MzVee

MzVee

MzVee in concert in 2014
Background information
Birth name Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda
Born (1992-06-23) 23 June 1992
Accra, Ghana
Genres Afro pop, Hiplife, R&B, Dancehall
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 2012–present
Labels Lynx Entertainment
Associated acts Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Richie Mensah, Didier Awadi
Website mzveegh.com

Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda (born 23 June 1992) better known by her stage name MzVee, is a Ghanaian afropop, dancehall and R&B artiste. Her award-nominated debut solo album[1][2] features several hit singles including Borkor Borkor, Natural Girl and Dancehall Queen. MzVee is signed to the award-winning record label Lynx Entertainment and was the winner of the New Artiste of the Year award at the 2015 Ghana Music Awards.[3][4]

Early life

MzVee was born in Accra to Ernest Hamenoo-Kpeda, a businessman, and Florence Hamenoo-Kpeda, a caterer. She has 2 older sisters and a brother and attended St Martin de Porres School in Accra in her early years. One of her sisters is the popular make-up artist marrgee. She moved on to St Mary’s Senior High School and is now studying Business Administration at Ghana Telecom University.[5]

Music career

2012 – 2013: Early beginnings

MzVee first burst onto the Ghanaian music scene in the summer of 2012 as the lead singer of Lynx Entertainment’s girl band D3.[6] The band, released hit singles such as 'Good Girls Gone Bad' and 'Gyani Gyani' before splitting at the end of 2013 due to educational commitments of the young group members.[7]

2014 – present: Breakthrough

MzVee launched her solo career with debut single ‘Borkor Borkor’ released in January 2014.[8] She followed this with hit single ‘Natural Girl’[9] and went on to win the 'Unsung Artiste Award' at the 2014 Ghana Music Awards.[10] Her debut album was released in November 2014[1] and features collaborations with several award winning artistes such as Stonebwoy, VIP, Shatta Wale, Richie Mensah, Manifest and Didier Awadi.

Following the success of her award-winning debut album, MzVee released her second album titled 'Verified' in November 2015 to rave reviews.[11][12] The album has earned MzVee 7 nominations at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards[13] including 'Album of the Year' and 'Record of the Year' for the single 'Abofra' which features Efya.

Musical Style & Recognition

MzVee’s music contains elements of afropop, R&B and dancehall and her strong vocal abilities earned her a nomination for 'Female Vocalist of the Year'[14] at the 2015 Ghana Music Awards and the award for 'Most Promising Act' at the 2015 Ghana Music Honors.[15] She is regarded as one of the stars of Ghana’s dancehall scene and received the award for 'Best Female Vocalist of the Year'[16] at the 2015 Ghanaian dancehall awards, BASS awards. Her trademark natural African hair and hit single ‘Natural Girl’ has made her an inspiration to young girls across Africa who want to celebrate their natural look.[17]

MzVee's impressive rise to the top continued with a nomination in June 2015 in the 'Best International New Artist' category[18] at the BET Awards 2015. This brand new fan-voted category celebrates rising stars from across the channel’s international footprint.[19]

In October 2015, MzVee was appointed the World Bank Ambassador for their 'End Extreme Poverty Campaign'.[20] She released the official campaign song titled 'End Poverty'[21] and became a World Bank #Music4Dev Guest Artist; a role which has been held in the past by a number of award winning artists including D'Banj and Fally Ipupa.,[22][23]

MzVee was named in MTV Base's list of the top African artists to watch out for in 2016. This list featured the breakthrough hit makers of 2015 on the African continent.,[24][25] She has also been nominated in the ‘Best Urban Artist’ category at the 2016 KORA Music Awards[26][27] and received 7 nominations at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards[28] including Songwriter of the Year[29] with Richie Mensah and Efya, Album of the Year[30] and Best Female Vocalist.[31]

On May 20, 2016, MzVee was nominated for the BET Awards 2016 - Best International Act: Africa category and became the first Ghanaian female musician to be nominated for a major BET Award.[32] She was also nominated in the Best Female category in October 2016 for the MTV Africa Music Awards.[33]

