WIZKID BAGS BET BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT (AFRICA)

Wizkid

Nigerian pop star Wizkid has added another feather to his cap.

Fresh from an amazing performance at the EME UK tour, which was rated world class, the best selling artist was announced winner of the Best International Act (Africa) at the BET awards in New York on Sunday July 1, 2012 beating heavy weights Camp Mulla (Kenya), Ice Prince (Nigeria), Lira (South Africa) and Mokobe (Mali) .

Wizzy and Sarkodie from Ghana came out tops and received a joint award prize in the same category.

"I feel blessed and I am thankful to God for making all of this happens. Thank God for my EME fam, it's a blessing to be part of an amazing team. Everyone I've worked with, everyone who has supported me in one way or the other, God bless you. To my fans who keep me going, thanks for the love. Thanks to my family for believing in me and letting me live my dreams. Special thanks to everyone at BET. I'm truly honored", Wizkid says.

The event was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Since the release of his debut album ‘Superstar’ (2011) Wizkid has had a fantastic run; winning a MOBO Award, signing up with Akon’s Konvict Music and touring Nigeria and the UK. The long anticipated EME US tour begins on American Independence day, Wednesday, July 4 and ends on Sunday September 2, 2012.

According to the label heads, the tour will cover nine states in North America including New York, Chicago, Texas, and Atlanta.

Banky W, Wizkid, Skales, Rotimi, XO and other EME stars will also touchdown in the Canadian cities of Toronto and Halifax.

EME SCORES A HAT TRICK!!!

Empire Mates Entertainment recently announced the launch of its highly anticipated all-star album titled ‘EMPIRE MATES STATE OF MIND’.

The 22-track LP, bearing some of Nigeria’s finest artists such as BankyW, WizKid, Skales, Niyola and more, promises to be the album to beat in 2012 and beyond.

Speaking at a media event in Lagos on Friday June 15, CEO of EME, Bankole Wellington, reiterated the music label’s commitment to providing only the hottest and the best music to its teeming fans. “We consider it a privilege for us to do this for our fans and we’ve worked with some of the finest artists, DJ’s, producers, directors in Nigeria and beyond on this album. Wiz, Skales, our first lady, Niyola, Masterkraft, Legendury Beats, Spellz, Sarz, Shizzy,  KidConnect with special guest appearances from award winning comedian - Basketmouth, Shaydee, Ghana based rapper, XO Senavoe and US based singing sensation, Rotimi and so many others. Throughout the entire process, it’s been totally ‘Team EME’, we’re proud of our efforts and really hope our fans will be also.”

Meanwhile, Banky W has also been announced as an Olympic torch bearer to herald the forthcoming Olympic Games in London alongside some other outstanding Nigerian celebrities: Kanu Nwankwo, Funke Akindele and Steve “Yaw” Onu. The ceremony will take place at Coventry on July 1, 2012.

Banky’s protégé and label mate, Wizkid, has also been having a superlative year. Not only has he scored an exclusive one year endorsement deal with popular drinks giant, Pepsi, he is also a nominee in this year’s BET Awards (Best African Act) which will hold at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles USA.

The EME all-star album is available, for free, from Monday June 18, 2012 on Spinlet, Nigeria’s premier digital distribution and promotion platform.

WizKid Set For First EME Tour

Nigerian pop star Wizkid was yesterday announced as one of the nominees for the 2012 BET Awards. The EME pop prince was nominated in the Best International African Act category alongside Ice Prince, Sarkodie from Ghana, Camp Mulla from Kenya, Lira from South Africa and Makobe from Mali.

“When I heard the news, I was more than happy I was ecstatic. For me to be nominated for BET Awards tells me that my music is beginning to make an impact in places, far places” Wizkid told journalists in Lagos.

He continues “I would like to thank EME for supporting me. I would also like to thank all the DJs and the OAPs who have had my back all this while. Most importantly I would also like to thank my fans, this wouldn’t have been possible without them”

Last year Wizkid shocked many pundits by winning the Best African Act at the 2011 edition of the MOBO Awards. He beat seasoned artistes like Seun Kuti and D’Banj to the international prize.

The BET Awards will take place on July 1, 2012 at the Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium. International pop stars Beyonce and Kanye West lead the BET 2012 Awards nominations with Kanye having 7 nominations and Beyonce having six.

Meanwhile, It is a few days to the hugely anticipated EME tour, and there is no doubt that the unbeatable team is not about slowing down any time soon!

Just before heading to the UK, WizKid, Skales and DJ Xclusive will be performing in Lusaka, Zambia on May 25, 2012 at the Barclays Sports Center.

“We have spent huge resources planning to make sure this tour is not like anything our fans have seen before; this is very big for us, we believe with God and the fans on our side, we will make Nigeria and Africa proud’ says EME director Banky W.

The tour will include big venue concerts, select club gigs, road stops, TV and radio performances as well as extended media visits.

Put together by Cokobar, Barons World and EME, the three day UK performance will kick off on June 3, 2012 and will include acts from EME –Wizkid, DJ Xclusive and Skales.

The label is also working on a pan-Nigeria and US tour, immediately after the UK tour.

