Usimamane, Woodblock DJs, Naledi Aphiwe score Metro FM Music Awards nominations

The nominees for the Metro FM Music Awards 2025 were announced on Thursday, kickstarting the countdown to the awards ceremony.

These nominations feature music singles and albums released between February 28, 2024, and February 28, 2025. This year, the station received an impressive 2,769 entries across 19 categories, a significant increase from last year's 1,700 entries. 

A forever-roaming question is: are music awards even relevant? The artists who work hard to deliver top music will tell you they are.

Rapper Yanga Chief told IOL that his Metro FM award is something that all his guests admire when they come into his home, leaving him forever proud. 

DJ and music producer Oscar MBO agreed that getting your flowers is always appreciated, he received two nominations; Best Dance and Best Styled.

This year’s nomination features artists who have been making waves and are rightfully deserving of their nominations. Actress and Metro FM presenter Zola Myeza and presenter Siphesihle Vazi revealed the 2025 nominees during a special event in Sandton.

Naledi Aphiwe, who has been making waves, is nominated for Best African Pop Song, for her song with Mawelele "Romeo and Juliet", something she wasn't expecting but is eager to take the award home, come May 3.

Rapper Usimamane felt emotional after three nominations - Best Music Video, Best Hip Hop, and Best Male Artist. “I feel so amazing, I feel so blessed, I feel so appreciated by the whole of South Africa.”

WoodBlock DJs, Mvelosti, Set Off and Somlololo’s hit song “Skuta Baba” is among the most nominated with four nominations; Best Music Video, Best Viral Challenge, Best Collaboration and Song of the Year. 

The song blew up and even got the attention of top rappers Cassper Nyovest and Kwesta who ended up jumping on the remix, which has three nominations.

Hit song “Biri Marung” by Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, Tebogo G Mashego ft. Sje Konka, Focalistic, Dj Maphorisa and Scotts Maphuma which was all over social media has received four nominations; Best Music Video, Best Viral Challenge, Best Collaboration, Song of the Year, Best Amapiano Song.

This year’s theme for the Metro FM Music Awards is "Crowning Greatness". 

"Crowning Greatness", elevates the achievements of those who shape the South African cultural narrative. 

It is a celebration of Black Royalty – a night where hits are not only celebrated but become timeless pieces of our shared legacy. Honouring the fact that the evening is more than an award show; it's a coronation, where artists are crowned as cultural icons, and their contributions are immortalized. 

The Metro FM Music Awards 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga and will be broadcast live on SABC1.

Here is the full list of nominees:

Best Female Artist

1. Xolly Mncwango
2. Dbn Gogo
3. Babalwa M
4. Nontokozo Mkhize
5. Makhadzi

Best RnB Song

1. Shekhinah ft. Moliy "Risk"
2. Mawelele & Kwesta  All My Life
3. Elaine Love Me Slowly
4. Langa Mavuso  Best Friend (Control)
5. Nanette, Tellaman & Nasty C Tonight

Best Dance Song

1. Casswell P and Nobuhle "Can’t Get"
2. Dlala Thukzin feat. Zeh McGeba, MK Productions "Sohlala Sisonke"
3. Chronical Deep, Leehleza, Kabza De Small ft. Latique, Ezra "Hayi Baba"
4. Oscar Mbo and Jazzworx Feat. Thukuthela "Vuka"
5. CAIIRO ft Ami Faku "Ndisize"

Best Styled Artist

   1. MaWhoo

   2. Focalistic

   3. Morda

   4. Dbn Gogo

   5. Oscar Mbo

Best Kwaito/Gqom Song

1. Funky Qla, Argento Dust & Maline Aura "Utshwala"
2. Mr Thela, Beast RSA, Mthandazo Gatya & Zanda Zakuza "Ekhaya"
3. Goldmax, Dlala Thukzin & Funky Qla ft Zee Nxumalo & Beast RSA "FOMO"
4. DJ Tira Feat. AmaTycooler, Big Nuz & Focus Magazi "Singenzenjani"
5. Goldmax & Blacks Jnr  feat. Leemckrazy "Ama Weekend"

Best Jazz Album

1. Nduduzo Makhathini  "uNomkhubulwane"
2. Thandiswa Mazwai "Sankofa"
3. Linda Sikhakhane "iLadi"
4. Nomfundo Xaluva "Ndilapha"
5. Sydney Mavundla "Dirge for our fathers"

Best Music Video

1. WOODBLOCK DJS ft Buzzi Lee, Kane Keid, Cassper Nyovest, Kwesta,  Tony Dayimane, Mvelost, Set Off, Somololo "Skuta Baba" (Remix)
2. CAIIRO ft Ami Faku "Ndisize"
3. Usimamane & Sjava "Uvalo"
4. Bassie, M-Touch, Ranger, Amaza ft. TmanXpress, LeemcKrazy "Kwelanga 2.0"
5. Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, Tebogo G Mashego ft. Sje Konka x Focalistic x Dj Maphorisa x Scotts Maphuma x CowBoii "Biri Marung"

