AKA, Blxckie & Loatinover Pounds Score SAMA30 Nominations. The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) have once again celebrated the extraordinary talent within the local music scene. The latest list of nominees, showcasing some of the industry’s most prominent artists, was unveiled on Tuesday.
This year’s SAMAs mark their 30th edition, promising an array of fresh flavours and new experiences. The nominees for the Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and the RAV Music Video of the Year were selected from singles released between April 15, 2023, and April 14, 2024.
Despite Amapiano’s stronghold on the South African music scene, SA Hip Hop continues to assert its influence, with three of its artists securing nominations for the SAMA awards. For the #SAMA30 Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RiSA Audio Visual (RAV) Music Video of the Year awards, AKA, Blxckie and Loatinover Pounds will face off some of the exceptional hit songs from amapiano with Oscar Mbo, Tyla, Tyler ICU and Nkosazana Daughter amongst others.
However, AKA, Blxckie, and Loatinover Pounds have each earned their nominations through outstanding work. AKA impressed with the music video for “Lemons Lemonade” featuring Nasty C, while Loatinover Pounds brought the vibrant street life of Pretoria’s townships to life in his “Sosh Plata Remix” video. Meanwhile, Blxckie delivered a meticulously crafted and thoughtful visual experience with his video for “Ronda.”
These music videos are set to compete for the coveted SAMA award, but it won’t be an easy journey for SA rappers as they go up against the dominant Yanos genre. However, SA hip-hop fans have a powerful opportunity to rally behind their favourite videos, casting their votes in droves to preserve the legacy of SA rap and keep the culture thriving.
Nhlanhla Sibisi, CEO of RiSA, extended his congratulations to the nominees. “It is with great pride that I salute all the artists who have been shortlisted as nominees for Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year and RAV Music Video of the Year awards. Artist recognition is an important and significant pat on the back, and we continue this tradition in our 30th year of existence. It is beautiful to see how music and artists have evolved over the years.
“I would like to encourage music lovers to play their part by voting for their favourites – what good is an award ceremony without the input of the fans?”
“We look forward to a memorable SAMA as we mark 30 years of existence and so the journey has begun towards the celebration.”
