BanT, Dramaboi, Amantle Brown top YAMAs mominee list
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday September 20, 2016 16:44
Rapper BanT real name Baanthata Mokgwathi dominated the crop of nominees with seven nominations. The Naomi hitmaker has been nominated for the Best Collabo, Best Hip hop/Motswako Single, Song of the Year, People’s Choice, Artist of the Year, Best Newcomer and Best Single Male.
In an interview with Showbiz, he said he was humbled by the love and support he received throughout. “I didn’t expect many nominations,” he said. BanT said he never thought Naomi song would put him out there. “When we were recording that song we were actually playing around and then I got a lot of positive response on social media,” he said. He thanked Faded Gang and his manager Zenzele Hirschfeld.
Motswako lyricist Dramaboi was also among the artists who received most nominations in five categories including Best Single (Male), People’s Choice, Song of the Year, Best Hip hop/Motswako Single and Best Collabo. The rapper who has recently released his third studio album Township Music 2 will hope for an award after walking away empty handed last year at the YAMAs 2.0. His song Sala Le Nna featuring younger sister Katlego has been a success and it is the reason behind the nominations.
After receiving one nomination in the Best Single Female category last year at the YAMAs 2.0, Amantle Brown came back stronger this year with three nominations. Her Black Mampatile song has seen her earn a nomination for Best Single (Female) and Song of the Year. She has also been nominated for the People’s Choice award. In an interview, Amantle Brown said this year everything was done right and she is excited about the nominations.
She said this year is her breakthrough and she would now get a platform to show people who she is. “With Black Mampatile, I wanted to take it back, get into people’s minds and remind everybody of the game they used to play back in the days,” she said.
Dramaboi, Ban T and Amantle Brown will battle it out in the Song of the Year and People’s Choice awards. Team Distant and Chrispin The Drummer featuring Han-C with Sedi Laaka also received nominations in the Best Collabo, Best Dance and Song of the Year.
In the Producer of the Year category renowned producer, Pres Beats will face tough competition against Team Distant, Taku, Ace Jay and Favi. He lost the award to Bang! Gae last year and he would be aiming for a second chance.
The Social Media award, which was won by Yarona FM’s T-Izzy last year, will now seek another winner with King B, Dollar Mac, DJ Fauz, Vee, Zeus, E.P.I.C, Tshepi Ess and Zizi Panther on the nomination list. DJ Izzy, however will stand a chance to scoop another YAMA after being nominated in the Best Hip hop DJ alongside DJ Roots, DJ Fauz and Macx.
Best Dance DJ category will have a tough contest between DJ Ricky Lamar, German Dollar, DJ Kops and Chrispin The Drummer. The public will not vote for only two awards being Icon and Hall of Fame awards. Voting started yesterday and votes contribute to 50 percent of the final mark. The award ceremony will be held on December 10, 2016 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC).