Hip Hop World Awards for May

The Hip Hop World Awards, Nigeria's foremost awards for urban and contemporary music is scheduled to take place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on May 16, 2009.
The hosts for this year’s event are R and B singer Banky W alongside Cinematographer and On Air Radio personality Kemi Adetiba; and the theme song the event is titled ‘How Much Do You Want It? (A Prize to Die For),’ performed by M.I, Kel, Banky W and produced by eLDee the Don.
The awards have a total of eighteen competitive categories and a special recognition segment for two recipients called the Hip Hop World Hall of Fame. Winners from eleven categories will be decided by votes from the public while the other seven categories will be decided by the awards jury.
The categories include Album of the Year, Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, Best RnB/Pop Album of the Year, Best Reggae/Dancehall Album, Best Rap Single, Best Collabo, Best Street Hop, Best Music Video, Next Rated and African Artiste of the Year.
This year, 9ice leads the pack with six nominations - Album of the Year, Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, Recording of the Year, and RnB/Pop Album of the Year. He is also nominated in the Best Collabo category for his contribution on ‘Le Fenu So’ performed by Lord of Ajasa.
Next to 9ice is M.I who has a total of five nominations, while D’Banj is nominated in four categories namely Album of the Year, Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best RnB/Pop Album of the Year.
Banky W has a total of three nominations - RnB/Pop Album of the Year, Recording of the Year (male) and Revelation of the Year. Mode 9 is also up for four awards in the Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Single and Lyricist on the Roll categories.
The nominees in the Next Rated category this year are YQ, Kel, MP, D’Jinee and Omawumi; and the winner will get a brand new KIA Optima saloon car.