Nadia Nakai

Nadia Nakai Kandava is a South African rapper, songwriter and television personality.[2]

Nadia Nakai
on a preview of MTV Shuga Down South in 2019
Background information
Birth nameNadia Nakai Kandava
BornSouth Africa[1]
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • TV Personality
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2011–present
Labels
  • Sid Records (former)
  • Family Tree (Former)
  • Bragga Records (Current)
Associated acts

Early life and education

Nakai was born in Zimbabwe.[1] Her father is Zimbabwean and her mother is South African. She studied Marketing, Communication, and Media Studies at Monash University, Johannesburg.[1]

Career

2013–2017: Beginnings and Bragga

Nakai made her first television appearance on the e.tv hip hop show Shiz Niz where she won the Mixtape 101 competition, making her the first female to win the competition. She then rose to prominence in September 2013, when she released her debut single "Like Me".[3] The following year, she was featured on the remix of Riky Rick song, Amantombazane amongst various acts.[4] As for June 2015, Nakai released her third single "Saka Wena" featuring rapper Ice Prince, following her second single, "Whatever" featuring DotCom and Psyfo.[5]

On August 2016, Nakai pre-released her single "The Man" featuring Cassper Nyovest from her EP, Bragga.[6] Bragga was then released on 15 September 2016. In November 2017, Nakai released her critically acclaimed single "Naaa Meaan" featuring Cassper Nyovest.[7] The song topped charts in several radio stations in South Africa. On 4 November 2016, she hosted the red carpet special for MTV Africa at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards.[8]

2017–2020: Nadia Naked

In 2019, Nakai co-host MTV Base hip hop show, Yo! MTV Raps South Africa alongside television presenter Siyabonga Ngwekazi.[9] On 3 May 2019, Nakai confirmed that her debut album Nadia Naked would be released on 28 June 2019.[10] On 18 May 2019, "Imma Boss" was released as the third single accompanied by the album's artwork cover.[11] On 15 October 2020, she released a documentary on Showmax about the making of the album Nadia Naked.[12] At the 6th ceremony of AFRIMA, she took-home Best Female Artist award.[13]

She was awarded the most stylish performing artist of 2020 at the 2020 SA Style Awards.[14]

2021-present: new projects

In early 2021, she scooped a role of hosting Gen-Z South Africa television show airs on Channel 0 and exit in October 2021.[15][16] In June 15, she departed from Family Tree Records.[17] At the 2021 South African Hip Hop Awards Nakai received a nomination for Artist of the Decade.[18]

Artistry

Influences

Nakai was inspired by a Kenyan rapper, Nazizi, who she met while she was staying in Kenya. She said that Nazizi influenced her in starting her rapping career.[19]

Awards and nominations

Nakai has received several awards nomination inside and outside the music industry. She won two South African Hip Hop Awards, two All Africa Music Awards and received two nominations for the South African Music Awards.

Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
Metro FM Music Awards 2016 Baddest (Remix) (with AKA, Fifi Cooper, Rouge & Gigi LaMayne) Best Remix Nominated [20]
Do I Like I Do (Remix) (with DJ Sliqe, Riky Rick, Reason, L-Tido, Kwesta & Flabba) Nominated
South African Music Awards 2018 Naa Meaan (feat. Cassper Nyovest) (Directed by Family Tree) Music Video of the Year Nominated [21]
2021 Nadia Naked Best Hip Hop Album Nominated [22][23]
South African Hip Hop Awards 2019 Album of the Year Nominated [24][25]
Herself Best Female Won
MVP/Hustler of the Year Nominated
2020 Nominated [26][27]
40 Bars (featuring Emtee & DJ Capital) Directed by Kaykayribane Best Video Nominated
More Drugs (featuring Tshego) Directed Allesio Bettocchi & Jilten Ramlal Won
2021 Herself Artist of the Decade Pending [28]
All Africa Music Awards 2019 Nadia Naked Album of the Year in Southern Africa Nominated
Herself Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa Won
Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Hip Hop Won
SA Style Awards 2021 Most Stylish Performing Artist Won
Zimbabwe Music Awards 2018 Artist of the Year Won

