In addition to receiving the award plaque, recipients of the Next Rated awardee is given a vehicle, making the award more competitive and controversial than any other category. This year a lot of significant changes have been made concerning the Headies which was originally called the Hip Hop World Awards.<\/span><\/p>\n For the first time ever, the awards this year will take place in USA on July 2, 2022 and not in Nigeria as expected, new categories have been added and astonishingly, the winner of the Next Rated awards goes home with a 2022 Bentley Bentayga said to be worth over N140m. <\/span><\/p>\n Over the years, we have seen so many thrilling incidents and controversies surround the Next rated Headies award.\u00a0<\/span>In this write-up, we\u2019ll revisit the past winners of the Next Rated awards and yearly controversial moments around it, especially how many fans and viewers feel wronged about the winner not deserving the plaque; Starting with the most recent:<\/p>\n The next rated award constitutes 4 music stars:<\/span><\/p>\n As usual, Twitter has been hot with arguments since the nomination list was dropped ranging from who will win this year\u2019s headies award and who deserves to win it. Each singer on the nomination list have their fans to back them up but fingers crossed as we wait to see the drama that will most definitely unfold regarding the Next Rated award. <\/span><\/p>\n Those who made the next rated nomination list were: Omah Lay, Bella Shmurda, Oxlade and Tems. Surprisingly, it wasn\u2019t as controversial as previous years when Omah Lay won the award and he let Oxlade and Bella accompany him to the stage to collect the award. There wasn\u2019t any physical bad blood or beef despite the list being really competitive one; all the singers who made the list deserved to win with their hit songs.<\/span><\/p>\n Rema won the Next Rated award, beating Fireboy DML, Joeboy, Lyta, Victor AD and Zlatan to it. Many of the awardees didn\u2019t even bother to show up to the event but there was barely a controversial moment regarding the award in particular. <\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes, you just know you\u2019re witnessing a special artist right from the moment they appear. Immediately Rema dropped his debut eponymous Ep, it was undeniable that he is as special as they come. The diversity and stunning quality of his two subsequent EPs, Freestyle <\/em>and Bad Commando<\/em> only cemented that idea and it was more than enough for the Benin-born artist to race his way to the Next Rated award of the 2019 Headies. <\/span><\/p>\n To be fair, the nominee list was packed with worthy contenders who had proven themselves and have continued to build towards distinguished careers.<\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: Maleek Berry, Johnny Drille<\/a>, Dice Ailes, Zoro)<\/span><\/p>\n Similar to his label boss in 2012, there was really no getting in Mayorkun\u2019s way when he confidently and comfortably won the Next Rated award in 2018. Although he was in the midst of talented and promising prospects, Mayorkun had already made it to stardom with a string of big singles and it didn\u2019t seem like he was going to stop. He eclipsed any doubts with his successful debut album, The Mayor of Lagos, and he\u2019s only vaulted further into superstar territory with multiple headlining concerts and hit songs. <\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: Tekno, Ycee, Humblesmith, Aramide)<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s a possibility that Mr Eazi would have had stronger competition for his Next Rated run, had Tekno not rescinded his nomination. Tekno<\/a> claimed he is bigger than the Next Rated award. <\/span><\/p>\n The remaining trio of contenders\u2014Ycee, Humblesmith and Aramide\u2014had had breakout years as well and have continued to press on with their respective careers, but there\u2019s no denying that Mr Eazi was a dominant force in a fairytale year that saw him greatly impact all of afropop.<\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: Lil Kesh, Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Cynthia Morgan)<\/span><\/p>\n Arguably the most infamous moment in the history of the award show, was Reekado Banks<\/a> winning Next Rated over Lil Kesh<\/a> which sparked an embittered exchange between both artists\u2019 label bosses, Don Jazzy<\/a> and Olamide.<\/span><\/p>\n Going into the ceremony, most people fancied Lil Kesh as the runaway winner of the category, as Olamide said \u201cevery single was a hit, back to back to back.<\/em>\u201d It wasn\u2019t that Reekado wasn\u2019t a strong contender, it\u2019s that Lil Kesh\u2019s numerous hits helped him reign over the year in review.