Who deserves the hip-hop artist of the decade award?

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The former hosts nominees such as Drake and Kanye West, which some see as rather odd. We’re pretty certain they won’t be at the awards to receive them, nor are they likely to care all that much, as they will both probably be in line next year to walk away with a couple of Grammys and the like.

The artist of the decade category is comprised of more than one artist who hasn’t been in the music game for 10 years and people are finding this hard to overlook. The list of nominees features such artists as Nasty C, Gigi Lamayne, AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Khuli Chana, K.O, Emtee, Reason, Stogie T, Riky Rick, YoungstaCPT, A-Reece and Nadia Nakai.

A lot of those artists have not been in the game for more than a decade. This, however, isn’t the point of this category. We reached out to hip-hop aficionado and organiser of the SAHHAs Rashid Kay, and he broke things down for us in an attempt to clarify matters.

Kay laments: “I see a lot of people saying some of the nominees haven’t been there for 10 years blah blah blah, they think they don’t deserve to be on the list. The criteria and the rules say impact, consistency and achievements within the past 10 years. Not for 10 years. For example, you have artists who came into the scene six years or seven years ago who have achieved more than artists who have been in it for 10 years.”

He patiently elaborates: 

According to Kay, a song can become the song of the year in two months in other aspects.

“It’s not only about the music but the contribution to the culture. For example, Riky Rick has one album out in the past 10 years, but he has Cotton Fest and podcasts he’s involved with, with brand endorsements. He’s done a lot for us to be just looking at his music. There is a lot that can be done to contribute to the culture.”

As for the matter of the best international act, the SAHHAs are celebrating 10 years and therefore decided to introduce this new category.

“It’s nothing new in the world. BET and MTV have that and the Grammys have the best international act. I don’t know why people are raising their eyebrows. People ask questions like did we contact Kanye West and Drake. We have been doing Back To The City for 15 years and we always have American artists; we always contact them and bring them here. Why can’t we contact them for the SAHHAs? We have been in contact with American rappers for the longest time.”

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Back To The City has blessed the city with a host of international acts such as Jeru The Damaja, Masta Ace, Skyzoo and Apollo Brown, to name but a few. Perhaps the confusion lies in the nominees being more commercial rappers than the ones you would see gracing the stage of the closely affiliated Back To The City.

Kay explains: “If you check the criteria, it’s people who have albums in the past 13 months, they are the best achievers in their own countries. We always innovate and renovate. When CDs died, we introduced best digital sales and people didn’t understand them, but they get it now. We move with the times.”

In the audio below, Rashid Kay explains the inclusion of the two new categories this year:

Phumlani S Langa  Journalist +27 11 713 9001 Phumlani.Sithebe@citypress.co.za www.citypress.co.za 69 Kingsway Rd, Auckland Park