Zimbabwe: Black Bird, Peekay lead awards nomination list
By Kenneth Matimaire – MUTARE – Female emcee Nonkululeko Vundla better known as Black Bird in rap circles is leading the Zim Hip-Hop Awards nomination list together with male rapper Peekay.
The two rappers were nominated in four categories each at the most prestigious event in the local hip hop calendar scheduled for December 17.
Black Bird was nominated in the Best Female, Best Video, Best Hip-hop Journalist and Best Promoter categories for her television show Hotbox.
Peekay of the Ma1 fame is also up for the Best Male, Best Collaboration, Best Newcomer and Video of the Year category.
The two outstanding artists lock horns in the Video of the Year category where Peekay’s video for the hit song Ma1 fights for top honours against Black Bird’s internationally acclaimed video for Waiting for Love.
Black Bird is the country’s first female rapper to release an album and to receive four nominations.
The multi-talented rapper was still in cloud nine over her fortunes, which she dedicated to her unwavering commitment to her work.
“It was about time I got recognition ndisatindaenda (before I leave the country),” said an ecstatic Black Bird expected to leave for the United States where she secured a record deal.
Black Bird who has also been nominated this year at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) and the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) this year said “It feels good to get recognition from the genre I have worked so hard for.”
“It’s great because for the past 10 years I have been dedicated to making this hip-hop industry a reality and it’s about time the people I’ve been doing it for see it.
“Women in hip-hop are slowly coming up but when I came and released my debut album Tha Rappertizerin 2010, I was the first female to ever release a full-length hip-hop album in Zimbabwe,” she said.
The former Channel O website editor is also the first female rapper to grace the Harare Festival of Arts (HIFA) in 2011 where she performed with her band.
Zim Hip-Hop Awards nominees.
1.Best Male
Peekay
Schingy
Noble styles
P.O.Y
Stunner
- Best female
Trae Yung
Blackbird
Mk47
Misty
Dice
- Best Collaboration
Ma1 (remix) – Peekay ft Roki, Briss Mbada, Legend Elly, Stunner, MMT
Ndamutswa (remix) – Shingi Mau MauftBrythreesixty, Illceey, Alvina, J Barz, Nowiz
MaBornBree (remix) – Noble Styles ftBlackperl, Trae Yung, Dobba Don, Jay, Snazzy & Mr Knoxa
BoyzRemukute – KrimzBeatz, Sinbad, Baller, Sharky, Noble Styles
Musanyepere Vanhu – Maskiri ft Munetsi and Quonfused
- Best Hip Hop Group
MMT
Team Bho
Klap
Dolla Sign Music
Studio Fellonies
- Best Newcomer
Noble styles
Peekay
Calvin
Trey Xl
Kid Active
- Best Album
MaSofa Panze II – Noble Styles
Blood Money Jacob – Poy
MMT LP – MMT
The Many Moods – Trae Yung
Number 1 – Mudiwa
- Best Promoter
Black Bird – Hot Box
Promethious – Zim Hip-Hop Report
Plot Mhako – Jibilika Dance
Elton Bryce
Mark Vusani – It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop
- Best Diaspora
Rhymes Beatz
Rhyme Assassin
Capital K
GtBeatz
- Best Radio DJ
J-boss
KVG
T-bass
l-Roy
Davis Mugadza and Mariachi
- Best Club DJ
Marc Vusani
Ray Diz
DJ Kenny
DJ Deenosh
DJ Carter
- Best Gospel Act
Bry 360
Shingirayi Mau Mau
Illceey
Mudiwa
Lil Megaz
12.Best Online Media
McPotar
Push ZW
Three Men On A Boat
Hvk
African Hip-Hop Blog
- Best Hip-Hop Journalist
Sindiso Dube
Nigel Pfunde
Yeukai Karengezeka
Tasha gwiza
Black Bird
14.Video of the Year
Maskiri – Amai Kani
MMT – Zvidhori
Black Bird- Waiting for Love
P.O.Y- Dirty Game
Hamuko – Schingy
- Song of the Year
Tambisa – Tricky J
Ma1 – Peekay
Bho – Schingy
Number 1- Mudiwa
Ghidha – Stunner
- People Choice by Public Vote
Peekay
P.O.Y
Tehn diamond
Mudiwa
Tricky J
Marques
Simba Tagz
Stunner
Maskiri
Schingy
- Best Producer
Simba Tagz
Xnder
P2daoh
KrimzBeatz
Mr Knoxa
- Lifetime Achievement
Mischief