Discography

Studio album
Studio album
Title Extended play details
Nadia Naked

Extended Play
Extended play
Title Extended play details
Bragga

As lead artist
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
Certification
"Like Me" 2013
"Whatever"
(featuring DotCom and Psyfo)		 2014
"Saka Wena"
(featuring Ice Prince)		 2015
"Money Back" 2016
"The Man"
(featuring Cassper Nyovest)		 Bragga
"Don't Cut It"
"Sqwaa"
(featuring Gemini Major and Tshego)
"Naaa Meaan"
(featuring Cassper Nyovest)		 2017 Nadia Naked
"Money Calling"
(with Frank Casino)		 2018
"Yass Bitch" Nadia Naked
"Imma Boss" 2019
"Kreatures"
(featuring Kwesta & Sio)
"40 Bars"
(featuring Emtee & DJ Capital)		 2020 Nadia Naked (Deluxe)
List of featured singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
Certification
"Amantombazane Remix"
(Riky Rick featuring Okmalumkoolkat, Maggz, Kwesta, Ginger Breadman, Kid X, Nadia Nakai and DJ Dimplez)		 2014 RiSA: Gold
"Do Like I Do Remix"
(DJ Sliqe featuring Riky Rick, L-Tido, Kwesta, Reason, Flabba and Nadia Nakai)		 2015 Injayam, Vol. 1
"Sugar Free"
(Tumi featuring Nadia Nakai)
"Ragga Ragga"
(Gemini Major featuring Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai, Riky Rick and Major League)		 2016
"Savage"
(DJ Milkshake featuring Da L.E.S,Maggz and Nadia Nakai)
"Crazy"
(Spectacular and DJ Naves featuring Floda, Nadia Nakai and DJ Tira)		 2017
Isaga Lam
(Miss Pru DJ featuring LaSauce, Gigi LaMayne, Nadia Nakai and Londie London)
Uh Huh
(Priddy Ugly featuring Nadia Nakai)		 2017

References
  1. Mmakou, Boitumelo (30 January 2015). "Up Close & Personal With Nadia Nakai". Bona Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Although I have a Zimbabwean heritage, I was born and raised in South Africa.
  2. "Nakai: Rising rap queen". The Zimbabwe Independent.
  3. "Nadia Nakai "Like Me" by Sid Records". SoundCloud.
  4. "Track of the Day: Riky Rick – Amantombazane (Remix)". Platform.
  5. "Saka Wena (feat. Ice Prince) – Single by Nadia Nakai". Apple Music.
  6. "New Release: Nadia Nakai – The Man [ft Cassper Nyovest]". SA Hip Hop Mag.
  7. "Twitter gives Nadia Nakai's new track a thumbs up". TimesLive.
  8. "Nadia Nakai served Mzansi sauce at the MTV EMAs". SowetanLIVE.
  9. "Nadia Nakai and Siyabonga Ngwekazi to host Yo! MTV Raps Africa". BONA.
  10. "Nadia Nakai new album: 'Nadia Naked' gets a release date". The South African.
  11. "Nadia Nakai Drops Quotable After Another In Her New Single 'Imma Boss'". OkayAfrica.
  12. Seemela, Masego. "Nadia Nakai's doccie to premiere exclusively on Showmax next week". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  13. Durosomo, Damola (24 November 2019). "Burna Boy, Nasty C, Stonebwoy, Nadia Nakai & More Win 2019 AFRIMA Awards - OkayAfrica". OkayAfrica.
  14. Mabhena, Naledi (23 November 2020). "SA Style Awards 2020: Best and Worst Dressed Plus the Winners". Savanna News. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  15. Jabulani, John (17 March 2021). "Nadia Nakai Bags Second TV Show In The Same Month". Ubetoo.
  16. Bukola. "Candice Modiselle replaces Nadia Nakai as the new host for Gen Z season 2 | Fakaza News". Fakaza News. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  17. Adejoy (15 June 2021). "Nadia Nakai exits Family Tree record label | Fakaza News". Fakaza News.
  18. Bukola. "Full list of 2021 SA Hip Hop Awards nominees | Fakaza News". Fakaza News. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  19. "Interview With African Rap Queen Nadia Nakai". Youth Village Zimbabwe.
  20. "mytvnews.co.za". www.mytvnews.co.za. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  21. "All the winners from SAMA Awards 2018". www.gq.co.za. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  22. Dayile, Qhama. "Here's the full list of the SAMA winners". Drum. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  23. "Samas 27: Nominations are out and men are leading the nods". The Citizen. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  24. "The SA Hip-Hop Awards 2019 Nominees Are Revealed". slikouronlife.co.za. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  25. "FULL LIST: South African Hip-Hop Awards winners | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  26. "Here are the South African Hip Hop Awards 2020 Nominees". OkayAfrica. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  27. "Here Are the 2020 South African Hip Hop Awards Winners". OkayAfrica. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  28. "SA Hip Hop Awards 2021: All the nominees". Music In Africa. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
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