#BET International Act Africa

[eowyntheavenger]

Palestine and the US election

I’m done with Twitter soundbite takes that voting blue = supporting genocide. I see a lot of people making an argument that goes like this: "Biden has sent arms to Israel, helping its government commit genocide against Palestine. Therefore, voting for him in the 2024 US election, if he is the Democratic nominee, is supporting genocide, and NOT voting for him helps Palestine." There's a lot wrong with this view, so let's break it down.

It's true that Biden has sent a lot of arms to Israel and bypassed Congress multiple times to do it, and it's indefensible. I'm ashamed that any US politician would help Israel wage its brutal, genocidal war against the Palestinian people. As one of Israel's closest partners, the US could actually be using its leverage right now to put pressure on Israel’s government—I’m thinking about how apartheid in South Africa fell, in part, because of international pressure. That's what should be happening, but instead the US government is literally just helping Israel kill Palestinians.

I wish there were a strong pro-Palestine candidate in the upcoming election. The best bet in that regard would probably be Bernie Sanders, since he's prominent enough, well-liked enough, and has good ideas, not just on this issue but on many things (and yeah, he's way too old, but so are the current frontrunners). But he's already ruled out another run. Unless an amazing candidate materializes and wins the Democratic nomination (please vote in the primaries where you live), it will probably be Biden running against Trump. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s likely.

Here's what people need to understand: the election will not be "genocide Joe" vs. "pro-Palestine candidate." It will most likely be a choice between these two candidates:

On the one hand, Biden, who has armed Israel, but can be pressured to change his policies because he can be pushed left; who is not a wannabe dictator; who will not destroy what's left of the country's democratic norms; who will not encourage coups, political assassinations, or jail his political opponents; who will not utterly stifle dissent.

Or on the other hand, Trump, who is beholden to a fanatical evangelical base that backs Israel no matter what, that actually wants more conflict because they are part of a death cult. Trump, who is not susceptible in any way to pressure from the left, but is susceptible to pressure from the right and the far right. Trump, who has been clear all along about his desire to be a dictator; who will destroy what's left of democratic norms; who has already encouraged a coup to overthrow a democratic election, encouraged the assassination of his own vice president, and is openly planning to jail his political opponents if he returns to the White House.

(This isn't even touching on Trump's positions on trans rights, gay rights, women's rights, the environment, policing, immigration, or his racism against every group he could be racist against, or his liability for sexual assault, or a whole bunch of other issues).

There's a very convincing argument that Netanyahu actually wants Biden to lose the US election and Trump to win. That's because Netanyahu knows that Biden has in the past responded to pressure from his own party and the public. If there are a lot of people criticizing his policies, it gives him pause. Trump doesn't operate like that. If millions of Americans criticize his policies as inhumane he just lashes out at them. In short, Biden views criticism from the left as a liability that he has to act on. Trump views criticism from the left as an incentive to be even worse.

Biden is not the candidate I want. But you need to understand that if Trump wins the election, he won't just arm Israel like Biden is doing now: he will do that and more. Not only will he help Israel escalate its war, your very freedom of speech to support Palestine will be under attack. Trump might even decide that financial support for Palestinians or charities that help Palestine = financially supporting terrorism, and use that as a pretext to arrest and jail people. You think he and his far right goons wouldn't go that far? If Trump wins this election, you shouldn't be surprised if this kind of thing happens, and much worse.

Do you want the US to accept Palestinian refugees? Because it won't accept them under a Trump presidency. A key Republican talking point in this election is "the US shouldn't take Palestinian refugees because they're probably all terrorists." This isn't just a Trump thing, it's something other Republicans are saying, but obviously you can imagine where Trump would fall on this issue given his infamous Muslim ban and conflating refugees with terrorists. These are just a few examples of how Trump would actually be even worse for Palestine than Biden—which is saying something.

In this upcoming election there is no neutral option. There is no morally pure option. There just isn't, I'm sorry. Refusing to vote will not help Palestine. Refusing to vote will only help Trump win, and will give every single person in the United States who is fighting for a better world a significantly harder battle to fight.

It goes without saying that there are things everyone should do to help Palestine besides voting in an election. But I'm writing this post that is about voting because I'm genuinely worried by how many so-called leftists want to give up their right to vote—a right that older generations had to fight tooth and nail for—because they think it won't achieve anything. If voting didn't achieve anything, Republicans wouldn't be trying so hard to suppress your vote.

I'll conclude by saying that nuance is not this site's specialty, but please try to understand what I'm actually saying here before attacking me in the notes. Finally, people being antisemitic or islamophobic on this post will be blocked. People denying that Israel is committing genocide against Palestine will be blocked. Trump supporters, tankies, and people who say that Biden and Trump are the same will be blocked. So will people who say "voting is pointless" or "but Biden did this bad thing—" Biden fucking sucks, I know that very well, so if you're going to try to make that argument to me then stop right now and read the post again.

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Burna Boy featuring 21 Savage - Sittin' on Top of the World 2023

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2019, he won Best International Act at the BET Awards, and was named an Apple Music Up Next artist. He also released his fourth studio album, African Giant, which went on to win Album of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. He was awarded African Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards. Burna Boy released his fifth studio album, Twice as Tall, in August 2020. It won Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He again won Best International Act at the 2021 BET Awards.

Burna Boy's sixth studio album Love, Damini was released in 2022 and became the highest debut of a Nigerian album on the Billboard 200 chart. It also became the highest-charting African album in France, the Netherlands and the UK. Burna Boy was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic plaque for his achievements in music. He won his fourth Best International Act at the BET Awards in 2023. He won The Headies Afrobeats Single of the Year category and also the Song of the Year for "Last Last". In support of his album Love, Damini, Burna Boy embarked on a global tour starting in May 2022, with dates in North America, Europe and Africa. On 3 June 2023, he performed in front of a sold-out 60,000 crowd at the London Stadium, becoming the first African artist to headline a stadium tour in the UK. Reacting to this achievement, he first alluded to the album title, saying, "I told them that I'm a genius".

"Sittin' on Top of the World" was released on 1 June 2023 as the lead single from Burna Boy's seventh studio album I Told Them… (2023). Produced by Skread, it contains a sample of "Top of the World" by Brandy featuring Mase. The official remix of the song, featuring Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage, received a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Burna Boy performed the song at the ceremony alongside Brandy and 21 Savage.

"Sittin' on Top of the World" received a total of 47,3% yes votes.

[moochilatv]

Sam Blacky x Niniola presents: Ronaldinho

Electronic metts soccer

Sam Blacky Joins Forces With Acclaimed Grammy-nominated Nigerian Singer-Songwriter Niniola On Inspiring Vocal Afro-House Single "Ronaldinho." Out Now on Easier Said

Powerhouse LA-based DJ/producer Sam Blacky partners with Grammy-nominated African singer-songwriter hailing from Nigeria, Niniola, for their new single "Ronaldinho," which celebrates the former's love for afro house and the latter's Nigerian history in a dynamic, soulful sonic journey. Sam has long loved pushing the boundaries of dance music and breaking music genres' molds, and over the past few years, it's become apparent that her true passion lies in creating globally-inspired, dance-worthy records. "Ronaldinho" is a shining example of this with its undulating, deep basslines, percussive instrumentals, and ethereal melodies courtesy of Sam, while Niniola's shining vocals truly turn the song into a spiritual listening experience. With the summer festival season just heating up, "Ronaldinho" is about to be heard on the beach, the festival stage, and the club dance floors around the world. The track is out now on Easier Said, which finds Sam exercising her artistic freedom by once again joining a formidable roster of forward-thinking artists such as Barclay Crenshaw, Life on Planets, Maya Jane Coles, Party Pupils, and Todd Terry.

