Akon

Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam (born April 16, 1973) (pronounced /ˈeɪkɒn/), better known as Akon, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, businessman, record producer and actor. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first single from his debut album Trouble.

He has since founded two successful record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution. His second album, Konvicted received three nominations for the Grammy Awards in two categories, Best Contemporary R&B Album for Konvicted album and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Smack That" and "I Wanna Love You".

He is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. Akon has had four songs certified as 3x platinum, three songs certified as 2x platinum, more than ten songs certified as 1x platinum and more than ten songs certified as gold in digital sales. Akon has sung songs in other languages including Tamil, Hindi, and Spanish. He was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the #1 selling artist for master ringtones in the world.

Kardinal Offishall

Jason D. Harrow (born May 12, 1976), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall /kɑːrdᵻˈnæl oʊfᵻˈʃæl/, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, and record executive. Often credited as Canada's "hip hop ambassador", he is regarded as one of the country's best hip hop producers, and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip hop.

A native of Toronto, Offishall began his career in the city's mid-1990s underground hip hop scene, as a member of The Circle. He released several independent 12" singles, a debut album (Eye & I), and an EP (Husslin'), before signing with major label MCA Records in 2000. The following year, Offishall released his second album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1, spawning the Billboard hit "BaKardi Slang", which popularized Toronto's nickname "T-dot", and the minor hit "Ol' Time Killin'"; both singles became his signature songs. After failing to release the Firestarter Vol. 2 album in 2003, on MCA, and later Geffen Records (which absorbed MCA), Offishall briefly returned to the underground scene, releasing several more independent 12" singles.

Much Music Video Awards

The Much Music Video Awards (also known as (the) MMVA or MMVAs, and originally named the Canadian Music Video Awards before 1995) are annual awards presented by the Canadian TV channel Much to honour the year's best music videos.

Overview

In their modern form, the awards ceremony is not held in a conventional theatre, but instead as a large street party incorporating the Much Headquarters, its parking lot, and parts of Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, Ontario. There are no hosts or announcers in the traditional awards-show fashion; instead, the Much VJs are an integral part of the festivities, introducing (and interviewing) the awards' presenters and winners throughout the show. As with many modern awards shows (such as the MTV Video Music Awards), many presenters and performers may have little or no connection to the music industry or that year's nominees. Winners of a Much Music Video Award receive a statue made by New York firm, Society Awards.

Each year, MMVA viewers are encouraged to visit the website to vote for the Fan Fave category which includes Video, Artist or Group, and International Artist or Group.