Know Your Nominees #2: Best Song of the Year

Ok this is one of the categories where we all get to vote and be heard! And we believed this has been the hardest vote yet, at least since the first ZHHA. This year’s line-up features tracks that shook radio, shook our chill spots and even some people’s mama sang along to. The worst part is: this year there were many other Hip Hop tracks doing similar damage. This year’s songs compete for popularity pound for pound with sungura which normally have a hold on get-drunk-songs  

Ok ok, in or best presenter voice, “and the nominees are...”

Madrinks – Junior Brown

Let’s face it; this guy has been MVP at the awards since their inception. This guy has been at the centre of the best awards. Props to this guy! He’s a really talented artist. Breezy! Madrinks is a track that definitely had people jumping for the greater part of this year. Everybody who’d be trying to be ‘balling’ knew that for that, this song would have to playing in your car (or your friend’s if you do not own one) and the girls would have to have drinks flowing all night because, “pihwai madrinks vaskana..zvekudhen’ tozozviona mangwana”

Happy – Tehn Diamond feat. Junior Brown

Tehn is another artist who has made his name synonymous with the peak of Zim Hip hop and the ZHHA. Mostly through his efforts and incredible work rate which really makes you wish all Zim hip hop acts had a management team even half as good as Tsungi & Mjonono! Of course we’re not sure exactly when Happy was “formally released” but we remember it being premiered at the first ZHHA in 2011. We believe Happy helped change the way the Zim market looks at Zim hip hop and was one of the songs to start proper appreciation for local hip hop. And they made a slogan while at it! Did we forget to mention that Junior Brown was a part of it? But then again, who would miss that voice?

And that video! Great work by Enqore on the video. Sad to hear that it was banned fom ZBCtv for the girls in the bikinis, who are kind of the reason why we watch it.

Chibhodhoro – Stunner feat Shinso

Just when everyone was making a turn up song and you thought that Tazoita Cash Records boss Stunner was out somewhere sulking about Pokello and throwing darts at a photo of Elikem!! Just when you were having all those weird thoughts! You! Not us! Stunner hit us with this song, partnering with ShinsoMan, Dancehall Father! What more could you expect from two artists who known to hold their own in the Zim music industry? Instant Hit! And an awesome video to follow up!

Zunguza – Marcques

Another talented rapper out of the controversial Rehab Entertainment stable and also Best Newcomer nominee, Marcques made his mark with only his second track to hit radio. Having offered Ndini Wacho first, when Zunguza came out every girl wanted to do it and every guy wanted to watch! Awesome and witty punchlines, and a deep voice (what? Is this deep voice year or something?)are what make this song a hit! This song has featured everywhere you have been. Everyone has heard this from the girls in salons to the ladies working in labs...and we have proof! Great going for the newbie to make himself contender for this award! It can’t get any better for you in your first year. We just hope his following has voting power to make a difference for him.

Zvidhori – MMT

Contrversial group, also nominated in the Best Group category, this was one of their biggest tracks of the year. This song got remixed by some of the country’s finest artists and the remix earned itself a nomination for Best collaboration. We have got to give it to them, these guys created a reference term with this song. Now a lot of people be referring to some ladies as Zvidhori and its a term that would make it into the Zim slang dictionary. Radio, clubs, cars in parking lots nekuhuku; this is another of this year’s hip hop tracks that had us in frenzy.

The PUSH Team wishes to congratulate all the Nominees in this category for the nominations. Your efforts have been noted by the industry. Now let us put our airtime to good use and vote! You can vote via text or via the Zim Hip Hop Awards website.