Rapper Ntokozo Mdluli, popularly known as K.O, was nominated for 7 awards at this year’s Metro FM Music Awards. However, the rapper walked away empty-handed, leaving fans quite confused.
The rapper’s Sete (featuring Young Stunna and Blxckie) has so far garnered over 30 million views on YouTube and over 17 million streams on Spotify.
K.O was the most nominated artist at this year’s award ceremony, being up against AKA and Sjava in most of the categories. The categories included Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Hip Hop Artist, Best Male Artist, Best Music Video and Best Viral Challenge.
7 NOMINATIONS AT THIS YEAR’S @METROFMSA AWARDS. Dankie @YOUNGSTUNNA_ZA & @blxckie___ ??
?Song of the Year
?Artist of the Year
?Best Collab
?️Best Hip-Hop Artist
?Best Male Artist
?️Best Music Video
?Best Viral Challenge #SR3 #SETELet’s get to voting
— K.O (@MrCashtime) March 31, 2023
Major categories such as Artist of the Year, Best Male Artist, Best Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration were lost to AKA. However, the Caracara hitmaker was not bitter about his loss. He congratulated the late rapper on social media.
My dawg Kiernan AKA Forbes ?
Your legacy is eternal ❤️??
Congrats to the megacy ?— K.O (@MrCashtime) May 7, 2023
Although, many dubbed AKA’s wins as “sympathy” wins.
Voting Lemonade was just a sympathy to AKA otherwise SETE is clear #MetroFMAwards
— Demba Baleseng L. Goitsilwe MBE (@bgkielie_mbe) May 6, 2023
One Twitter user said, “We all loved AKA but what is being done to KO sete is not fair.”
#metrofmawards2023
We all loved AKA but what is being done to KO sete is not fair ?? pic.twitter.com/IweAN0qfwS— Mkha Lu2li_eMophela?✌️ (@_Mkha_Lu2li) May 6, 2023
Another said, “But deep down we know SETE is best and biggest collaboration!#MetroFMAwards.”
but deep down we know SETE is best and biggest collaboration!#MetroFMAwards pic.twitter.com/KJyFGFLVJm
— waLefoko™ (@ministerTP__) May 6, 2023
Others came to AKA’s defence.
The Megacy is bigger than SETE so y’all take some chill pills
In Mega we trust until the finish ?#MetroFMAwards #RIPAKA
Kairo pic.twitter.com/x5VWYl2Hhd— Certified Lover Boy ? (@Real_neristo) May 6, 2023
Best Male Artist, Kiernan, Pah, you did that my guy! You beat Sete! I am crying real tears, guys, @akaworldwide cooked differently on Mass Country, what an album, what a musician, genius level type of music!! #MetroFMAwards
— Nguvi (@nguvi_) May 6, 2023
SETE is a great song but is K.O. interactive with fans? Nah! AKA on the other side is a real superstar. Heavy engagement with his fans who he makes music for. SETE stood no chance against Lemonande. The Megacy made sure of that.
— DJ Boogie Sid (@DJBoogiesid) May 7, 2023
K.O had also lost to gospel artist Betusile Mcinga’s Ngena Noah, which won Song of the Year. Many thought he would bag the award, even Cassper Nyovest.
I really thought K.O would take song of the year at the Metros. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought so.
— Don Billiato (@casspernyovest) May 6, 2023
Another Twitter user deemed the loss as “daylight robbery.”
KO – Sete was supposed to win the song of the year, that was a big daylight robbery ?#MetroFMAwards pic.twitter.com/QLm58eTsHo
— The-General ✌? (@SihleGeneral10) May 6, 2023
The only song of the year we recognize as South Africans is KO’s SETE #metrofmawards2023 pic.twitter.com/klD1JGzo2D
— ruth moyana (@MoyanaRuth) May 6, 2023
Also see: Betusile Mcinga‘s “Ngena Noah” wins Song of the Year