<\/span><\/p>\n But for an award that also places a premium on potential, the Headies seem to have been vindicated in retrospect. While Reekado is no longer with Mavin Records, he is still a pretty reliable hit maker, Kesh today is no longer with YBNL Records and he is not as notable on the scene as he once was.<\/span><\/p>\n From an objective standpoint, however, Kiss (now Kizz) Daniel would have been the best pick, as not only did he release a widely acclaimed debut\u2014something that eluded his other contenders\u2014Kizz has remained at the cutting edge of afropop ever since, sidestepping the dreaded sophomore slump. He has kept the hits flowing till today with his latest album Barnabas<\/em> (2021) still topping many charts in 2022. <\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: Runtown, Yemi Alade, Skales, Orezi)<\/span><\/p>\n With his distinct reggae\/dancehall-influenced sound, and the hit songs Alubarika<\/em> and the Tiwa Savage-assisted Girlie O<\/em>, Patoranking was in pole position to poach the Next Rated award ahead of a talented set of competitors. While all the nominated artists are still active to varying but notable degrees of success, Patoranking\u2019s consistency in quality and continued evolution as a bona fide part of afropop\u2019s global push has helped in proving his potential with his top hit singles like Abule<\/em> (2020) and Celebrate me<\/em>(2021). <\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: Burna Boy, Dammy Krane, Seyi Shay, Phyno)<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the tightest set in terms of competition, each of the nominees for the 2013 Next Rated award had a legitimate shot at winning but it didn\u2019t really come as a surprise when Sean Tizzle picked up the plaque and the car.<\/span><\/p>\n At the time, Sean Tizzle had a huge hit in Sho Lee and subsequent singles touted him as a special talent, which he proved to some extent with his well-received debut album, The Journey.<\/span><\/p>\n It seemed he didn\u2019t even think he could win because when he was announced, he ran unto the stage like a man possessed and prostrated on stage. He then ran around the stage like a man in a haze before collecting the microphone to give the most awkward speech ever.<\/span><\/p>\n However, his win was a snub for Burna Boy,<\/a> who would\u2019ve been the ideal candidate with the gift of hindsight.<\/span><\/p>\n Similarly to Kanye after he lost at the Best New Artist award at the 2004 American Music Awards, Burna Boy exited the venue shortly after Tizzle\u2019s win was announced, clearly slighted by the snub. Justifying his slight, even after already dropping a great debut album, L.I.F.E,<\/em> Burna has gone on to hit undeniable levels of success and flipped a rough patch after his sophomore album into one of the most dominant runs contemporary afropop has seen. In 2020, his album Twice as Tall<\/em> was nominated for the same category at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, making him the first Nigerian with back-to-back nominations at the Grammys. In 2021, Twice as Tall<\/em> won the Best Works Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, making Burna Boy the first Nigerian to win as a solo artist. <\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: Eva Alordiah, Praiz, Chuddy K)<\/span><\/p>\n For the second time in a row, the Headies were given a surefire winner even though the competition wasn\u2019t as tightly packed as the preceding year. Recall there were jokes about how Davido was about to add another car to his fleet while Eva Alordiah<\/a> was going to continue moving around in cabs and on bikes \u2013 the rapper playfully admitted to her means of mobility in the campaign for the award. Regardless, Davido<\/a> was utterly deserving of his win.<\/span><\/p>\n After pulling a 180 from the grass to grace story of his breakout single, Back When<\/em>, Davido owned his privilege with Dami Duro<\/em>, a smash banger of epic proportions. Similar to Wizkid, Davido\u2019s Next Rated win was merely an acknowledgement of his world-beating talent and tenacity, all of which has manifested in a phenomenal career brimming with hit singles and sold-out shows across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: Ice Prince, Olamide, Tiwa Savage)<\/span><\/p>\n In contrast to the preceding year, this set of artists was packed with artistes who definitely went on to impact afropop significantly, even till date. Ice Prince took the definition of what it means to be a commercially successful rapper in Nigeria to another level; Olamide<\/a> is arguably the greatest and most prolific rapper Nigeria has ever seen; and Tiwa Savage is amongst the artists that have continued to raise the bar for excellence in Nigeria pop music.