In many ways, 2008 was the "Year of the Newcomer". For starters Rhythmic Elements' "2 by 2" scored the prestigious Song of the Year award, beating off some stiff opposition from Jub Jub ("Ndikhokhele"), the Jaziel Brothers ("Ngeke Ngiphinde") and DJ Vetkoek vs Mahoota ("Qolo").
Kudos also went to some soulful new kids on the Mzansi music block: spiritual siblings The Jaziel Brothers won Best Newcomer; songbird Mimi won Best Jazz Album, for Essence of My Soul; and Bantu Soul scored Best Male.
The kwaito and hip-hop categories were closely contested categories. Jozi fans might've fancied HHP, Teargas or Prokid's chances, but it was Zuluboy who proved that KZN rap deserves respect to take the Best Hip-Hop award. Meanwhile Big Nuz's 2nd Round Knockout was named Best Kwaito Album, ahead of 'bigger' name contenders like Kabelo, Spikiri and L'Vovo.
Eish! What happened to the usual winning suspects, are these playaz past their sell-by-date already? Hell no! Skwatta Kamp's Slikour took the newly-introduced Hit Single of the Year category and Teargas scored the Best Group of the Year title. Meanwhile smooth R&B soul brother RJ Benjamin's Swimming in the Soul of Music deservedly voted Best R&B Album.
Cool, but what about the year's most fashionable musician? Did Metro FM's own Unathi Nkayi out-chic KB and Stoan to walk away with the Best Styled Artist of 2008?
The Metro FM 2008 Winning Pack
SONG OF THE YEAR
Rhythmic Elements: "2 by 2"
BEST DANCE
Rhythmic Elements: My Rhythm
BEST NEWCOMER
Jaziel Brothers
BEST STYLED ARTIST
KB
We said: "She is an original. This album seals the deal with a bit of everything: soul, house, Latin and African rhythms."
- Read the review
- Listen to clips
HIT SINGLE
Slikour: "Umsindo"
BEST MALE
Bantu Soul
We said: "Bantu Soul won’t blow you away, but it certainly grows on you the more you listen to it."
- Read the review
- Listen to clips
BEST COMPILATION
DJ Terance: Music Box
. We said: "Sizzling hot and jam-packed with stunning vocals, DJ Terance’s Music Box is a breath of fresh air compared to the usual four-to-the-floor house fillers."
- Read the review
- Listen to clips
BEST FEMALE
Unathi Unkayi: In Your Honour
BEST R&B ALBUM
RJ Benjamin: Swimming in the Soul of Music
BEST HIP-HOP ALBUM
Zuluboy: Inqolobane
- Read interview
- Listen to podcast
BEST AFRICAN POP AfroSoul: Umafrica
BEST COLLABORATION
Kwela Tebza & Mxo
BEST GROUP
Teargas
- Read interview
BEST JAZZ ALBUM
Mimi: Essence of My Soul
BEST KWAITO ALBUM
Big Nuz: 2nd Round Knockout
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
Winnie Mashaba: Ke rata wena
BEST PRODUCED ALBUM
Nikki: Evolution
Kudos also went to some soulful new kids on the Mzansi music block: spiritual siblings The Jaziel Brothers won Best Newcomer; songbird Mimi won Best Jazz Album, for Essence of My Soul; and Bantu Soul scored Best Male.
The kwaito and hip-hop categories were closely contested categories. Jozi fans might've fancied HHP, Teargas or Prokid's chances, but it was Zuluboy who proved that KZN rap deserves respect to take the Best Hip-Hop award. Meanwhile Big Nuz's 2nd Round Knockout was named Best Kwaito Album, ahead of 'bigger' name contenders like Kabelo, Spikiri and L'Vovo.
Eish! What happened to the usual winning suspects, are these playaz past their sell-by-date already? Hell no! Skwatta Kamp's Slikour took the newly-introduced Hit Single of the Year category and Teargas scored the Best Group of the Year title. Meanwhile smooth R&B soul brother RJ Benjamin's Swimming in the Soul of Music deservedly voted Best R&B Album.
Cool, but what about the year's most fashionable musician? Did Metro FM's own Unathi Nkayi out-chic KB and Stoan to walk away with the Best Styled Artist of 2008?
The Metro FM 2008 Winning Pack
SONG OF THE YEAR
Rhythmic Elements: "2 by 2"
BEST DANCE
Rhythmic Elements: My Rhythm
BEST NEWCOMER
Jaziel Brothers
BEST STYLED ARTIST
KB
We said: "She is an original. This album seals the deal with a bit of everything: soul, house, Latin and African rhythms."
- Read the review
- Listen to clips
HIT SINGLE
Slikour: "Umsindo"
BEST MALE
Bantu Soul
We said: "Bantu Soul won’t blow you away, but it certainly grows on you the more you listen to it."
- Read the review
- Listen to clips
BEST COMPILATION
DJ Terance: Music Box
. We said: "Sizzling hot and jam-packed with stunning vocals, DJ Terance’s Music Box is a breath of fresh air compared to the usual four-to-the-floor house fillers."
- Read the review
- Listen to clips
BEST FEMALE
Unathi Unkayi: In Your Honour
BEST R&B ALBUM
RJ Benjamin: Swimming in the Soul of Music
BEST HIP-HOP ALBUM
Zuluboy: Inqolobane
- Read interview
- Listen to podcast
BEST AFRICAN POP AfroSoul: Umafrica
BEST COLLABORATION
Kwela Tebza & Mxo
BEST GROUP
Teargas
- Read interview
BEST JAZZ ALBUM
Mimi: Essence of My Soul
BEST KWAITO ALBUM
Big Nuz: 2nd Round Knockout
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
Winnie Mashaba: Ke rata wena
BEST PRODUCED ALBUM
Nikki: Evolution