"As the years have passed, my passion has become more and more integrated with what we know as afro house. When the opportunity came up to work with one of the original, most iconic singers in that realm, all the way from Nigeria, there was no question. I heard what Niniola had done with the vocals for Ronaldinho and knew I had to make this song with her. Having someone who is such an amazing storyteller, with such an incredible voice, who has lived this life through and through brings an entirely different message and meaning to the music." - Sam Blacky

Sam Blacky's forthcoming dates:

May 26 - Brooklyn, NY - We Belong Here Jun 05 - Los Angeles, CA - Academy LA Jun 08 - Montréal, QC - New City Gas Jun 22 - San Diego, CA - Horizon Music Festival Jun 23 - Long Beach, CA - Day Trip Festival Jul 06 - Kristiansand, NO - Palmesus Festival

Niniola

Niniola participated in several social activities and competitions. She finished third runner-up in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa. Niniola released her debut single - "Ibadi," on 19 March 2014. The song received positive reviews, topped national music charts, and gained extensive airplay. Her singles "Ibadi" and "Gbowode" were included in the soundtrack for season 2 of "Gidi Up." Niniola was nominated in the Most Promising Act to Watch category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. In 2017, Niniola went on to release another single titled "Maradona," which went on to become a global hit. "Maradona" enjoyed a good 13 weeks on the South African charts and was at the No.1 spot for over 6 weeks. It also earned Niniola a BET Awards and SAMA nominations. Since then, Niniola has gone on to receive nods from international heavyweights like Drake, Timbaland, and others. In 2019, elements of the single were sampled on "The Lion King: The Gift Album" by Beyoncé on the track "Find Your Way Back," where she also appeared as a songwriter and composer of the song, which has gone on to get Niniola a Grammy nomination. In April 2020 and later in June 2021, she received her 1st, 2nd Grammy nomination certificate for her work as a composer. In June 2021, she's got inducted into the Grammy Recording Academy Class of 2021. In July 2021, Niniola's single, "Maradona" was certified gold in South Africa by the Recording Industry of South Africa RISA.

Sam Blacky is a multitalented DJ, Producer, and Cultural Icon from San Diego, USA. She spent several years in Australia, where she first fell in love with producing music and performing live. Since moving back to the US, music, performing, and fashion have taken a front seat in her life. Performing since 2017, she's graced the stages from Mexico to Ibiza, Bali to Europe, and some of the world's premier electronic music festivals and clubs.

Since her first self-released EP in 2021, Sam has released on esteemed labels such as Repopulate Mars, Terms & Conditions, Easier Said, Thrive Music, and Hood Politics. Her standout remix of "Gaslight" for Grammy-nominated Inji was a viral sensation. Sam's signature style of blending Afro-House, Latin House, and everything in between is connecting with global audiences and has earned her the coveted 1001 Tracklists' "Future of Dance" producer list two years in a row. Her latest release - "Amor," was remixed by Brazilian producer Illusionize and cemented her place worldwide as a one to watch.

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[dtba]

Fireboy DML: The Nigerian Artist Setting the World Ablaze with Music and Fashion

Photographer: Down To Be Artsy @dtba_

In the world of music, certain artists possess an undeniable allure that captivates audiences and transcends borders. Fireboy DML is one such luminary whose meteoric rise began in 2019 with his chart-topping debut album, "Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps." Since then, he has continued to set the music scene ablaze with his third studio masterpiece, "Playboy," released in August 2022. This album boasts remarkable collaborations with global sensations like Ed Sheeran, Chris Brown, Shenseea, and Asake. With his album "Playboy" surpassing 1 billion streams within its first three months, Fireboy DML's music is striking a resounding chord. Billboard named him March R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month, and a nomination for Best International Act at the BET Awards underscores his international acclaim. Notably, Fireboy became the first Afrobeats artist to take center stage at the BET Awards.

One of the pinnacle moments in Fireboy's journey was the release of the collaborative rendition of his song "Peru" with Ed Sheeran, which made waves on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and ascended to the second position on the United Kingdom's Official Singles Chart in 2022. His inaugural US tour was a milestone achievement, and his record "Peru" achieved platinum certification in both the UK and the US, boasting over 500 million streams. This chart-topping success saw the track rise on the Billboard Hot 100 and secure the number one spot on the Billboard Afrobeats Chart, with remixes featuring renowned artists such as Ed Sheeran, 21 Savage, and Blxst.

His music has not only garnered millions of streams but also graced the airwaves, earning him the coveted Listener's Choice Award and a Song Of The Year nomination at the prestigious 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. An accolade that underscores his status as the most-streamed Nigerian artist on Spotify. In the intimate setting of NPR Tiny Desk, Fireboy DML delivered a captivating performance. Furthermore, he lent his talents to Madonna's "Frozen" (Remix) alongside Sickick, solidifying his global influence in the music industry." His performance at Afronation Miami, a live show streamed on his official YouTube channel and the Metaverse, demonstrates his multifaceted artistic prowess.

Yet, Fireboy DML's talents stretch far beyond the realm of music. Armed with a degree in English, he demonstrates a deep passion for poetry. His latest album, "Apollo," draws inspiration from the Greek God of song, music, and poetry. This title symbolizes his profound connection to these artistic forms and mirrors his personal journey of growth, love, and pain. This rising star has been invited to EMPIRE's Africa Writing camp, solidifying his position as one of the most prominent African stars on the global stage.

Not content with merely making waves in the music world, Fireboy is equally celebrated for his innovative fashion sense. His Instagram account, boasting over 4.5 million followers, reflects his unique style and artistic identity. As we look to the future, Fireboy DML has exciting projects in the pipeline. He graced the front row at the Burberry S/S 23 show in London, a nod to his burgeoning status in the fashion world. He made a dazzling debut at Paris Fashion Week and Haute Couture, gracing events like the Marine Serre and Sacai Spring-Summer 2024 Men's Collection Shows.

2023 has been a year brimming with musical gems from Fireboy DML, showcasing his boundless talent. From the alluring 'One of a Kind' to the emotionally resonant 'Someone,' each release adds a unique layer to his musical journey. In May 2023, Fireboy DML dropped his latest single, "Someone," showcasing his unrelenting commitment to his craft. He recently partnered with Clarks for the "Beyond Worlds" campaign, a testament to his ever-expanding influence. His amapiano infused single 'YAWA' brings its infectious rhythm and lyrical charm, setting the stage for what's to come, while the 'Elon Musk - Remix' offers a creative twist that's nothing short of genius. 'Me and My Guitar' takes us on a more introspective and soulful journey, underlining his versatility as an artist. Meanwhile, 'Drink Water' quenches our musical thirst with its melodic brilliance. These songs are not just melodies; they are stories and emotions woven into music, a testament to why Fireboy DML remains a musical sensation.

FEATURE INTERVIEW

Thank you so much for the opportunity to shoot your feature images, you had such a vibrant energy! It was very refreshing to work with you, you were so receptive to the ideas in the room and you were very generous with your Hennessy. Despite having a million things to do in a short amount of time, we successfully shot your images, and your energy remained constant. What keeps you grounded?

Thank you for having me. I had a great time at the shoot. Everyone was nice, everyone was professional, the atmosphere was beautiful and the energy was right. I stay grounded by surrounding myself with the right people and understanding that I’m a human being first before anything else. Treating people with respect is very important to me, no matter who I am or how much success I amass. Going through life and going through this industry with that understanding helps me stay grounded in more ways than one. 

You recently made your debut at New York Fashion Week. How has this experience been, and how does fashion influence you?

The debut at New York Fashion Week was amazing. I had a great time and I learned a lot. Obviously fashion is a different industry than where I started and where I have my expertise, but learning about and joining into a whole new industry is something else entirely and it’s been a really nice experience for me. Working with Michael Philouze has really been helpful and productive, and beyond that it’s just fun because he’s such a great guy. I’ve always been a fashion guy with the way I like to dress up and the way I like to present myself when I make appearances. I like to be edgy because I believe as an artist, you cannot be regular in anything you do, or at least in most of the things you do. You have to stand out and you have to look the part whenever you step out. That’s very key to me. As much as I like to keep things simple and dress comfortable, I understand that as an artist, I have to look the part. That has always guided the way I approach things, the way I dress up, and the way I make music sometimes too. 

What’s something you always bring with you when you travel?

It changes from a range of things, usually it’s speakers but right now it’s my Nintendo Switch. I use it to pass the time when I’m alone or when I just need to relax. You know life on the road can be very demanding and stressful so sometimes I like to just take my mind away from it.  

What is your favorite men’s cologne? 

