguishing himself is a Kcee/Harry Song rip off, Whats up, a Sean Tizzle-lite Koleyewon and half-hearted dance hall jams like I’m for real and Naughty.

Man of the year reaches its nadir with unforgivable fluff like Swagger man (with Phyno and Ice Prince who have both never sounded worse on any record this year) and No condition (sporting a dismal use of auto tune). The torture continues almost non stop with the insipid Happy, the migraine inducing Your body hot and the regurgitative Another round.

Actually, only the bravest will still be hanging around by this time. Things are so dire, even Chocolate City’s Victoria Kimani scores a touch down for the first time in a long while on OMG! At this stage of his career, Skales is more occupied with singing than rapping and as such, it is a welcome surprise to discover the young Skales of old going at it so freely and eloquently on Fa ra we, as well as on the album outro, I Forget.

Production is handled by names like Spellz and DJ Coublon and Skales unsurprisingly does not make time for any of his former EME colleagues to appear as guest artistes. For the record, none of his Baseline records colleagues make the cut either. While the best middle finger wave would have been a show of undeniable good music, nothing on this record is indicative of an artiste looking beyond his five minutes of fame.

And maybe it is just as he planned it. Man of the Year should be enough to send Skales to the A-list and keep the endorsement and concert dreams alive. But the boastful title is quite misleading. Skales hasn’t done man of the year quality work on the record. Neither is he in the running for man of the season. At best, he can only hope for a more modest and fleeting title.

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Davido To Perform In Toronto

Come 5th of April, 2014,‘Omo Baba Olowo’ crooner, David Adeleke, popularly known as ‘Davido’ will be thrilling fans in Toronto, Canada.
The live performance will take place under the auspices of the ABB (Abroad Boys) Entertainment. It promises to be exciting.


Recently, Davido has been on a tour of the United Kingdom captivating his fans with his songs. He had just released a new single this year
titled ‘Aye’.

He will be performing alongside the HKN Gang. Already, tickets have gone on sale.

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Jay-Z gives a hip-hop tribute to Beyoncé in new track with Kendrick Lamar

Jay-Z wants his fans to know the Carters are on top of the world.

Days after his wife Beyonce made mention of their marriage in her latest track, Bow Down, the rapper is rhyming about his wife of four years in a hip-hop tribute.  

'Up in the clouds, me and my spouse/Rumours on the ground gettin' too loud,' he spits in Kendrick Lamar's remixed hit B**** Don't Kill My Vibe. 

The title is hardly a romantic indication of the musician's love for his other half, but follows on the heels of Beyonce's own reference to her husband in her own offering released this week, entitled Bow Down/I Been On.

Her three minute, 34 second clip includes the lines: 'I took my time to live my life/But don’t think I’m just his little wife/Don’t get it twisted/This is my s***/Bow down b******'.

While the braggadocious new track addresses her absence from the music industry and asserts her authority as Queen Bee of the charts, following the birth last year of her now 14-month-old daugter, Blue Ivy.

Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, and Beyonce have slowly become more open about their relationship following their 2008 nuptials.

The singer last month premiered her HBO documentary Life is but a Dream, which featured behind-the-scenes footage from her performances and private video diaries including exerpts about her marriage and motherhood.

The star recently revealed she is 'surprised' by how much she has learnt from her daughter, and can't believe how much being a mother has changed her view of herself and given her a 'real purpose'.

The 31-year-old star told the April issue of Shape magazine: 'I just adore being a mother, hearing her say 'Mama' and call me when she needs something. It makes me feel like I have a real purpose here. I enjoy all the things people warned me would be tough to handle.

'I'm most surprised by how much she's taught me. She's only a year old and I've learned so much about myself from her. Giving birth was one of my biggest fears, and having Blue forced me to face it. And now I recognise the strength I have. She teaches me to focus on the things that truly matter, like family, and to pay attention to each moment, because they go by so quickly.'

Beyonce revealed she 'absolutely' hopes to have another child once she finishes her upcoming world tour The Mrs Carter Show, which kicks off Belgrade, Serbia on April 15 and is currently scheduled to wrap up in Brooklyn, New York on August 5, 2013.

She said: 'I'll probably start after this tour. We'll see if it happens.'

Source Dailymail

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Bow Wow Ordered to Pay French Pornstar $80,000 for Unsanctioned Footage

French porn star Celine “Katsuni” Tran is about to be $80,000 richer.

TMZ reports Bow Wow allegedly stole footage of Tran pole dancing in a music video for Electronic Conspiracy, which is a French band. He then used that footage for his music video, “Drank in My Cup,” without permission.

Tran sued Bow Wow back in July 2012. Since the YMCMB rapper didn’t respond to the lawsuit, he is ordered to pay the amount of damages and attorney’s fees. That’s about $79,346.07.

Mr. 106 hasn’t commented on the news yet.

[via TMZ]

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Naeto C relocates

Rapper Naeto C and his heavily pregnant wife Nicole Chikwe on Sunday, March 17, 2013 threw a baby shower in the US as the couple expect their first child.

The rapper has been in the US for many weeks, spending time with his wife as the couple eagerly await the arrival of their first baby. We’ve been told Nicole is due ‘anytime from now’.

Naeto and Nicole got married at an elaborate wedding on Saturday 21, 2012 in Lagos, Nigeria.

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Mary J. Blige Hit With $901,000 Tax Lien

As the saying goes, "More money, more problems," which is exactly what Mary J. Blige is facing after being hit with a $900,000 tax lien.

According to official documents obtained by TMZ, the songstress owes $901,769.65 in back taxes to New Jersey as her financial woes continue.

This is not the first time Mary J has faced money troubles. Blige was sued earlier this month for allegedly defaulting on a $500,000 bank loan. Last year, she was sued for doing the same on a $2.2 million bank loan and her charity was hit with a lawsuit for not paying back a $250,000 loan.

source HipHopDX News

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