The UG Hip Hop Awards in collaboration with MTN Uganda awarded winners of the 5th Edition of the MTN Pulse Hip Hop Awards —simultaneously awarded the winner in the cypher competition, a competition that allowed new and undiscovered talent to showcase their abilities in the Hip Hop rap battle.
Charles Ameto emerged as the overall winner of the cypher competition receiving a cash prize of UGX1 million. The first, second and third runner up in the competition received UGX800,000, UGX600,000 and UGX400,000 respectively.
As for the MTN Pulse Hip Hop Award winners, they were voted through the MTN Pulse app and the MTN Pulse micro website through which the MTN Pulsers had visibility of the winners in real time. They were later awarded at an ceremonial event held at MTN Warehouse at MTN Jinja road-based headquarters on Sunday 16th, May 2021.
These annual musical awards recognize and celebrate the growth in the Hip Hop music genre in the country.
MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Somdev Sen, said MTN’s decision to support the awards is based on the fact that Hip Hop is still the most preferred music genre in Uganda especially among the youth thus the need to support the music genre to grow to its full potential.
“Hip Hop is remains a favorite music genre for most of the youths in this country as it allows them to express themselves and be who they want to be without limits. This is the true spirit of MTN Pulse. We are about creating a community of likeminded people who are young at heart and want to live life without fear or limits to their potential. That is why we are happy to be part of these awards every year,” Somdev explained.
Popular Hip-Hop star, Daniel Lubwama Kigozi popularly known as Navio noted that the Hip Hop industry has continued to record steady progress with Hip Hop artists getting favorable airplay on local radio and television stations.
“Hip Hop artists continue to shine out there. If you listen to the top twenty most requested songs on radio today, about 10 or more of them will be Hip Hop songs. And Uganda is one of the very few countries with Hip-Hop awards, which has supported us to grow,” Navio said.
The winners of the 5th edition MTN Pulse Hip Hop Awards were;
| Award Category | Winner |
| Male artiste of the year | Judas Rapknowledge da Akbar – David and Goliath fight |
| Female artiste of the year | M.C Yallah – Dun |
| East African Artiste of the Year | Khaligraph Jones – Tuma Kitu |
| Northern Uganda Artiste of the year | Judas Rapknowledge Da Akbar – Alok kwona |
| Western Uganda artiste of the year | Crazie Wispa – Koyi Koyi |
| Eastern Uganda artiste of the year | Sparo Ug – Heads Up |
| Central Uganda artiste of the year | Felista Di Superstar – I can’t breathe |
| Rookie of the year | Stone Age – KOYI KOYI |
| Video of the year | Naxa – Dance |
| Inspirational song of the year | Flex D’ Paper Feat. Shena Skies – Mbikwasagwe |
| The collaboration of the Year | Navio ft. Flex D’Paper and Joh Makini – Abaana Beeka |
| Lyricist of the year | The Mith – Ugandan Cypher |
| Song of the Year | Adrenalyn Muzik – Some Ka Money |
| Hip-Hop media personality of the year | Still Breezy |
| Album of the year | Navio – Strength in Numbers |
| Rap Fusion of the Year | Talent Africa ft. All stars – Nalubale Project |
| Producer of the year | Koz N’EFFECT |
| Mixtape of the year / E.P | Blixxack & Tucker – Open Time EP |
| Sweet Sixteen | Tucker HD – Monster |
| Hip-Hop Deejay of the year | Deejay crim |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Prim ‘N’ Propa |
| Hip-Hop Caller tune of the year | Recho Rey |
The colorful awards ceremony was attended by a number of lucky Pulser who engaged in lots of fun activities and an array of thrilling entertainment from the finest in the Hip-Hop industry.
According to Somdev, it’s easy for youth to become MTN Pulsers; All they have to do is simply download the Pulse App available on both google play and iOS play stores. The MTN Pulse app is an interactive platform where everything about the Pulse Nation lives including the funkiest content and offers from MTN Uganda.