I am a cologne freak. It’s an obsession I started like a year or two ago. Since then I’ve been collecting a lot of fragrances. I love to smell good everywhere whether it’s my house, my body, my car… A good scent is a way to make people feel comfortable and at ease around you. My favorite men’s cologne has got to be Clive Christian Addictive Arts. It’s such a beautiful, rich, fresh smell. It smells like wealth, comfort and ease. It’s so sexy, I really love it. I only wear it on special occasions. I have a lot of favorites, but that one is just special to me right now.

What’s one article of clothing or accessory that holds a lot of meaning to you?

I’ll say anything that goes on the hands - rings, watches, bracelets. People pay a lot of attention to hands - a lot more than we think. When the attention goes there, just to your hands, it shows attention to detail. Those accessories stand out, no matter what you’re wearing. Also my diamond grills, it’s just such a great accessory when I’m dressing up because I could literally wear anything, and still look like a superstar. I could just be in a tank top, some nice pants and shoes with bracelets and a beautiful watch, but then the grills when I smile, people are like “oh he’s a superstar” and that’s such a vibe. Those accessories mean a lot to me right now when I’m dressing up. They’re important to my look and it’s imperative that I have those on me when I go out.

Your fashion sense has garnered attention for challenging gender norms. What message do you hope to convey through your fashion?

I can be very fluid when it comes to fashion because I believe that there are some outfits that are just not gender restrictive. Anyone can wear them as long as they just give off that vibe. There are some outfits that just look right on anyone no matter who you are. I really don’t care about who should wear this or that. I feel like if I look at something and I think it will look good on me, I will wear it as long as I’m comfortable in it and that’s what matters the most. Sometimes I want to go for the laidback, simple, calm vibe, but I’m a creative. You don’t expect me to just step out looking like a regular Joe you know. One message I like to get across - things like music, fashion, and art, generally, that’s freedom, so just feel free to explore. As long as you’re not hurting anybody, do what you like.   

How is your creativity disrupting culture and pushing boundaries?

Right now Afrobeats is doing it’s thing and its been doing that for the past 3-4 years. I’m just glad that my generation is the one that basically introduced Afrobeats to these new heights it’s been achieving. My creativity as an artist is one thing that keeps me pushing my boundaries all over - beyond Africa, Naija, Afrobeats, and African music. I wouldn’t say that I make Afrobeats all the time. I make pop. I make R&B. I do all genres of music but I always like to make sure that that identity, that Afrobeats identity, is still maintained somehow in the music. I feel like that’s what’s most important - as long as people know where you’re from and who you are, it doesn’t matter what kind of music you make. Your identity is very important and that’s one thing that’s kind of helped keep us in the game and also helped us to break boundaries in the industry. We’re staying true and showing originality in our music. I’m speaking not just for myself, but for my peers as well. It’s been beautiful so far and I’m just grateful.  

How has your cultural background as a Nigerian influenced your artistry and sound?

I was just talking about my cultural background as a Nigerian and as a Yoruba boy from the Yoruba tribe, my identity, staying true, and it’s really the same thing I just mentioned… My background has heavily influenced my artistry and my sound. I grew up in Abeokuta in the Ogun state. It’s a relatively sleepy town in the southwestern area of Nigeria. I didn’t do much - it was just home, school and church. I was just writing music, writing poems, reading books, and that actually really helped me a lot when I was transitioning from a songwriter to an artist. I started as a studio runner, or a studio rat as some people would call us, cleaning up the studios and helping people make music and record. From there I started helping people write. So my background really helped me to stay grounded and just learn to appreciate the creative process. The creative process in music involves a lot of you just being in your zone, locked in, and just doing your thing. Growing up, that’s mostly what I was doing. 

In my music you always hear my Yoruba - you’ll be like okay this one’s the Yoruba boy, this one’s the Afrobeats artist, etc. Even when I’m making R&B, I try to use my local dialect and make it pop. You’ll hear it… We like to exclaim a lot, we’re very dramatic as a tribe. So in our expressions you’ll hear the occasional “Ho!” “Yee!” “Ha!” in between lines and it’s those little minute details that have people wondering - where is this guy from? And then “oh he’s from this part of the world, that’s interesting” and it goes from there. So I think originality is always a good way to maintain your artistry and break boundaries. 

You were on the soundtrack for Black Panther, what significance does this have for you?

Being on the soundtrack for Black Panther was such a huge moment for me in my career. It really solidified all the hard work I had been doing up until that point and it meant a lot to me. Being a part of a movie that is so important to black culture was a huge honor for me. So today and until the end of time, I will always be grateful for that opportunity because that is how you really make your mark in history and make sure that you are remembered for life. 

You have collaborated with artists like Madonna, Chris Brown and Ed Sheeran. Who would you love to collaborate with in the near future?

Collaboration has really helped my career thus far. Working with big artists like Madonna, Chris Brown, and Ed Sheeran has been life changing to say the least. One artist that I would really love to collaborate with, and I’ve said it so many times in so many interviews, is Post Malone. Apart from his music, I just love his personality and I love that he’s such an artist in whatever form or shape he takes and whatever he likes. You can just always tell that he is a genuine artist that has a lot of respect for the art and has a lot of respect for people too. As a fan, I’ve watched a lot of videos of him and I’ve seen how he’s relating with people and that just inspires me. No matter what level of success I achieve, it’s always important to stay true to yourself and treat people with respect. I really really admire that about him. He’s true to himself and a true artist.  

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album “Playboy” and any memorable moments during its creation?

My last album Playboy - that was an era. That was a ride. It was fun. It was a point where my success had reached that global superstar international stage. I was just living in and loving the moment. And I felt you know what? This is the moment where you get out of your head and stop overthinking and just play, just chill and relax. Play boy. Playboy. That’s basically what that word means. In all honesty it could mean all versions, all forms, all definitions of “playboy” that you have in every urban dictionary in the world. It’s just me coming out of my shell to really enjoy the success that I’ve worked so hard for. 

I have a lot of memorable moments, but the one that stands out for me will always be when I was making Peru in San Francisco after I just flew in from Miami. It was a beautiful time. I was with Ghazi and the entire Empire team and we were just all chilling. I got to the studio, he played the beat, and I was like you know what - this is it. I started popping off. It was such an unusual way of recording for me because I never usually just go in the booth and go hard like that. It’s not my style. I usually like to sit, listen, cook up melodies, and write up some lyrics before I try to do any sort of raw take, but that night I just sort of got out of my head for the first time in a long time. I got in the booth and just started singing. I was singing every melody in my head and the song just happened. In like 40 minutes we were done and everyone in the studio knew we had a banger. It was crazy. Such a memorable moment.    

I hear there is some music in the works! Can you tell our audiences what to expect next from Fireboy DML?

It’s been a while and I’m currently working on my next album. It is exciting for one reason - I’m just really excited for my fans that have been with me from the very beginning. I’m not going to say much about this next album, all I’m going to say is that the fans are really going to enjoy it. It just feels good to not just create for yourself, it’s also important to create for the people that have been there with you over the years. I’m finally getting back in that bag and I’m just really excited for that. 

What advice do you have for talented, young artists looking to gain exposure?

It’s always going to be the same when people ask me this question - take your time to find your sound. Once you find your sound, the rest will automatically follow. I’ve realized that music is a very selfish lover. If you’re in it, you’re in it. Stick to it and make sure that you’re giving it all the time and attention you have and everything you’ve got. Before you know it, you’ve found your sound. Once you’ve found your sound, as long as you keep working, everything else falls in place. That’s how it’s been for me and I feel like as a young talented artist, that’s all you need to do. Put yourself in the right frame of mind, find your sound, and the right people will find you. As long as you continue to put yourself out there, put out music of course, and are sure you have your identity and your sound locked in, you’ll be good for life. 

TEAM CREDITS

Photography: Down To Be Artsy @dtba_

Photo Assistant: Demé Brown @demegawd_

Interview & DTBA Senior Editor: Shirley Reynozo @moyamusic_

Stylist: @starblurleigh

Stylist Assistants: @amberranastudios + @ellaangelinadesign

[cyarskj52]

BET Awards 2023: See The Complete List Of Winners 

By Tony M. Centeno

June 25, 2023

Photo: Getty Images

The results are in!  On Sunday night, June 25, the BET Awards 2023revealed this year's winners in 21 categories. Some of the winners were announced during the official pre-show. Libianca received the award for Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act following her performance at Red Carpet Live! Meanwhile, Beyoncé won big by claiming the awards for BET Her and Viewer's Choice Award while newcomers Latto and Coco Jones also claimed trophies at the annual awards show. The biggest winner of the night was Busta Rhymes, who took home the Lifetime Achievement Award. He's only the third rapper in the network's history to receive the award following Queen Latifah and Diddy. 

