Multiple award-winning rapper, Martin Soore known professionally as Soorebia submitted his works for nomination for the 2022 Happy Man Bitters – Upper East Awards.
The Afrobeat/Hip-Hop musician scored 10 nominations in this year’s edition of the Upper East’s biggest music awards scheme, making him the most nominated artiste.
He is nominated for Hip-Hop Song Of The Year, Hip Hop Artiste Of The Year, Best Collaboration, Digital Act Of The Year, Afrobeat Song Of The Year, and Overall Artiste Of The Year among other categories.
This comes a few months down after the rapper leveled allegations against the organizers of not being fair in their dealings.
According to the ‘Guy Man’ crooner in an interview on Dreamz Fm in Bolgatanga, (May 2022), his reason for ditching the awards scheme since its inception was because the organizers were being biased and malicious in their dealings, they dupe innocent artists off their sweat, and present to them nothing more than plaques.
He added that his participation in the awards scheme had the possibility of making upcoming artistes who are looking up to him perceive that the scheme was credible, hence, consider participating.
“A lot of people have high regard for my brand. There may be a certain young artiste somewhere who wants to be part of the scheme but he is looking up to me. If I go file for nomination, he will feel the scheme is credible and he will also file and get duped. So it will now be because of me that someone gets duped,” he stated in an interview on Dreamz FM’s Entertainment show, Weekend Plug-in.
He claimed organizers of the UEMAs have failed to adhere to proper procedure in the organization of the awards over the years thus, discrediting the award scheme and making it fraudulent.
RELATED: DOWNLOAD Mp3: Soorebia – KeeKee [Prod. By Azkonna Beatz]
The rapper said a perfect example that stood the chance of justifying his assertion was the rough-and-tumble that stirred up after their 2020 edition concerning rising singer Chrisberry, her prize as the then New Artiste of the Year.
He added “Chris Berry got a feature from Kelvin Boy and because her manager wasn’t happy with the way things were done, the song has vanished. Even Chris Berry herself has vanished. Because they (organizers of UEMAs) didn’t do things right. They don’t consult anybody before taking a decision. Just because it is their award, they’re just doing things without following due process”.
However, Soorebia said, he was ready to submit his projects for nomination only if the organizers did a thorough analysis, assessment, and modifications (reconstruction).
“People in this region don’t demand the right thing to be done. When you do, you are deemed as being too knowing or one who doesn’t support local schemes. For me, things have to be done right before I can be part of the UEMA. They don’t listen when you advise them (organizers of UEMAs)”.
The official launch of the 4th edition of the prestigious awards scheme was held on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Tap Hotel in the Upper East regional Capital, Bolgatanga.
The day was also used to announce nominees for the various categories of the awards and also outline how voting is going to be done before the general public can begin to vote.
READ ALSO: Upper East Awards 2022: Complete List Of Nominees
Fans of artists and music lovers have from 1st November till December 29, 2022, when the main event will be held, to vote for who they think deserves to win in each category.