It’s the first-ever EME tour and an excited Banky says ‘thanks for waiting this long guys. We can guarantee you that we’ll have all the fun in the world. We’re taking Lagos party to other parts of the world!’

“”The fans in UK and US have every single artiste they can’t wait to hear in the club on one bill- that’s EME” Wizkid, who was recently signed by Akon, in a historic international deal with EME, concludes.

Wizkid, Ice Prince, Camp Mulla & Sarkodie Get Nominated For Best International Act – Africa in the 2012 BET Awards

It’s that time of year again. And, as the buzz for the Billboard Music Awards slowly dwindles, the official nominations for the 2012 BET Awards are now in.

Stephen Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks, alongside DJ Khaled, Diggy Simmons, Mindless Behavior, A$AP Rocky, Astro and Melanie Fiona hosted a press conference yesterday May 22nd, 2012 where he made the announcements.

The 2012 BET Awards is slated to air live on July 1st, 2012 from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. And, this year’s host is no other than the highest grossing actor of all time, the beloved Samuel L. Jackson. With performances from Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj confirmed and the A-List of celebrities slated to attend, this year’s show is going to be nothing short of a breath-taking star-studded event.

As usual, Africa wasn’t left out of the mix, inherently nor was Nigeria, with the Best International Act – Africa category spawning two cream-of-the-crop Nigerian exports – EME/Konvict Muzik Recording artist, Wizkid and the Chocolate City Hip-Hop star, Ice Prince.

Other African acts in the category include Ghana’s fast-spitting lyrical assassin and Azonto Ambassador, Sarkodie; the inventors of 254Low, Kenya’s Hip-Hop Group, Camp Mulla; the South African Afro-Soul sensation soon to make an US cross-over, Lira; and the Francophone Rapper Extraordinaire, Mali’s Mokobe.

Even though, Nigeria has a good chance of winning this award with our high calibre exports – Wizkid and Ice Prince – nominated, we cannot underestimate the level of the other artists in the category. Will Naija bring it home? We can only wait in tense anticipation to find out, as well as wish all nominees the best of luck.

Other notable feats include Kanye West‘s 7 nominations, Beyonce‘s 6 and Jay-Z‘s five nominations; it seems the Roc Family have it in for BET this year. Also, the “Turn Up The Music” crooner, Chris Brown, who walked away with four awards last year out of his six nominations, is nominated for three against top industry heavy weights like Usher, Trey Songz, Miguel and Bruno Mars.

With so much at stake in each category, the 2012 BET Awards is no doubt going to be a thrilling, suspense-filled event and while we patiently, though anxiously, wait for July to come.

FULL NOMINEES LIST

Best Female R&B Artist

Marsha Ambrosius

Beyoncé

Mary J. Blige

Melanie Fiona

Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist

Chris Brown

Bruno Mars

Miguel

Trey Songz

Usher

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist

Big Sean

Drake

J. Cole

Lil Wayne

Rick Ross

Young Jeezy

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist

Nicki Minaj

Diamond

Trina

Brianna Perry

Best Group

Bad Meets Evil

Diddy-Dirty Money

Maybach Music Group

Mindless Behavior

The Throne

Best New Artist

A$AP Rocky

Big Sean

Diggy

Future

Meek Mill

Best Collaboration

Beyoncé f/ J. Cole – “Party””

Big Sean f/ Kanye West & Roscoe Dash – “Marvin & Chardonnay”

DJ Khaled f/ Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne – “I’m On One”

Drake f/ Lil Wayne and Tyga – “The Motto”

The Throne f/ Otis Redding – “Otis”

Wale f/ Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb”

Video of the Year

Beyoncé – “Countdown”

Beyoncé – “Love on Top”

Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Ni**as in Paris”

Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Otis”

Usher – “Climax”

Video Director of the Year

Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson

Benny Boom

Chris Brown and Godfrey Tabarez

Kanye West

Hype Williams

Best Gospel

Yolanda Adams

Kim Burrell

James Fortune & FIYA

Fred Hammond

Trin-I-Tee 5:7

YoungStars Award

Astro

Diggy

Jacob Latimore

Keke Palmer

Willow Smith

Viewers’ Choice Award

Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga – “The Motto”

Beyoncé – “Love onTop”

Chris Brown – “Turn Up the Music”

Mindless Behavior – “Hello”

The Throne f/ Otis Redding – “Otis”

Wale f/ Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb”

Centric Award

Common

Estelle

Robert Glasper

Robin Thicke

Tyrese

Best International Act: U.K.

Estelle

Labrinth

Emeli Sande

Sway

Wretch 32

Best International Act: Africa

Camp Mulla (Kenya)

Ice Prince (Nigeria)

Lira (South Africa)

Mokobe (Mali)

Sarkodie (Ghana)

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best Actress

Angela Bassett

Viola Davis

Taraji P. Henson

Regina King

Zoe Saldana

Best Actor

Don Cheadle

Common

Idris Elba

Kevin Hart

Denzel Washington

Best Movie

Good Deeds

Jumping the Broom

Laugh at My Pain

Red Tails

The Help

Sportswoman of the Year

Skylar Diggins

Candace Parker

Brittney Griner

Serena Williams

Venus Williams

Sportsman of the Year

Carmelo Anthony

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

Victor Cruz

Kevin Durant

Source: BET.com