Earlier this month, BET shared the full list of nominees. Drake took the lead with seven nominations including Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Group with 21 Savage and Best Collaboration with Future and Tems. GloRilla came in second with six nominations including Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Best New Artist, Album of the Year for Anyways, Life’s Great..., Video Of The Year and Best Collaboration. 21 Savage and Lizzo tied as the third-most nominated artists with five nominations each.  Congratulations to all the winners! See who won in bold below. 

Album Of The Year

Anyways, Life's Great GloRilla

Breezy Chris Brown

God Did DJ Khaled

Her Loss Drake & 21 Savage

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Kendrick Lamar

Renaissance Beyoncé - WINNER

SOS SZA - WINNER

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Ari Lennox

Beyoncé

Coco Jones

H.E.R.

Lizzo

SZA - WINNER

Tems

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Blxst

Brent Faiyaz

Burna Boy

Chris Brown - WINNER

Drake

The Weeknd

Usher - WINNER Best Group

City Girls

Drake & 21 Savage - WINNER

Dvsn

Flo

Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

Quavo & Takeoff

Wanmor

Best Collaboration

“Big Energy” (Remix) - Latto & Mariah Carey featuring DJ Khaled

“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” - Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice

“Call Me Every Day” - Chris Brown featuring Wizkid

“Can't Stop Won't Stop” - King Combs featuring Kodak Black

“Creepin'” - Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage

“F.N.F. (Let's Go)” - Hitkidd & Glorilla

“Tomorrow 2” - GloRilla & Cardi B

“Wait For U” - Future featuring Drake & Tems - WINNER

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Cardi B

Coi Leray

GloRilla

Ice Spice

Latto - WINNER

Megan Thee Stallion

Nicki Minaj

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

21 Savage

Drake

Future

J. Cole

Jack Harlow

Kendrick Lamar - WINNER

Lil Baby

Video Of The Year

“We (Warm Embrace)” - Chris Brown

“2 Million Up” - Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey Feat. Rob49

“About Damn Time” - Lizzo

“Bad Habit” - Steve Lacy

“First Class” - Jack Harlow

“Kill Bill” - SZA - WINNER

“Tomorrow 2" - GloRilla & Cardi B

Video Director Of The Year

A$AP Rocky For AWGE

Benny Boom

Burna Boy

Cole Bennett

Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar

Director X

Teyana "Spike Tey" Taylor - WINNER

Best New Artist

Ambré

Coco Jones - WINNER

Doechii

Flo

GloRilla

Ice Spice

Lola Brooke

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

“Bless Me” - Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin - WINNER

“Finished (Live)” - Tamela Mann

“I've Got Joy” - Cece Winans

“Kingdom” - Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin featuring Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore

“New” - Tye Tribbett

“One Moment From Glory” - Yolanda Adams

“The Better Benediction (Pt.2)” - PJ Morton featuring Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le'andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Viewer’s Choice Award

“Break My Soul” - Beyoncé - WINNER

“Jimmy Cooks” - Drake featuring 21 Savage

“Kill Bill” - SZA

“First Class” - Jack Harlow

“Super Freaky Girl” - Nicki Minaj

“About Damn Time” - Lizzo

“Last Last” - Burna Boy

“Wait For U” - Future featuring Drake & Tems

Best International Act

Aya Nakamura (France)

Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

Burna Boy (Nigeria) - WINNER

Central Cee (UK)

Ella Mai (UK)

Ko (South Africa)

L7nnon (Brazil)

Stormzy (UK)

Tiakola (France)

Uncle Waffles (South Africa)

Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act

Asake (Nigeria)

Camidoh (Ghana)

Flo (UK)

Libianca (Cameroon) - WINNER

Maureen (France)

Mc Ryan Sp (Brazil)

Pabi Cooper (South Africa)

Raye (UK)

Werenoi (France)

BET HER

“About Damn Time” - Lizzo

“Boy's A Liar Pt. 2” - Pinkpantheress, Ice Spice

“Break My Soul” - Beyoncé - WINNER

“Her” - Megan Thee Stallion

“Lift Me Up” - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Music From And Inspired By - Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson

“Players” - Coi Leray

“Special” - Lizzo

Best Movie

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - WINNER

Creed 3

Emancipation

Nope

The Woman King

Till

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Best Actor

Amin Joseph

Brian Tyree Henry

Damson Idris - WINNER

Daniel Kaluuya

Demetrius 'lil Meech' Flenory Jr.

Donald Glover

Michael B. Jordan

Best Actress

Angela Bassett - WINNER

Coco Jones

Janelle James

Janelle Monáe

Keke Palmer

Viola Davis

Zendaya

Youngstars Award

Akira Akbar

Alaya High

Demi Singleton

Genesis Denise

Marsai Martin - WINNER

Thaddeus J. Mixson

Dylan Gilmer

Sportswoman Of The Year Award

Alexis Morris

Allyson Felix

Angel Reese - WINNER

Candace Parker

Naomi Osaka

Serena Williams

Sha'carri Richardson

Sportsman Of The Year Award

Aaron Judge

Bubba Wallace

Gervonta Davis

Jalen Hurts - WINNER

Lebron James

Patrick Mahomes

Stephen Curry Lifetime Achievement Award Busta Rhymes

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Sent from my iPhone

[jozistyle]

jICF Returns for Another Jam-packed Dose of Laughter

The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival (JICF) returns with a feast of comedy delivered over three hilariously jam-packed days. With its longstanding tradition of offering world-class comedy experiences, JICF showcases the hottest local and international acts on offer. Proudly brought to you in partnership with Comedy Central (DStv 122), BET Africa (DStv 129), IOL and in association with…

[kickmag]

Pierre's Comedy Special HALF/TRUTHS Streaming On HypePlusTV.com

LOS ANGELES/ATLANTA - Tired of being misjudged and constantly proving himself in the Black community, biracial comedian and actor, Pierre Edwards (Pierre), speaks his truth in a witty stand-up micro-special on race titled “HALF/TRUTHS.” The thought-provoking film was released last week with the soft launch of Comedy Hype’s new streaming platform, HypePlusTV.com.

“HALF/TRUTHS” provides the audience with a glimpse of a very real and raw Pierre as he jokes about challenges he experienced when, at 11 years old, his German mother and African American father shipped him away from the comforts of his nonracial life in Germany, to live with his Black family in race-obsessed Washington, DC.

 “I came from Germany. I had long flowing hair. I looked like Prince on his first album—wasn’t a good look in the hood,” Pierre tells the audience. “My cousin would get his hair cut, I went to get mine “did”. It was a difference. I couldn’t go to a barbershop, none of my pictures was on the wall. I had to bring in a Right On Magazine with Janet Jackson from Different Strokes, I want this look.”

Jon Aba, CEO of Comedy Hype, notes, “The mission of our company since day one has been about empowering ourselves and those around us. We’ve been fortunate to turn our partnership with Pierre into one that continues to grow.”

Pierre’s comedic credentials go back to appearing on the first year of HBO's Def Comedy Jam, BET’s Comic View, Showtime at the Apollo, and Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-Up. He has headlined at premiere comedy clubs including Carolines on Broadway in New York City, Uptown Comedy Corner in Atlanta, and at international venues in Japan, South Africa, and throughout Europe. On the acting front, the man that renovates homes as a hobby, played the boyfriend of Academy Award-winning actress, Halle Berry, in “B. A. P.s,” alongside Bill Bellamy in “How to be a Player,” and he wrote, directed and starred in the urban classic, “For Da Love of Money.”

“HALF/TRUTHS” was produced by Comedy Hype’s production arm Hype+ in association with Urban Genius Productions and Lott Lizard Productions, directed by Jaron Marquis, and written by Pierre. Upcoming Hype+ projects include films featuring comedians Doug Williams and Tyler Craig, and a television show.

