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

D-Banj’s Oliver Twist beats Usher & Cheryl Cole to Number 1 on the UK Pre-Release Chart

Shows all that social media promo wasn’t in vain. I have never seen D’Banj tweet as much as he did this week, he has been on his promo grind ALL week, promoting the UK remix of Oliver Twist and so far the hard work has paid off with the single climbing to the top of the UK Pre Release Urban and Dance Chart, beating out Usher, Cheryl Cole & The Wanted

See it HERE courtesy of Shazam which aggregates the results based on iTunes pre release sales.

It has been a successful week for both of the ex Mo Hits henchmen, with Don Jazzy introducing us to his new label Mavin Records and releasing a compilation album with his artistes which is currently blowing up every radio station, mp3 player and car stereo.

It is left to see how Oliver will performing on the main UK charts, we have a week to found out. So keep your fingers crossed for Daniel Banjo Dapo and keep it locked here cos you know we’ll be the first to break it to you

PSQUARE IN POSSIBLE USHER COLLABORATION

Reports have lately been filtering in from different quarters that American RnB superstar Usher Raymond would be collaborating with award winning Nigerian duo, Psquare.

Apparently, Psquare are in talks with the International star’s management on releasing a single that will be recorded in the United States. The collaboration was reportedly arranged and facilitated by Konvict Music boss, Akon.

‘Talks are being held on the possibility, and I hope it comes to pass’, a source who is close to the duo revealed to NET. He however declined to speak further on the issue, pending an official release of developments on the matter which is expected to be relayed to the media soon.

An earlier planned collabo with Busta Rhymes few years ago failed after the US rapper backed out following alleged contractual breaches.

We could not immediately get confirmation from Psquare or Usher’s camp as mails sent to both parties were yet to be responded to as at this morning.

Psquare are currently prepping for the release of videos off their recent ‘Invasion’ album which is reportedly being shot in location in the US.

Akon facilitates P Square’s collaboration with Usher Raymond

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American RnB superstar Usher Raymond would be collaborating with Nigerian duo – P Square. The twin who were busy in the states a while back with the project inclusive of a video would have their next single featuring the American singer who many have compared them to.

Sources say, P-Square will soon release a single featuring the R&B star which was done in the States. Konvict Music led by Akon reportedly made the collaboration possible, Akon was in the news week back for allegedly signing Wizkid, Tuface and P Square. A claim the two later have denied. The news about that signing was later rumoured to be a hype that was instigated by Wizkid’s mentor, Banky W.

The details of the Usher collaboration with the duo including cost implication are expected to hit the media soon.