The South African music industry is a dynamic, ever changing fiefdom and its new ruler is rap. Hip Hop is staking its claim as the music de rigueur and as a mouth piece for the youth as young rappers took home major awards at the MetroFM Music Awards last night. Fifi Cooper won the prestigious Best Female award along with Best Mixtape and Best Produced Album while her label mate EmTee (23) took home 4 awards, including the Listener’s Choice award, Best Hip Hop Album and Best Music Video. The two millenials dominated the wins for the evening, and made serious bank as each category comes with a R100 000 prize. The expansion and opportunities in the African entertainment industry have expanded significantly in the past decade, resulting in more young people making music professionally. As the influence of Kwaito has dwindled and the sound sublimated into other genres, Hip Hop has come to rule the airwaves as rappers become the pop stars of this generation. MetroFM remains at the zenith of the music industry in South Africa and these awards indicate the influence of youth culture on entertainment, while there are established rappers still being recognised with AKA and Cassper Nyovest each taking home awards forBest Hit Single and Best Male album respectively, younger artists are being recognised for their talent and contributions to music in South Africa, a sign of shifting times and trends in the country.
A list of all the winners at this year’s MetroFM awards
SONG OF THE YEAR
Nathi – Nomvula
BEST MALE ALBUM
Cassper Nyovest – Refiloe
BEST AFRICAN POP ALBUM
Nathi – Buyelekhaya
BEST COMPILATION ALBUM
999 music – Summer Ya Di Summer
BEST DANCE ALBUM
Prince Kaybee – Better Days
BEST FEMALE ALBUM
Fifi Cooper – 20FIFI
BEST DUO OR GROUP ALBUM
DBN Nyts – Believe
BEST HIT SINGLE
AKA ft Burnaboy, Khuli Chana, Yanga – Baddest
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Emtee – Roll Up
BEST HIP HOP ALBUM
Emtee – Avery
BEST URBAN JAZZ ALBUM
Nomfundo Xaluva – From now on
BEST KWAITO ALBUM
DJ Bongz – Game Changer
BEST NEW ARTIST
Fifi Cooper – 20FiFi
BEST R&B SINGLE
Cici – Runaway
BEST REMIX
Emtee – Roll Up Re-Up
BEST URBAN GOSPEL ALBUM
Worship House – True Worship 2015 (Live)
BEST COLLABORATION
AKA ft Burna Boy, Khuli Chana & Yanga – Baddest
BEST PRODUCED ALBUM
Fifi Cooper – 20FiFi
BEST STYLED ALBUM
Cici – Runaway
LISTENER’S CHOICE AWARD
Emtee
ONE AFRICA AWARD
Burna Boy
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Arthur Mafokate