Eddy Kenzo
Kenzo got nominated for ‘Gimme Love’, a song he recorded with American singer/songwriter Matthew David Benson, better known as Matt B. Despite not being known to many Ugandans, Matt B is without any doubt a formidable musician whose 2021 Eden album debuted on Top 40 Billboard R&B charts.
Matt B is also married to Angella V Benson, a music producer, artiste manager, Grammy nominee and a Professional Member of the Recording Academy/Grammys. With this track record, Kenzo could well have been nominated with an artiste who knows a thing or two about being at this stage. Question is: will this translate into the Ugandan bringing a Grammy home next February?
When news broke that Kenzo and Matt B had been nominated in the Best Global Music performance category, quickly, many paid attention to the other nominees in this category. The category includes nominees such as Burna Boy’s Last Last, Udhero Na by Arooj Aftab and Anoushka Shankar, Neva Bow Down by Rocky Dawuni Featuring Blvk H3ro, and Bayethe by Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode.
Burna Boy favourite
A cursory glance at these nominees triggers one’s mind to swiftly think of what magic Kenzo and Matt B, including the other nominees, need to do, if they are to beat Burna Boy to the Grammy.
Not only has the Nigerian titan had such a good year, but the song Last Last has been such a hit. In fact, many, including music critic Jenkins Mukasa, have argued that this is a lopsided contest—with Burna Boy in the box position.
For numerical context, Last Last has so far received 135 million views on YouTube against Gimme Love’s 866,000.
Away from numbers, however, one would still ask what exactly it would take for a nominee to edge a particular category. First, people’s choices are out of the question—this is a purely peer-voted award, with a technically selected membership of voters.
According to the Recording Academy, the voters only select and vote in the fields and categories in which they operate day-to-day.
READ FULL STORY HERE>>> The year ahead: Will Kenzo win a Grammy?
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