With studios in Atlanta and Los Angeles, Comedy Hype came from humble beginnings and is rooted in tenacity and hustle. It was founded as an urban news blog in 2009 by Aba while living at his grandmother’s house and has evolved into the popular Comedy Hype YouTube Channel with nearly a million loyal subscribers and a daily news show averaging over 100 thousand views per show. Their new streaming platform, hypeplustv.com, will expand beyond comedy. In addition to interviews with popular comedians like Amanda Seales, Affion Crocket, and Don DC Curry, the site will feature a broad range of film projects and conversations with musicians, actors and other celebrity influencers.

Watch “HALF/TRUTHS” at www.hypeplustv.com, To keep up with Pierre you can check him out on his Youtube podcast, “Pierre’s Panic Room” and @ComicPierre on social media. For more information about Comedy Hype and Hype+ check @ComedyHype on all social media.

[afrobeatsindacity]

BURNA BOY WINS 2021 BET BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Congratulations to Burna Boy who won BET Best International Act at this year's BET Awards show which took place last night in Los Angeles.

2021 is becoming an extra special year for Burna Boy and he deserves it all!

[vivanaija]

Support from Wizkid as he asks fans to help Davido win BET Awards Best International Act: Africa Nominee

Support from Wizkid as he asks fans to help Davido win BET Awards Best International Act: Africa Nominee

Top Nigerian singer Wizkid has canvassed support from fans to help fellow singer Davido win the BET best international act awards.

Wizkid, who reconciled with Davido a few months ago, after what seemed like ages of bitter rivalry, wants his new best friend to win.

He posted a photo of Davido on his Instagram handle and wrote: “Oya my people! Go vote my guy @davidoofficial . Y’all know he deserves…

[finleycannotdraw]

Guess what? I’m re-binge-reading Good Omens. And here are some Obervations that I forgot about and some things I might put in fics. Also things I found funny. Basically my dumb commentary on the book.

Crowley actually flees Sister Mary. He doesn’t saunter vaguely away. He flees.

Ligur is rather more thoughtful than he’s portrayed in the show

Anathema likes to read about herself, and her teachers are confused because she spells words like Agnes Nutter

Crowley apologizes

By page 41, it is mentioned at least twice that Aziraphale and Crowley Do Not choose each other’s company for any reason other than that they are constants, that they have an Arrangement, and that they are Friends because being Enemies got boring.

Aziraphale blushes!!!!!!

The Drunk Scene is fuckin hilarious and it’s actually a lot longer than it is in the show, and really you ought to read it. (Book pages 47-50)

My mom (who has a PhD in human development) would probably like to talk to Crowley about upbringing because they seem to agree on how important it is

War has always looked 25, and had a vulture that died of fatty degeneration

Pollution is very cleverly compared to actual pollution

Warlock has Kermit the frog overalls, and Nanny Ashtoreth is described as someone who “advertises unspecified but strangely explicit services in certain magazines”. The tutors are present for about four paragraphs. Warlock is good at math and likes banana flavored bubblegum.

Crowley has a slice of angel cake. Aziraphale eats it. Aziraphale also eats deviled eggs. Hm.

Crowley calls Aziraphale angel casually enough to suggest he’s been doing it for a long time

Some girl at Warlock’s party calls Aziraphale a f*ggot

Crowley glares suspiciously at a gerbil. It is suggested that Hell has, in the past, sent hell-gerbils in place of hellhounds.

“Oh dear,” muttered Aziraphale, not swearing with the practiced ease of one who has spent six thousand years not swearing, and who wasn’t going to start now.

Adam and his friends play in a place called The Pit, where shopping carts go to die, apparently

Crowley is the first one to mention sides in the book!??!? Also Crowley goes on about how humans are more evil than Hell (but he calls himself evil—is he calling himself human already?)

Aziraphale yells “get off the road, you clown!”

“What’s a velvet underground?” *love confession???* “you wouldn’t like it”

Aziraphale is a bit rude to Crowley in the “flashes of love” scene and Crowley is less panicked about it

Crowley glares at the Bentley and it fixes itself

Anathema’s bike is called Phaeton

COULD THEY ACT ANY MORE MARRIED OH MY GOD

Aziraphale speaks like. Like ugh. “FlOUndeR on tHe rOcKS of inEquiTY”

“Thirty seconds later someone shot both of them. With incredible accuracy.” *cuts to a random pleasant story about Mary Hodges* *cuts back to where Aziraphale has fallen into a rhododendron and Crowley licks the paint before he knows it’s paint* dumbasses

Crowley does not slam Aziraphale into the wall

Crowley is actually pretty impatient and doesn’t argue with Aziraphale when he’s worried

“Nothing but dust and fundamentalists” “that was nasty” “sorry, couldn’t help it”

When the radio sings “Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me,” Crowley sings “for me” and then screams

Crowley asks Aziraphale if he’ll keep in touch, and Aziraphale doesn’t say tickety-boo, and then Crowley says “right” and feels very alone

the international express man is small and has glasses, and wears green woolen socks

The sword, which turns out to be Aziraphale’s, is described as having an aura of hatred and menace, which makes me think of how it could’ve gotten that aura from Heaven or from humanity or from War...

In the book Pepper has red hair and freckles, which makes it a cool comparison to War’s appearance and the defeat of War

Adam is excellent at slouching, apparently

Occasionally, as Aziraphale reads the book, he would very nearly swear

“He wouldn’t have said ‘that’s weird’ if a flock of sheep had cycled past playing violins.”

“If you had told him there were children starving in Africa he would’ve been flattered that you’d noticed.”

“...that he was English, that he was intelligent, and that he was gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide.” (151)

Wensleydale watches David Attenborough programs

Shadwell’s voice is described as “the color of an old raincoat” and seems to fake smoking cigarettes

Aziraphales cocoa is moldy and solidified by the time he calls Arthur Young, and has a thin layer of dust on himself too

Newt says that the walls look like nicotine and the floor looks like cigarette ash, and he suspects both are, actually, coated with these substances

Newt looks a bit like Clark Kent, and people seem to like Shadwell for some reason, much to his annoyance.

Aziraphale calls Shadwell “dear boy” on the phone

Agnes Nutter called God a daft old fool #goals

Adam is wayyyy too good at video games

Smelling Anathema’s perfume makes Newt uncomfortable

Adam suggests that Pepper ought to have Russia cause of her red hair (huh)

Anathema and Newt actually have decent conversations?? Like?? Show??? C’mon, man. The show kinda butchered their relationship.

Trees, apparently, make a ‘vvrooooommm’ sound when they grow very fast

“He suspected that Crowley was from the Mafia, or the underworld, although he would have been surprised how right he nearly was.” Shadwell also thought Aziraphale was a Russian spy. Wow, Shadwell.

Aziraphale calls Crowley and actually says “shut up” to him, and then when the answering machine beeps, he tells Crowley to “stop making noises” and then he swears for the first time ever.

The fuckin’ footnote on page 227

“A sleek computer was the sort of thing Crowley felt that the sort of human he tried to be would have.” I like the word choice here. He’s not pretending to be a human, he’s trying to be one. That’s a really important distinction.

It never actually says what Crowley does to his plants.

Crowley’s flat is very white. Wow, Crowley. It just looks dark because of the lighting. Heaven imagery and symbolism out my ears, goddammit.

Why does Hell say Crowley’s name so much when talking to him?? Honestly, I think that’s an intentional dig at his chosen name, using it in their speech to scare him. Wow, Hell. (And wow, Finn, excellent sentence)

Whenever the book says something is shaped like something, it definitely isn’t that thing. “man-shaped” “dog-shaped” “car-shaped”... makes it pretty obvious they aren’t men, dogs, or cars, huh.

The code to Crowley’s safe is 4004. The year he “slithered onto this stupid, marvelous planet”... and the year he met Aziraphale, of course. Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt, Crowley, my dude.

Crowley consideres sticking Hastur into his car until he turns into Freddie Mercury but then decides even he isn’t that cruel

Actual text that I feel like nobody really agrees with: “Madame Tracy was by many yardsticks quite stupid”

“Do I look like I run a bookshop?” “...imagine me out of uniform, sir, and what kind of man would you see before you? Honestly?” “A prat.”

