2025 HEADIES NOMINATION LIST: MOHBAD, ODUMODU BLVCK, AYRA STARR LEAD THE PACK

The highly anticipated 2025 Headies nomination list is finally out, and it’s exciting to see some of Nigeria’s top artists leading the pack! Odumodublvck is at the top with five nominations, closely followed by Ayra Starr and Shallipopi with three nominations each.

The late Mohbad also received three posthumous nominations, a testament to his lasting impact on the music scene. Other notable artists with nominations include Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Asa, and Chike.

The Headies, Nigeria’s premier music awards, recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in the music industry. This year’s nomination list features a diverse range of artists, genres, and styles, showcasing the wealth of talent in the Nigerian music scene.

Some of the categories include Best Collaboration, Best Rap Single, Best R&B Single, and Best Street-Hop Artiste. The competition is fierce, and it’ll be interesting to see who takes home the awards.

Here is the full list of nominees:

Best Collaboration

Odumodublvck – “Declan Rice”
Ayra Starr – “Rush” (feat. Bloody Civilian)
Wizkid – “Flower Pads” (feat. Ayra Starr)

Best Rap Single

Shallipopi – “Shallipopi”
Odumodublvck – “Dog Eat Dog”
Mohbad – “Feel Good” (feat. Zlatan)

Best R&B Single

Ayra Starr – “Rush”
Tiwa Savage – “Loaded” (feat. Asa)
Chike – “Spell” (feat. Oxlade)

Best Street-Hop Artiste

Odumodublvck
Shallipopi
Mohbad

Other Categories

Best Vocal Performance (Female)
Best Vocal Performance (Male)
Best Music Video
Best Producer
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The 2025 Headies awards ceremony will take place on a date to be announced soon. Fans can vote for their favorite artists on the Headies website.

Who do you think will win big this year? Share your predictions in the comments!

Ayra Starr will be hoping to add to her 2022 accolade with her three nods this year while one of the break-out stars of last year Crown Uzama, aka Shallipopi, also received three nominations.

Taves, Zerrydl, Kaestyle, and Llona were also shortlisted in the Rookie of the Year category

Though the event is an annual one in Nigeria, it wasn’t held in 2024 as the organisers postponed it to February 2025.

See the full nominations list below:

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

TEMS – BURNING

SEYI VIBEZ – DIFFERENT PATTERN

BURNA BOY – HIGHER

AYRA STARR & GIVEON – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG

SARZ FEATURING LOJAY – BILLIONS

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

SARZ – HAPPINESS

LONDON – OZEBA

MAGICSTICKS – BASQUIAT

REMA/PRODUCER X/CUBEATZ/DEATZ/KLIMPERBOY – HEHEHE

DIBS – DIFFERENT PATTERN

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

SIMISOLA KOSOKO – STRANGER (SIMI)

CHIMAMANDA PEARL CHUKWUMA – VISION (QING MADI)

MICHAEL AJUMA ATTAH – CAN’T BREATHE (LLONA)

EMOSEH KHAMOFU – FAMILY MEETING (BLOODY CIVILIAN)

FUAYEFIKA MAXWELL – STAGES OF LIFE (WIZARD CHAN)

BEST R&B SINGLE

QING MADI – VISION

JOHNNY DRILLE – FOR YOU

SIMI – STRANGER

TEMS – BURNING

AYRA STARR – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG FT. GIVEON

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

LLONA

KAESTYLE

TAVES

ZERRYDL

BEST RAP SINGLE

CAST – ODUMODUBLVCK FEAT SHALLIPOPI

BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR – ODUMODUBLVCK FEAT BLOODY CIVILIAN & WALE –

HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE, ROZZZ & MORRELO

CANADA – MAGNITO

IJE NWOKE – JERIQ

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

AYRA STARR – LAST HEARTBREAK SONG

NINIOLA – LEVEL

SIMI – STRANGER

LIYA – I’M DONE

TOMORROW – YEMI ALADE

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

CHARM – (REMA X PERLIKS X FOLARIN OLUDARE)

METAVERSE – (JYDE AJALA)

LIKE ICE SPICE – (PERLIKS & EMEKA SHINE SHINE)

OJAPIANO – (MATTMAX)

EGWU – (DIRECTOR PINK)

SHOWA – (TG OMORI)

NA MONEY – (DAMMY TWITCH)

BEST COLLABORATION

EMOTIONS – TIWA SAVAGE FEAT. ASA

BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR – ODUMODUBLVCK, BLOODY CIVILIAN, AND WALE

CAST – SHALLIPOPI FT ODUMODUBLVCK

EGWU – CHIKE & MOHBAD

OLE – QING MADI & BNXN

TWE TWE REMIX – KIZZ DANIEL & DAVIDO

IDK – WIZKID FT. ZLATAN

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

SEYI VIBEZ – “DIFFERENT PATTERNS”

AYO MAFF – DEALER (FT. FIREBOY DML)

SHALLIPOPI – CAST (FT. ODUMODUBLVCK)

ZHUS JDO – JOHNBULL

MOHBAD – ASK ABOUT ME

AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

BIG BIG THINGS – YOUNG JONN FT. KIZZ DANIEL AND SEYI VIBEZ

TWE TWE REMIX – KIZZ DANIEL

EGWU FEAT. MOHBAD – CHIKE

REMEMBER – ASAKE

OGECHI REMIX – HYCE, BOYPEE, AND BROWN JOEL FT. DAVIDO

BIG BALLER – FLAVOR

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

MOGADISHU – A-Q

CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – M.I ABAGA

CHOCOLATE CITY CYPHER – BLAQBONEZ

HALLELUJAH – LADIPOE

EFELEME – ALPHA OJINI

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE ARE

GRATITUDE – ANENDLESSOCEAN

WORTHY OF MY PRAISE – DUNSIN OYEKAN FT. LAWRENCE OYOR

GOOD GOD 2 – LIMOBLAZE FT. NAOMI RAINE

PARTICULARLY – GAISE BABA FT. TOPE ALABI

YOU DO THIS ONE – MERCY CHINWO

VIEWERS CHOICE AWARDS

BIG BIG THINGS – YOUNG JONN FT. KIZZ DANIEL AND SEYI VIBEZ
OGECHI REMIX – HYCE, BOYPEE, AND BROWN JOEL FT. DAVIDO
EGWU – CHIKE & MOHBAD
OZEBA – REMA
DIFFERENT PATTERN – SEYI VIBEZ
SHOWA – KIZZ DANIEL
LOVE ME JEJE – TEMS
CAST – SHALLIPOPI FT. ODUMODUBLVCK
DEALER – FLAVOUR FT. FIREBOY
BIG BALLER – FLAVOUR