The SAMA24 top 20 shortlist for Record of the Year revealed this evening point to a dominant dance culture and a thriving hip hop industry. The nominees were announced on SABC1’s Live Amp, kick starting a public vote season to determine the winner.
Rapper AKA leads the pack with three nods. He has his monster hits The World Is Yours, Caiphus Song and Don’t Forget To Pray featuring Anatii to thank for the triple whammy.
While Lady Zamar flies the dance flag with two berths for My Baby and Love is Blind, Kwesta holds it down for hip hop with his two hits Spirit featuring Wale and Ngiyazifela Ngawe featuring Thabsie.
After getting the nation down to their pulsating beats, house DJs have a reason to celebrate. Prince Kaybee received the green light for Charlotte; DJ Zinhle with Colours featuring Tamara Dey; Heavy K for Inde featuring Bucie; DJ Kent on Love You Still featuring Domini; DJ Maphorisa with Midnight featuring D; and Black Motion with Imali.
Some of the biggest summer anthems found a spot on the prestigious list. Omunye by Durban gqom duo Distruction Boyz featuring Benny Maverick and Dlala Mshunqisi made an appearance as did Akanamali by Sun-El Musician featuring Samthing Soweto.
Mafikizolo adds the fourth nomination to their SAMA24 haul with Love Potion, the same applies to Mi Casa with Nana who are now sitting with four nods.
The laidback R&B/pop tunes, Suited by Shekhinah, I Do by LaSauce featuring Amanda and Tigi by Sands crack the list and also stake their claim to the trophy.
RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said he was proud of the nominees. ‘You can always count on South African music for its vibrancy and competitiveness. It brings me such joy to see that the songs that got South Africa moving have been recognised and now it’s up to the public to crown the winner. Congratulations and best of luck to all.’
It’s now up to the public to vote with their fingers and send the nominees into the top 10 stage before heading out to Sun City where the Record of the Year winner will be crowned.
Voting by USSD line is open until next month. To vote you send the number of the artist, for example *120*2003*21# USSD charged at R1.50 per minute, free minutes do not apply.
| 120*2003*1# – Love you still – DJ Kent |
| *120*2003*2# – My Baby – Lady Zamar |
| *120*2003*3# – Nana – Mi Casa |
| *120*2003*4# – Inde – Heavy K |
| *120*2003*5# – Don’t Forget To Pray – AKA & Anatii |
| *120*2003*6# – Caiphus Song-AKA |
| *120*2003*7# – Suited – Shekhinah |
| *120*2003*8# – Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe – Kwesta feat Thabsie |
| *120*2003*9# – Imali – Black Motion |
| *120*2003*10# – The world is yours – AKA |
| *120*2003*11# – Midnight Starring- DJ Maphorisa |
| *120*2003*12# – Colours – DJ Zinhle ft Tamara Dey |
| *120*2003*13# – Love Potion – Mafikizolo |
| *120*2003*14# – I Do – LaSauce feat. Amanda |
| *120*2003*15# – Omunye – Distruction Boyz |
| *120*2003*16# – Charlotte – Prince Kaybee |
| *120*2003*17# – Akanamali – Sun-EL Musician |
| *120*2003*18# – Tigi – Sands |
| *120*2003*19# – Love is Blind – Lady Zamar |
| *120*2003*20# – Spirit – Kwesta ft Wale |