I’m crying. The fucking bookshop fire scene made me fucking cry. I’m literally crying.

“...on all fours in the blazing bookshop, Crowley cursed Aziraphale, and the ineffable plan, and Above, and Below.” “The police and firemen looked at him, saw the expression on his face, and stayed exactly where they were.” “...a crack of thunder so loud it hurt....” *the sound of Finley sobbing into their cat*

The shortest biker in the cafe thing is 6′2, what the fuck

War, Famine, Pollution, and Pop Trivia 1962-1979

“Pollution removed his helmet and shook out his long white hair. He had taken over when Pestilence, muttering about penicillin, had retired in 1936. If only the old boy had known what opportunities the future had held.” HMMMMMMMMMMM

“There were no bitches in Hell either.” I know it’s talking about female dogs, but I rather thought Hell was full of bitches.

“Why are you talking like a poofter?” “Ah. Australia.”

“gOsh, aM i on teLEviSiON?” (Basically Aziraphale gets passionate about stuff and likes to talk).

Crowley is actually an optimist and doesn’t dwell too much on how sucky the world is. He doesn’t go get smashed in a bar. He just finds Aziraphale’s notes in the book and heads to Tadfield. And also, his new pair of sunglasses just... materializes out of his eyes. And he likes to whistle.

“Death and Famine and War and Pollution continued biking to Tadfield. And Grievous Bodily Harm, Cruelty to Animals, Things Not Working Properly Even After You’ve Given Them A Good Thumping But Secretly No Alcohol Lager, and Really Cool People traveled with them.”

“on top of the pile a rather large octopus waved a languid tentacle at them. The sergeant resisted the temptation to wave back.” Honestly dude, if an octopus waved at me I’d wave back.

Wait Agnes was apparently talking to Shadwell and not God when she said yowe daft old foole. I dunno

Madame Tracy: You old silly. Shadwell: 

Aziraphale does not know how to get rid of demons. Canonically. “Had never done other to get rid of demons than to hint to them very strongly that he, Aziraphale, had some work to be getting on with, and wasn’t it getting late? And Crowley always got the hint.”

The road to Hell is paved with frozen door to door salesmen, apparently. The question is where it is, because the demons always seem to just stem out of the ground.

“Heigh ho,” said Anthony Crowley, and just drove anyway. I love this sentence during that scene. 

I bet Hastur gets really mad whenever he hears Aziraphale’s voice from now on

Crowley isn’t breathing the entire burning Bentley scene

ADAM. SAID. “But I reckon you can make your own side” AND WE FUCKIN IGNORED IT?

The temperature above the M25 was simultaneously 700ºC and -140ºC which makes me think of something I read about magenta not being real. The M25 is magenta.

I feel like “Agnes” is just going to become an inside joke between Anathema and Newt at this point, and it will drive Crowley insane because he knows who she is but somehow still doesn’t get the joke.

I’m six inches taller than R.P. Tyler, and apparently according to the back sleeve of the book jacket, I’m very similar in height to Neil Gaiman

R.P. Tyler thought Shadwell was a ventriloquist’s dummy, and then sees cows doing somersaults

“That’s terrific. Much obliged,” said Crowley. — “Funny weather we’re having, isn’t it?” “Is it? I hadn’t noticed.” “Probably because your car is on fire.” .... Also the fact that Crowley looks like a young man which I find interesting.

“The Four Button-Pressers of the Apocalypse”

“Where is Armageddon, anyway?” “I’ve always meant to look that up.” “There’s an Armageddon, Pennsylvania”

Famine is the one that says “that’s one big avocado”, and also, I find it interesting that War, more than once, talks about love. (All is fair in love and war much?)

Anathema threatens the guard with a stick, pretending it’s a gun

Aziraphale, of course, asks Crowley to sort it out because he, Aziraphale, is “the nice one” and then proceeds to sort it out himself. Because of course he does. Because what else could he possibly do.

I just ADORE THIS BOOK OKAY

I’M PROBABLY GOING TO READ IT AGAIN IN A MONTH

Aziraphale and Crowley are so fuckin married I can’t

[leekimdramas]

7.7 billion in love

International couples is a pretty common thing but understanding where we are coming from is very important to make that relationship going.

The show introduces us to new cultures and completely different opinions on dating and how it should be done.

In the first part of the show, they talked about statistics and what they would do in their country which may seem pretty boring but some things may shock you.

For example, a guest from Morocco said that it is unacceptable by your religion and even law to live with their partner before marriage.

Another part of the episode was hearing the story of an international couple and discussing what went wrong and what makes the topic better is the differences between the cultures as they have quite diverse ideas from one another.

The hosts are also amazing as they made the studio feel comfortable enough for everyone to be open and speak their mind.

Okay, maybe Heechul suffered a bit this episode as everyone teased him with Momo but it was really fun to watch.

Honestly, I really liked Dong Yeob and Heechul’s chemistry as they been on the shows together before and they know how to work with each other.

Yoo In Ah did an amazing job, she was great at reading the story and made me remember how incredible she is. 

She also wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and disagree if she thought differently which made me like her even more.

What amazed me the most was the guest and how the producers tried to find people from different countries.

Here is the guest list: Angelina Danilova (Russia), Joseph Detlef Nemelka (USA), Haruta Mizuki (Japan), Zhang Yi Wen (China), Maksim Sukhonosit (Russia), Rose Kizgin (France), Oumeyma Fatih (Morocco), Joakim Sorensen (Sweden), Miki (Spain), Aancod Abe Zaccarelli (UK), Julia Anna Nathalia Barlund (Finland), Zeno Slamet (South Africa), Jorge Yahyt Pena Herrera (Columbia), Tabea Tenberg (Germany) and a famous Korean person which I will leave as a mystery.

As you see there are so many different people so the first question that would come to the mind is, how they include everyone and isn’t that a bit too much?

At least that was what I thought at first and was a bit afraid of. Can deal with that many people?

But to my surprise, they included pretty much everyone, maybe only Zeno wasn’t that talkative. 

It is also very fun to watch their guest as they already seemed like good friends.

When the host said that they can not date during the show both girls and guys acted (or not) that they’re sad and Jorge even asked: “When will she show end?”

This show was definitely a good one to watch as it will make you laugh and see different perspectives and understand the people a bit more.

Personally, I watched this show on kshow123 but if you know the legal way that would, of course, be much better.

Oh and if you are now thinking that you would like to join the show, my advice is to learn Korean and have dating experience then maybe you will get lucky. 

Random Notes:

Can I just say I love Yoo In Ah’s voice, it’s so soft and calming...

New drinking game: drink every time Heechul mentions Knowing Brothers. I bet some of the guests are going to show up there someday.

Dong Yeob’s ears are still getting red when he’s embarrassed and it’s so funny to watch especially when he knows it himself and all he can do is laugh it off.

A new thing is that they showed tattoos on screen? That shocked me so much. If you don’t know in Korean television they usually don’t do that and cover up all the tattoos that can be seen.

