The South African Music Awards have announced a few changes to some category names to include more artists who’s contributions might have been easily blackballed. As calls for entries for next year’s gong shindig continue gaining momentum, a more diverse pool of artist may now approach the table:

Best Rap Album has changed to Best Hip Hop Album. The renaming allows for Hip Hop DJs to enter their albums in addition to Rap residing in this category. We can already think of a few DJs who will soon be giving rappers a run for their money in this hotly contested category.

Best African Adult has changed to Best African Adult Contemporary Album. The category does not carry language exclusion.

Best Africa Artist has changed to Best African Artist.  This has also been made a special category so that South African artists can enter their works and compete for the bragging rights of being named the best artist in the African continent.

The Best Kwaito Album category name has not been changed, but its definition has expanded to include Gqom, New Age Kwaito, Amapiano and other types of Kwaito subcategory music available in the country.

Shane Eagle, Cassper Nyovest, Stogie T and AKA are the most nominated Hip Hop artists at the 6th Annual SA Hip Hop Awards. The gong shindig has unveiled their full list of nominees, and the the rappers who represent different facets of South African Hip Hop, scored the most nominations.

The Best Album category also features OkMalumkoolkat’s Mlazi Milano, who had one of our favourite albums from 2016. Read the full REVIEW. There’s also AKA and Anatii, who’s first collaborative album Be Careful What You Wish For spawned some of the biggest hits this year. These include 10 Fingers and Don’t Forget To Pray. 

SEE: FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2016 SA HIP HOP AWARDS

They’ve each recieved nominations for Best Song, where they will be vying for the award alongside Frank Casino, Riky Rick, Da L.E.S, Maraza and Junior De Rocker featuring Golden Black.

The 2017 South African Hip Hop also announced that this year’s event will be broadcast on SABC 1, for the culture. Comedienne Nina Hastie will be hosting.

NOMINATIONS 

SONG OF THE YEAR

1.The Whole Thang Remix Frank Casino feat. Riky Rick

2. Tito Mboweni – Cassper Nyovest

3. Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe – Kwesta feat. Thabsie

4. Lifestyle – Da LES feat. Gemini Major

5. Gqi – Okmalumkoolkat feat. Amadando

6. By Any Means – Stogie T feat. Yanga and Emtee

7. Don’t Forget To Pray – AKA and Anatii

8. 10 Fingers – AKA and Anatii

9. Been Thinking – Junior De Rocka feat. Golden Black and Maraza

10. The World Is Yours – AKA

BEST ALBUM 

1. Thuto – Cassper Nyovest

2. Stogie T – Stogie T

3. Yellow – Shane Eagle

4. BCWYWF – AKA and Anatii

5. Mlazi Milano – Okmalumkoolkat

MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR 

1. Tellascope – Bigstar

2. Morning Star – Zoocci Coke Dope

3. The Cape & Good Dope – Ganja Beats & Youngsta

4. Inja Yam Vol.1 – DJ Sliqe

5. Dreams Money Can Buy – J Molley

BEST MALE

1. Thuto – Cassper Nyovest

2. Stogie T – Stogie T

3. Yellow – Shane Eagle

4. Mlazi Milano – Okmalumkoolkat

5. Diamond In Africa – Da LES

BEST FEMALE

1. I Am – Nelz

2. Beautiful Black Girl  -Lee STK

3. Malatjie – Patty Monroe

4. The New Era Sessions – Rouge

5. Barkston Drive – MegMafia

DJ OF THE YEAR 

1. DJ Speedsta

2. Major League DJz

3. Junior De Rocka

4. DJ Sliqe

5. DJ PH

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

1. Ali Keys

2. Gemini Major

3. Ruff

4. Co Kayn

5. Zoocci Coke Dope

BEST COLLABO

1. 10 Fingers – AKA and Anatii

2. Don’t Forget To Pray – AKA and Anatii

3. Destiny – Cassper Nyovest ft. Goapele

4. Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe – Kwesta ft. Thabsie

5. Thixo – L Tido ft. AKA

6. Gqi – Okmalumkoolkat feat. Amadando

7. Been Thinking Remix – Junior De Rocka ft. Cassper Nyovest, Riky Rick and Kwesta

8. Lifestyle – Da LES x Gemini Major

9. I Don’t Know – DJ Speedsta ft. J Mooley, Fr

10. The Whole Thang Remix – Frank Casino ft. Riky Rick

LYRICIST OF THE YEAR

1. Shane Eagle

2. Stogie T

3. Blaklez

4. Ginger Breadman

5. Youngsta

BEST FRESHMAN/NEWCOMER

1. Rouge

2. Shane Eagle

3. Bigstar

4. Zoocci Coke Dope

5. J Molley

HUSTLER OF THE YEAR

1. Cassper Nyovest

2. AKA

3. Proverb

4. Kwesta

5. Major League DJz

BEST VIDEO

1. The World Is Yours – AKA

2. 10 Fingers – AKA and Anatii

3. Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe – Kwesta feat. Thabsie

4. Let It Flow – Shane Eagle

5. Hallelujah – DuBoiz feat. AKA

6. Caiphus Song – AKA

7. No – Feelings KO

8. Wes Kaap – Youngsta

9. Destiny – Cassper Nyovest feat. Goapele

10. Tito Mboweni – Cassper Nyovest

She’s appropriately known as the godmother of Soul.

And Erykah Badu continues to be the most obvious option to host the Soul Train Awards as she’s getting ready to host the awards ceremony this coming December.

The four-time Grammy winner will host, write and produce the gong shindig for it’s live taping on November 5th at the New Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

BET also announced a star-studded lineup of performances by Toni Braxton, SWV, Tamar Braxton, 112, Tank and Kirk Franklin. The annual celebration will recognize the best in Soul, R&B and Hip-Hop from legends to the next generation. Filmed on November 5th at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, BET Presents: 2017 Soul Train Awards will air on BET Africa (Dstv Channel 129) on Saturday 2 December at 20:00 CAT.

Multi-platinum and seven-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, artist, actress and producer Toni Braxton will receive the coveted Don Cornelius Legend Award and Grammy Award-Nominated, multi-platinum, female R&B trio SWV will be honored with the third annual Lady of Soul Award.

Nominated artists include Solange, Bruno Mars, Dj Khaled, Rihanna, Bryson Tiller and SZA.