Burna Boy, Tyla and Ayra Starr Among Best Afrobeats Nominees at MTV VMAs 2024
Tyla is also nominated for Best New Artist, alongside viral country-fusion star Shaboozey.
For the second straight year, the MTV Video Music Awards has a dedicated category for Afrobeats. This year's nominees include Ayra Starr, for the Giveon-assisted “Last Heartbreak Song,”Burna Boy’s “City Boys” and, expectedly, Tyla’s Grammy-winning uber-smash, “Water.” Nigerian producer/singer Pheelz is also nominated for his contribution to Usher’s silky single, “Ruin,” amongst others.
Last year’s very first Moon Person for Best Afrobeats was won by Rema, for the inescapable remix of “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez. It immediately set a high bar for subsequent winners, as the song’s broad appeal no doubt played a factor in its win. All nominated songs have a strong case to win this time around, especially as the success and excellence of their accompanying videos are also factored in.
In related news, Tyla is also up for Best New Artist, a similar category she won at the BET Awards. In the same category is country-fusion artist Shaboozey, who has skyrocketed up the charts over the last few months.
The winner of these awards will be unveiled during the VMAs ceremony at the UBS Arena in New York on September 10. Well over a dozen Moon Persons will be awarded, and in the biggest nomination storyline, American pop superstar Taylor Swift is aiming to become the first artist to win Video of the Year three straight times and a record-setting five times.
Swift, who leads all nominees with 10 nods, is up against Billie Eilish’s “Lunch,” SZA’s “Snooze,” and more, in the Video of the Year category. Following closely in the total nominations count is Post Malone with nine, while Sabrina Carpenter, Eminem and Ariana Grande are all nominated six times each.You can go through the full list of nominees here.
Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr feat. Giveon – "Last Heartbreak Song"
Burna Boy – "City Boys"
Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – "Sensational"
Tems – "Love Me JeJe"
Tyla – "Water"
USHER, Pheelz – "Ruin"
Best New Artist
Tyla
Shaboozey
Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Teddy Swims
Video of the Year
Ariana Grande – "we can't be friends (wait for your love)"
Billie Eilish – "LUNCH"
Doja Cat – "Paint The Town Red"
Eminem – "Houdini"
SZA – "Snooze"
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – "Fortnight"
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Bad Bunny
Eminem
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Beyoncé – "TEXAS HOLD 'EM"
Jack Harlow – "Lovin On Me"
Kendrick Lamar – "Not Like Us"
Sabrina Carpenter – "Espresso"
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – "Fortnight"
Teddy Swims – "Lose Control"