<\/span><\/p>\n However, much like Wande Coal\u2019s set in 2008, there was no competition where Wizkid was concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n After showcasing his potential with his stunning appearance on M.I\u2019s Fast Money Fast Cars, Wizkid established himself as afropop\u2019s hottest prospect since Wande Coal with two scene-stealing features on Banky W\u2019s sophomore album, The W Experience and solo smash singles Holla at your Boy, Tease Me and Don\u2019t Dull. <\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: General Pype, Mo\u2019Cheddah, Jesse Jagz, D\u2019Prince)<\/span><\/p>\n Looking back at 2010s group of Next Rated nominees, this particular list can make one have a lot of mixed feelings. In a baffling turn of events, these artists seemed to peak only around the period of their nominations. No one could have guessed they weren\u2019t going to be around for the long run. The fact that it took only less than two years for their fuel to run out is very telling.<\/span><\/p>\n Starting off with her South African folk-infused debut single, In the Music, Omawumi quickly began to establish herself as one of the very few anomalies, repeating the huge singing talents she showed as the runner-up of the 2007 West African Idols. She also managed to make a statement as a newly minted artist with the potential for longevity.<\/span><\/p>\n Outlasting other nominees in the category, Omawumi has acquitted her Next Rated win in convincing fashion. While she is sometimes omitted in the conversation of perennially reliable artists, Omawumi has thrived in a space that hasn\u2019t always been kind towards women and her continuous stream of new music is proof that she has more to offer and isn\u2019t planning to fizzle out anytime soon. <\/span><\/p>\n (Nominees: GT the Guitarman, M.I Abaga, Banky W, Cyrus da Virus)<\/span><\/p>\n At the time, nobody in their right minds expected any other artist but Wande Coal to pick up the Headies plaque and car at the event. The competition was pretty formidable though; M.I and Banky went on to become two of Nigeria\u2019s most revered, boundary-pushing artists \u2013 but at the time, Wande Coal had already proven himself as a superstar in the waiting. There were literally zero doubts about the \u2018havoc he was set to wreak\u2019 \u2014 in a good way. <\/span><\/p>\n In 2007, the legendary (now defunct) Mo\u2019Hits crew (in)arguably delivered the greatest compilation project in modern afropop, Curriculum Vitae, and Wande was the undoubted star of the show.<\/span><\/p>\n After his win, Wande effortlessly proved everyone right, inarguably delivering the greatest debut album in modern afropop, Mushin 2 Mo\u2019Hits. <\/span><\/p>\n His legend was signed and sealed; no matter how you feel about the inconsistencies since then, there\u2019s no question that Wande Coal and his debut are a cornerstone in the ongoing global acceptance of African music.<\/span><\/p>\n2022 <\/span><\/h2>\n
Buju<\/h3>\n
![\"Adekunle](\"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/entertainment\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/adeyinka_oluwamayowa\/2021\/12\/21\/Buju-at-Livespot-X-Festival.jpg\")
<\/a>AryaStarr<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Ruger<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Zinoleesky<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n2021<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2014 Omah Lay<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2019<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2014 Rema<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2018<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2014 Mayorkun<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2016<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Mr Eazi<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n2015<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Reekado Banks<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2014<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Patoranking<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2013<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Sean Tizzle<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2012<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Davido<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2011<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Wizkid<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2010<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Skuki<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2009<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Omawumi<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>
\n(Nominees: Kel, YQ, MP, Djinee)<\/span><\/p>\n2008<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Wande Coal<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>2007<\/span><\/h2>\n
Winner \u2013 Overdose<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>