Nigerian Afrobeats star, Ahmed Ololade, known professionally as Asake, has won the Album of the Year award at the 2023 Headies Awards.
‘Mr Money’ as Asake is popularly called by his fans defeated other talented artistes like Davido, Rema, Burna Boy and Omah Lay to clinch the award.
Other artistes who have won the award in the past include Fireboy, Falz, Simi, Kizz Daniel, among others.
Asake, who was also named the winner of the Next Rated category, was signed to Olamide’s record label YBNL on February 8, 2022, rose to fame in 2020 after his freestyle “Lady” went viral, attracting a huge response from several prominent internet influencers such as Broda Shaggi, Sydney Talker, NastyBlaq, and others.
His journey into music was accidental, as he started as a dancer and worked with various dance groups and theater companies in high school before trying his hand at music.
“Mr Money,’’ his first song for 2020, reaffirms his confidence in himself and being loyal to his identity as he makes his mark as one of the fast-rising artists in the Nigerian music scene.
His hard work and persistence earned him a nomination in three categories for the 2020 City People Music Awards, for which he won two of the three nominations, including the title of Most Popular Song of the Year.
The Headies is a music awards show established in 2006 by the Hip Hop World Magazine of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.
The annual ceremony features performances by established and promising artists. It is broadcast live on HipTV to viewers across Nigeria.
This year, the award featured over 20 categories, including Album of the Year, Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.
See the awards nominees and the winners:
Best Rap Single
Reminisce – Hustle
Ladipoe – Big Energy
Blaqbonez – Back in Uni
Psycho YP – Bando Diaries
OdumoduBlvck – Declan Rice (Winner)
Jeriq, Phyno – My Bro
Best Alternative Song
Wizard Chan – Earth song
Cruel Santino – Final champion
Basketmouth, The Cavemen – The Traveller
Boj, Moliy, Mellissa – In a loop
Flavour – Game Changer
Obongjayar – Tinko Tinko (Winner).
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
Oxlade – Ku Lo Sa
Ric Hassani – My only baby
Magixx – Love Don’t Cost A Dime
Chike – Spell Remix
Praiz – Reckless
Wande Coal – Kpe Paso (Winner)
Best Music Video
Blaqbonez, Perliks – Back in Uni
TG Omori – PBUY
Director Pink – Spell Remix
Director K – Common Person
TG Omori – Bandana
Director K – Calm Down (Winner).
Best Rap Album
Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only
Show Dem Camp – Palmwine Music Vol. 3
Blaqbonez – Young Preacher (Winner)
Psycho YP – YPSZN3
Vector – TESLIM
Jeriq – Billion Dollar Dream.
Lyricist On The Roll
Ladipoe – Clowns
Vector – Clowns
Payper Corleone – Fly Talk Only (Winner)
Alpha Ojini – Vigilante Bop
A-Q – Family First
Tec (SDC) – Live Life
Producer of The Year
Magicsticks – Sungba Remix
Pheelz – Electricity
Andre Vibez, London – Calm Down
Tempoe – Soweto
Kel P – Kpe Paso
Rexxie – Abracadabra Remix (Winner)
Best Male Artiste
Asake
Rema (Winner)
Burna Boy
Ruger
Kizz Daniel
Omah Lay
Rookie of the Year
Odumodu Blvck (Winner)
Bloody Civilian
Bayyani
Guchi
Eltee Skillz
Khaid
Best Inspirational Single
Stand Strong – Davido Ft Sunday Service Choir.
Jireh (My Provider) – Limoblaze, Lecrae & Happi Music
This Year – Victor Thompson & Ehis ‘d’ Greatest
Eze Ebube – Neon Adejo (Winner)
Tobechukwu – Nathaniel Bassey And Mercy Chinwo
I Get Backing – Victoria Orenze
Special Recognition Award
Sound Sultan (posthumous)
Afrobeats Single of The Year
Burna Boy – Last Last (Winner)
Ayra Starr – Rush
Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
Spyro – Who’s Your Guy
Ruger – Asiwaju
Digital Artiste Of The Year
Burna Boy
Ayra Starr
Rema (Winner)
Omah Lay
Kizz Daniel
Asake
Best Street-Hop Artiste
Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii – Abracadabra
Seyi Vibez – Chance (Winner)
Asake – Joha
Poco Lee, HotKid – Otilo
Zlatan, Young Jonn – Astalavista
Mohbad – Peace
Next Rated
Spyro
Seyi Vibez
Young Jonn
Asake (Winner)
Victony
Album Of The Year
Burna Boy – Love, Damini
Asake – Mr. Money With The Vibe (Winner)
Rema – Rave & Roses
Omah Lay – Boy Alone
Victony – Outlaw
Davido – Timeless
Song of The Year
Rema – Calm Down
Burna Boy – Last Last (Winner)
Oxlade – Ku Lo Sa
Kizz Daniel, Tekno – Buga
Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
Asake, Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
Best Collaboration
Asake, Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
BNXN, Kizz Daniel, Seyi Vibez – Gwagwalada
Pheelz, BNXN – Finesse
Spyro, Tiwa Savage – Who’s Your Guy Remix (Winner)
Pheelz, Davido – Electricity
Wande Coal, Olamide – Kpe Paso
African Artiste Of The Year
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Marwa Loud (Morocco)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Rema (Nigeria) – Winner
Best West African Artiste of The Year
Gyakie (Ghana)
Black Sherif (Ghana) – Winner
The Therapist (Liberia)
Camidoh (Ghana)