Discography

Awards & Nominations

Year Organization Award Work Result
2014 Ghana Music Awards Unsung Artiste of the Year Herself Won[34]
4syte Music Video Awards Best Discovery Herself Won[35]
2015 Bass Awards Best Female Vocal Artist Herself Won[36]
Ghana Music Honors Most Promising Act Herself Won[37]
Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year Herself Nominated[38]
Ghana Music Awards Reggae/Dancehall Artiste Of The Year Herself Nominated[38]
Ghana Music Awards Best New Artiste Of The Year Herself Won[39]
Ghana Music Awards Album Of The Year Re-Vee-Lation Nominated[38]
Ghana Music Awards Reggae Dancehall Song Of The Year Natural Girl Won[38]
Ghana Music Awards Best Female Vocal Performance My Everything Won[38]
BET Awards Best New International Artist Herself Nominated[18]
2016 KORA Music Awards Best Urban Artist Hold Me Now Nominated[26]
Ghana Music Awards Album of the Year Verified Nominated[30]
Ghana Music Awards Songwriter of the Year MzVee, Richie Mensah and Efya Nominated[29]
Ghana Music Awards Best Female Vocalist of the Year Hold Me Now Won[31]
Ghana Music Awards Reggae Song Of The Year Hold Me Now Nominated[40]
Ghana Music Awards Afro Pop Song Of The Year Abofra Nominated[41]
Ghana Music Awards Record Of The Year Abofra Nominated[42]
Ghana Music Awards Reggae/Dancehall Artist Of The Year Herself Nominated[43]
BET Awards Best International Act Africa Herself Nominated[44]
Nigerian Entertainment Awards African Female Artist (Non-Nigerian) Herself Nominated[45]
AFRIMMA Best Female West Africa Herself Nominated[46]
MTV Africa Music Awards Best Female Herself Nominated[33]

References

  1. 1 2 "MzVee drops album on November 21". Daily Guide Ghana.
  2. "Album of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  3. "VGMA 2015 Winners". Ghana Music Awards.
  4. "Full list of winners at 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards". myjoyonline.
  5. "Rising Talent MzVee talks to us". enewsgh.
  6. "Lynx Entertainment introduces an all female group - D3". Ghana Music.
  7. "Music group D3 splits". Ghana Web.
  8. "MzVee Borkor Borkor". Ghana Ndwom.
  9. "MzVee releases Natural Girl featuring Stonebwoy". Modern Ghana.
  10. "MzVee thanks her fans for VGMA award win". Modern Ghana.
  11. "MzVee ups her game with verified album launch". Ghana Web.
  12. "MzVee ups her game with verified album launch". Nigeria News24.
  13. "Full list of nominees for 2016 Ghana Music Awards". MyJoyOnline.
  14. "VGMA 2015 Nominees List". Ghana Music Awards.
  15. "Ghana Music Honors Held in Accra". Ghana Web.
  16. "VGMA 2015 Nominees List". Peace FM.
  17. "MzVee Calls Out To All Natural Girls". Twi Movies.
  18. 1 2 "Best New International Artist". BET.com.
  19. "BET Awards 2015: MzVee nominated in new category". Viasat 1.
  20. "MzVee Appointed as World Bank Ambassador". Ghana Web.
  21. "MzVee Releases World Bank Campaign Theme Song". MyJoyOnline.
  22. "Music4Dev Guest MzVee Calls for An End to Poverty Through Song". World Bank.
  23. "Music4Dev Guest MzVee Hopes Her Music Will Help End Poverty". World Bank.
  24. "MTV Base presents the top African acts to watch out for in 2016". MTV Base.
  25. "MzVee named among the Top African Artists to watch out for in 2016". nydjlive.com.
  26. 1 2 "KORA Awards Nominees Best Urban". KORA Awards.
  27. "Sarkodie, MzVee, others nominated for 2016 KORA Music Awards". Ghana Web.
  28. "Full list of nominees for 2016 Ghana Music Awards". MyJoyOnline.
  29. 1 2 "Ghana Music Awards Songwriter of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  30. 1 2 "Ghana Music Awards Album of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  31. 1 2 "Ghana Music Awards Best Female Vocalist of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  32. GhKings News. "MzVee Nominated For BET Awards 2016 + Full List".
  33. 1 2 "Final categories revealed - vote now". MTV Africa Music Awards.
  34. "Behold Unsung Artiste of the Year". afrisounds.com.
  35. "Winners of 2014 MTN 4syte Music Video Awards". Joy Online.
  36. "BASS awards full list of winners". Peace FM.
  37. "Ghana Music Honors held in Accra". Ghana Web.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 "List of nominees for 2015 Ghana Music Awards". Daily Guide.
  39. "Full list of winners at 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards". Joy Online.
  40. "Ghana Music Awards Reggae Song of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  41. "Ghana Music Awards Afro Pop Song of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  42. "Ghana Music Awards Record of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  43. "Ghana Music Awards Reggae/Dancehall of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
  44. "Best International Act Africa". EnterGhana.
  45. "Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2016 - Full List of Nominees". naijavoice.com.
  46. "AFRIMMA 2016 nominees". AFRIMMA.
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