Best Viral Challenge

1. Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, Tebogo G Mashego ft. Sje Konka x Focalistic x Dj Maphorisa x Scotts Maphuma x CowBoii "Biri Marung"
2. Kabza De Small & Vigro Deep feat. Scotts Maphuma & Young Stunna "Wishi Wishi"
3. Woodblock DJS – Mvelost; Set Off; Somololo "Skuta Baba"
4. Felo Le Tee, Scotts Maphuma & ThabzaTee feat. DJ Maphorisa & Djy Biza "Yebo Lapho (Gogo)"
5. KMAT Feat. CowBoii, djygubzin.live & Ranger "MKK"

Best Produced Album

1. Nontokozo Mkhize "Lindiwe"
2. Dlala Thukzin "Finally Famous Too"
3. Emtee "DIY 3"
4. Kelvin Momo "Ntsako"
5. Thandiswa Mazwai "Sankofa"

Best New Artist

1.Mawelele 

2.Phila Koshin 

3.NEO DUBE 

Best Collaboration Song

1. Felo Le Tee, Scotts Maphuma, Thabza Tee ft. DJ Maphorisa, Djy Biza "Yebo Lapho (Gogo)"
2. Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, Tebogo G Mashego ft. Sje Konka x Focalistic x Dj Maphorisa x Scotts Maphuma x CowBoii "Biri Marung"
3. Bassie, M-Touch, Ranger, Amaza ft. TmanXpress, LeemcKrazy "Kwelanga 2.0"
4. Woodblock DJs ft. Cassper Nyovest, Kwesta & Kane Keid  "Skuta Baba" (Remix)
5. Kabza De Small, Vigro Deep & Dj Maphorisa feat. Scotts Maphuma; Young Stunna "Wishi Wishi"

Artist of The Year

1. Tyler ICU
2. Kabza de Small
3. Morda
4. Makhadzi
5. Kelvin Momo

Song of the Year

1. Blaq Major Ft. Bless The Gentleman & Dj Kap - "Sdakiwe Sbali"
2. Makhadzi; Prince Benza; Iyanya "Number 1"
3. Woodblock DJS ft Buzzi Lee, Kane Keid, Cassper Nyovest, Kwesta, Tony Dayimane. "Skuta Baba" Remix
4. Felo Le Tee, Scotts Maphuma & ThabzaTee feat. DJ Maphorisa & Djy Biza "Yebo Lapho (Gogo)"
5. Bassie, M-Touch, Ranger, Amaza ft. TmanXpress, LeemcKrazy "Kwelanga 2.0"
6. Caiiro ft Ami Faku "Ndisize"
7. Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, Tebogo G Mashego ft. Sje Konka x Focalistic x Dj Maphorisa x Scotts Maphuma x CowBoii "Biri Marung"
8. Shakes & Les feat. LeeMcKrazy "Funk 99"
9. Kabza De Small & Vigro Deep feat. Scotts Maphuma & Young Stunna "Wishi Wishi"
10. KMAT feat. CowBoii , djygubzin.live & Ranger "MKK"

Best Amapiano Song

1. Dj Stokie - Zee_nhle; Sobzeen;Faith Strings "Selimathunzi"
2. Felo Le Tee, Scotts Maphuma & ThabzaTee feat. DJ Maphorisa & Djy Biza "Yebo Lapho (Gogo)"
3. Bassie, M-Touch, Ranger, Amaza ft. TmanXpress, LeemcKrazy "Kwelanga 2.0"
4. Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, Tebogo G Mashego ft. Sje Konka x Focalistic x Dj Maphorisa x Scotts Maphuma x CowBoii "Biri Marung"
5. Blaq Major - Bless the General; Dj Kap "Sdakiwe sbali"

Best Hip Hop Song

1. K.O ft. Maglera Doe Boy "Let Me Cook"
2. Usimamane & Sjava "Uvalo"
3. Emtee "War"

4. SKHANDAWORLD, K.O & Nasty C "Too Much"

5. Tony Dayimane, Usimamane, Kwesta and Yanga Chief "Wishlist"

Best Duo/Group

1. Wanitwa mos and Nkosazana Daughter

2. Shakes and Les

3. Black Motion

4. Blaq Diamond

5. Artwork Sounds

Best African Pop Song

1. Nomfundo Moh ft. Msaki, Cassper Nyovest "Umusa"

2. Blaq Diamond "Piki Piki"

3. Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele "Romeo and Juliet"

4. Sjava and The Qwellers ft. Sastii, LaCabra, Lowfeye and Blue Papi Typhoon

5. Mlindo The Vocalist and Dj Maphorisa ft. Tman xpress; Phila Dlozi "Umdali"

Best Gospel Album

1. Nontokozo Mkhize "Lindiwe"

2. Sbu Noah "Heavenly Psalms Level 2"

3. Xolly Mncwango "Unusual"

4. Ayanda Ntanzi "According to Grace, A One Man Show"

5. Mmuso "Worship Jesus to the city V2"

Best Male Artist

1. Usimamane

2. Dlala Thukzin

3. Kabza de Small

4. Kelvin Momo

5. Tyler ICU

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