[clickvibes]

Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Asake & Ayra Starr Nominated for 2023 MTV EMAs | See Full List

MTV has announced the full list of nominees and introduced a new category for the 2023 MTV EMAs. African music stars Burna Boy, Davido, Rema, Asake, Ayra Starr, and Aya Nakamura have been nominated for the “Best Afrobeat” category, while Asake, Burna Boy, Libianca, Diamond Platnumz, and Tyler ICU bagged nominations in the “Best African Act” category. Rema also received a nomination in the “Best Song” category for the “Calm Down” remix with Selena Gomez. “Big 7” singer Burna Boy was also nominated in the “Best Live” category. Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Paramount Africa and Lead for BET International, said, “2023 marks a historic moment for the MTV EMAs as we proudly embrace and celebrate the rich diversity of talent from across the globe. This year’s nominations reflect our commitment to showcasing artists from all corners of the world, highlighting their unique voices and talent. We are thrilled to introduce the ‘Best Afrobeats’ category, a testament to the global impact and influence of this vibrant genre.” Paris Nord Villepinte, operated by Viparis, is the official venue for the 2023 MTV EMAs. The live event is marking its first return to Paris since 1995 with a colourful, immersive MTV EMA wonderland for fans to enjoy. The 2023 MTV EMAs will be broadcast live on MTV in more than 150 countries. The show will broadcast live from Paris on Sunday, November 5, at 20:00 WAT, across 150+ countries on MTV (DSTV Channel 130) and MTV Base (DSTV Channel 322). See the full list of nominees below: BEST AFROBEATS Asake Aya Nakamura Ayra Starr Burna Boy Davido Rema BEST AFRICAN ACT  Asake Burna Boy Libianca Tyler ICU Diamond Platnumz BEST SONG Doja Cat – Paint The Town Red Jung Kook feat. Latto – Seven Miley Cyrus – Flowers Olivia Rodrigo – vampire SZA – Kill Bill Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero Rema, Selena Gomez – Calm Down BEST VIDEO Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion – Bongos Doja Cat – Paint The Town Red Little Simz – Gorilla Miley Cyrus – Flowers Olivia Rodrigo – vampire SZA – Kill Bill Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero BEST ARTIST Doja Cat Miley Cyrus Nicki Minaj Olivia Rodrigo SZA Taylor Swift BEST COLLABORATION Central Cee x Dave – Sprinter David Guetta, Anne-Marie, Coi Leray – Baby Don’t Hurt Me KAROL G, Shakira – TQG Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage – Creepin’ PinkPantheress, Ice Spice – Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 Rema, Selena Gomez – Calm Down BEST NEW Coi Leray FLO Ice Spice Peso Pluma PinkPantheress Reneé Rapp BEST POP Billie Eilish Dua Lipa Ed Sheeran Miley Cyrus Olivia Rodrigo Taylor Swift BEST ROCK Arctic Monkeys Foo Fighters Måneskin Metallica Red Hot Chili Peppers The Killers BEST LATIN  Anitta Bad Bunny KAROL G Peso Pluma ROSALÍA Shakira BEST K-POP FIFTY FIFTY Jung Kook NewJeans SEVENTEEN Stray Kids TOMORROW X TOGETHER BEST ALTERNATIVE Blur Fall Out Boy Lana Del Rey Paramore Thirty Seconds To Mars YUNGBLUD BEST ELECTRONIC Alesso Calvin Harris David Guetta Swedish House Mafia Peggy Gou Tiësto BEST HIP HOP Cardi B Central Cee Lil Wayne Lil Uzi Vert Metro Boomin Nicki Minaj Travis Scott BEST R&B Chlöe Chris Brown Steve Lacy Summer Walker SZA Usher BEST LIVE Beyoncé Burna Boy Ed Sheeran Måneskin SZA Taylor Swift The Weeknd BEST PUSH November 2022: Flo Milli December 2022: Reneé Rapp January 2023: Sam Ryder February 2023: Armani White March 2023: FLETCHER April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER May 2023: Ice Spice June 2023: FLO July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith August 2023: Kaliii September 2023: GloRilla October 2023: Benson Boone BIGGEST FANS Anitta Billie Eilish BLACKPINK Jung Kook Nicki Minaj Olivia Rodrigo Sabrina Carpenter Selena Gomez Taylor Swift BEST GROUP aespa FLO Jonas Brothers Måneskin NewJeans OneRepublic SEVENTEEN TOMORROW X TOGETHER COMPLETE LIST OF 2023 MTV EMA BEST LOCAL ACT NOMINEES: BEST ASIA ACT BE:FIRST BRIGHT Moria Tiara Andini TREASURE BEST AUSTRALIAN ACT Budjerah G Flip Kylie Minogue The Kid LAROI Troye Sivan BEST BRASILIAN ACT Anavitoria Kevin O Chris Luisa Sonza Manu Gavassi Matue BEST CANADIAN ACT Charlotte Cardin Drake Jamie Fine Shania Twain The Beaches BEST CARIBBEAN ACT Eladio Carrion Mora Myke Towers Rauw Alejandro Young Miko BEST DUTCH ACT FLEMMING Idaly Kriss Kross Amsterdam S10 Zoë Tauran BEST FRENCH ACT Aime Simone Aya Nakamura Bigflo & Oli Louane Ninho Slimane BEST GERMAN ACT Apache 207 AYLIVA Kontra K Luciano Nina Chuba Ski Aggu BEST HUNGARIAN ACT ajsa luna Analog Balaton Beton.Hofi Co Lee Hundred Sins BEST INDIA ACT Dee MC DIVINE Mali Tsymyoki When Chai Met Toast BEST ITALIAN ACT Annalisa Elodie Lazza Måneskin The Kolors BEST ISRAELI ACT Anna Zak Liad Meir Noa Kirel Nunu Shira Margalit BEST LAT AM CENTRAL ACT  Blessd Feid Manuel Turizo Ryan Castro Sebastian Yatra BEST LAT AM NORTH ACT Danna Paola Kenia Os Kevin Kaarl Siddhartha Natanael Cano BEST LAT AM SOUTH ACT Bizarrap Duki Fito Paez Lali Nicki Nicole BEST NEW ZEALAND ACT BENEE JessB Jolyon Petch L.A.B. SIX60 BEST NORDIC ACT Alessandra Käärijä Loreen Swedish House Mafia Zara Larsson BEST POLISH ACT Doda Kasia Nosowska Mrozu Sanah Vito Bambino BEST PORTUGUESE ACT Bárbara Bandeira Bispo Carolina Deslandes Marisa Liz PIRUKA BEST SPANISH ACT Abraham Mateo Álvaro de Luna Lola Índigo Quevedo Samantha Hudson BEST SWISS ACT Danitsa Gjon’s Tears KT Gorique Monet192 Stress BEST UK & IRELAND ACT  Calvin Harris Central Cee PinkPantheress Raye Sam Smith Tom Grennan BEST US ACT Doja Cat Nicki Minaj Olivia Rodrigo SZA Taylor Swift Read the full article

[magistralconsulting]

Hedge Fund Operations Outsourcing: How does it work?

Introduction to Hedge Fund Outsourcing

Operations Outsourcing for Hedge Funds is slowly becoming a viable proposition to improve analytical excellence and reduce the operations’ cost. Almost all types of hedge funds can benefit from outsourcing and research support services. It aids the smooth functioning of Hedge Fund operations. Hedge Fund outsourcing not only helps in reducing operations cost, but it is also immensely helpful in raising the analytical standards of the fund.

Hedge Funds are investment vehicles that invest in stocks to give superlative returns to their investors. They follow multiple strategies like long-short equity, market neutral, merger arbitrage, convertible arbitrage, event-driven, credit, fixed income arbitrage, global macro, Short only, and Quantitative. Here is what these strategies are and what could be outsourced by each strategy

Long-Short Equity Hedge Fund

This is by far the most common form of Hedge Funds. Here the fund manager takes long and short positions on the stocks where he believes the stock will go up and the stock will go down respectively. Ideally, long positions should match short positions, so that risk from overall market movements is hedged. However, in practice, the ratio of long and short positions varies with every fund manager. Generally, there are more long positions than short ones. Taking long positions on expected winners acts as collateral to short positions in the expected losers

Long-short Equity is an extension of pairs trading, where a fund manager takes opposing positions in similar stocks in the same industry. If a stock looks overvalued as compared to another in the same industry, the fund manager goes short on the overvalued stock and long on the undervalued one. This relative positioning hedges the risks of market fluctuations in either direction

Hedge Fund outsourcing in long-short equity funds have reduced operations cost by 40-70% and at the same time is known to bring the new skills to the fold of the fund.

What could be Outsourced

Here is what could be outsourced conveniently in a Long-Short Equity Hedge Fund

-Equity Research

-Middle Office

-Fund Administration and Accounting

-Data Management (Collection, Cleansing, Automating and Templatizing for Insights)

-Industry Research

Market Neutral Hedge Funds

Market neutral hedge funds are long-short equity funds that hedge the value of long and short positions. The value and volume of long positions match the value and volume of short positions. This ensures that the risks of market movement are minimized. That also means that the returns from such hedge funds are far moderated than the funds that are biased towards long positions. As its type of a long-short equity fund, outsourcing carries similar potential.

