Following the unveiling of the nominations for the 17th Headies Awards, rapper Oladips has taken a stand against what he sees as a snub of Indigenous rappers. In a newly released diss track, he criticized the awards body for failing to recognize Yoruba rap in the rap categories, calling it another example of the industry’s disregard for Indigenous hip-hop artists.
On the track, Oladips paid tribute to legendary Yoruba rappers who paved the way for him, emphasizing their influence on his music. He expressed frustration over his album Superhero Adugbo, which dropped in 2023, being overlooked for rap-related nominations.
Interestingly, the rapper also hinted at possibly reconsidering his stance on Wizkid’s controversial statement that hip-hop is dead, suggesting it might be time to apologize to the Grammy-winning star.
Oladips is not the only artist raising concerns about this year’s Headies nominations. Ruger recently threw shade at the award show, sarcastically calling it the “best award show in the world,” while singer Dotti The Deity questioned the exclusion of alternative categories. Additionally, Next Rated nominee Ayo Maff voiced his opinion on social media, pointing out artists he felt deserved a nomination.
Since its inception in 2006, the Headies has been Nigeria’s premier music award show, but in recent years, it has struggled with credibility issues, production challenges, and long gaps between editions. These concerns have contributed to a decline in its influence, something Executive Producer Ayo Animashun recently acknowledged in an interview while discussing the growing dominance of the Grammys in Nigeria.
The 17th Headies Awards is set to take place on April 5, with a second edition scheduled for December 2025.