Here is what could be outsourced conveniently in a Market Neutral Hedge Fund

-Equity Research

-Middle Office

-Fund Administration and Accounting

-Data Management (Collection, Cleansing, Automating and Templatizing for Insights)

-Industry Research

Merger Arbitrage Hedge Funds

This is a unique kind of event-driven hedge funds that play on a merger event. Whenever a merger event is announced, the fund manager buys the shares in the target company and shorts the shares of the acquiring company in the prescribed share swap ratio. It creates a spread that incentivizes the fund if the merger goes through. This is however a risky proposition and fund loses in case the merger does not go through due to any regulatory or internal reasons

Apart from usual activities, here is what could be outsourced:

-News tracking related to M&A

-Merger Modeling

-Valuations

-Industry Reports

Convertible Arbitrage Hedge Funds

Convertible Arbitrage is securities that combine bonds and equity. Fund Managers are usually long on bonds and short on the equity that they convert to. Fund managers maintain a delta neutral position throughout. So if the equity value goes down, they need to buy more equity and hedge more if the stock price goes up. It forces fund managers to buy low and sell high. These funds return superior performance if there is volatility in the market.

There are multiple facets of operations that could be outsourced here

Event-Driven and Credit Hedge Funds

This is another unique type of hedge fund that thrives on special situations like bankruptcy. These funds focus on acquiring senior debt that gets paid over other kinds of debts in case of bankruptcy. Credit Hedge Fund on the other hand looks for arbitrage between senior and junior debt from the same issuer. They also trade between securities of different qualities from different issuers

Apart from regular operational aspects, here is what could be outsourced here

-Research around the events that allow the opportunity to kick in for the Hedge Fund

Fixed Income Arbitrage Hedge Funds

These Hedge Funds buy securities on one market and sell them on another market and make money from the arbitrage existing between the two market prices of the securities

Global Macro based Hedge Funds

Some Hedge Fund focus on macro trends around countries, markets, commodities, trades, etc. to bet on different investment and trade from opportunities that these macro changes may throw-in

Global macro changes research could be outsourced here

Short Only Hedge Funds

These Hedge Funds bet on the failure of a company. They look for companies that may have unsustainable business models and go short on them. It’s the short part of the Long-Short Equity Hedge Fund.

All the elements of the Long-Short Hedge Fund could be outsourced.

Quantitative Hedge Funds

Quant based Hedge Funds solely depend on mathematical models to make buy or sell decisions. Their algorithms are obscure and they use tools like Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, High-Frequency Trading, and other technological tools to produce returns.

All regular activities related to Hedge Funds like Administration could be outsourced here.

Here are the activities that Hedge Funds commonly outsource:

Activities that are commonly outsourced by Hedge Funds

Equity Research Outsourcing/ Hedge Fund Outsourcing

Equity Research Outsourcing is by far the most important element of Hedge Fund Outsourcing. Equity Research outsourcing helps the in-house team track more stocks and sometimes to give more depth to the same set of stocks that are tracked by the fund. Fundamental and technical equity research, both could be outsourced effectively.  DCF models are prepared for each stock and then tracked progressively for any changes or news related to that particular stock. Earnings call transcripts are duly recorded and analyzed for a recommendation. A short 2-3-page report is prepared for every stock with the overall recommendation and the rationale for the recommendations. Hedge Fund Research tasks are completed seamlessly with the offshore team acting as a natural extension to the in-house team

Markets/Industry Research

If an investment theme is weaved around a specific country, industry or an emerging theme, its imperative to track that industry, market, or theme closely and regularly. A market is tracked for any macro-level changes like new tech, change in regulations, key movements, trends, etc periodically say quarterly. Several indices are also tracked regarding this. It’s quite common to track 14 S&P industries or some of its components therein. For index hedge funds, the performance of various indices is tracked

Typical examples may be tracking the insurance market in North Africa or metals and mining in South America. If your fund has a bigger interest in stocks that are based in those markets, it makes sense to have the key metrics of these industries reported to you regularly

Manager Research

This is important for Fund of Funds. As part of their investment strategy, they are continuously on a look-out for hedge funds that fulfill a given set of criteria like vintage, past returns, investment themes, etc. Each fund is analyzed for risk-adjusted returns over a fairly long period like 10 years or so to find out the most suitable funds.

This requires getting in touch with multiple funds across the globe, collecting information, analyzing it, and then presenting holistic recommendations on where the fund stands. All of this could be outsourced.

Bond and Other Fixed Income Instruments Research

For hedge funds that operate on the lines of fixed income, the research is done that is related to sovereign and government bonds, corporate bonds, fixed income instruments, and several other investment options like that

Fund Administration and Accounting

Fund Administration is outsourced for activities related to accounting, bookkeeping, and general administration of the funds. This also forms part of Hedge Fund Middle Office Outsourcing. Some bookkeeping aspects also come under Hedge Funds’ back-office outsourcing. It keeps the documentation trail of all the trades, makes sure all operational processes are followed and exceptions are duly approved. Hedge Fund books are maintained in the prescribed format. It also takes care of investor communications like portfolio allocations, portfolio valuation, capital calls, taxes, profits, fees, NAV, portfolio, etc. Customized Hedge Fund newsletters for investors is sometimes prepared and sent separately to current and potential investors

Investor Relations

This is a subset of the Fund Administration process. However, some elements of organic investors’ reach out could be outsourced as well. A tool or a portal for all the investors with all relevant information for them is prepared for seamless and updated communication. This is communication related to the Hedge Fund investments made by the investors. This might be customized to carry Hedge Fund news, Strategy, Returns, and Performance. In the case of Fund of Funds, the performance of all the underlying funds is covered.

About Magistral

Magistral has helped multiple hedge funds in outsourcing operations. You can check www.magistralconsulting.com for more details

About the Author

The Author, Prabhash Choudhary is the CEO of Magistral Consulting and can be reached at Prabhash.choudhary@magistralconsulting.com for queries on this article or business inquiries in general

[afrobeatsindacity]

BET Awards 2017: Best International Act: Africa

Earlier today BET finally revealed the nominees for the 2017 BET Awards and the nominees for the Best International Act Africa include:  

Aka - South Africa

Babes Wodumo - South Africa

Davido - Nigeria

Mr Eazi - Nigeria

Nasty C - South Africa

Stonebwoy - Ghana

Tekno - Nigeria

Wizkid - Nigeria

To vote for you favourite African act, click here

Shout out as well to Afro-trap rapper MHD who also be nominated in the Best International Act: Europe, MHD is up against artists such as; Stormzy, Skepta and Giggs to name a few. 

Click the link below to see the full list of nominees:

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

​Beyoncé ​Kehlani Mary J. Blige Rihanna Solange

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Bruno Mars Chris Brown The Weeknd Trey Songz Usher

Best Group

2 Chainz & Lil Wayne A Tribe Called Quest Fat Joe & Remy Ma Migos Rae Sremmurd

Best Collaboration

​Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Freedom" Chance the Rapper ft. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne - "No Problem" Chris Brown ft. Gucci Mane & Usher - "Party" DJ Khaled ft. ​Beyoncé & Jay Z - "Shining" ​Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert - "Bad and Boujee" Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane - "Black Beatles"

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist

Big Sean Chance the Rapper Drake Future J. Cole Kendrick Lamar

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist

Cardi B Missy Elliott Nicki Minaj Remy Ma Young M.A.

Video of the Year

​Beyoncé - "Sorry" Big Sean - "Bounce Back" Bruno Mars - "24K Magic" Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert - "Bad and Boujee" Solange - "Cranes in the Sky" ​

Video Director of the Year

Benny Boom - Kehlani, "CRZY" Bruno Mars & Jonathan Lia - Bruno Mars, "That's What I Like" Director X - Zayn Malik, "Like I Would" Hype Williams - Tyga "Gucci Snakes ft. Desiigner" Kahlil Joseph & ​Beyoncé Knowles-Carter - ​Beyoncé, "Sorry"​

Best New Artist

21 Savage Cardi B Chance the Rapper Khalid Young M.A.

Album of the Year

24K Magic - Bruno Mars 4 Your Eyez Only - J. Cole A Seat at the Table - Solange Coloring Book - Chance the Rapper Lemonade - ​Beyoncé

Afrobeats City

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