After a tiring process of scouting through thousands of demos, the beatmakers for the 2020 edition of MTN Hitmaker were finally able to trim it down to 108 entries. The judges further cut it down to 50 contestants, who met the judges one-on-one during the live auditions to be selected into the Bootcamp.
The beatmakers MOGBeats, Dj Breezy and Mix Masta Garzy, had to listen and screen intensely the over 3,000 entries for this year’s show, before cutting down the numbers. The beatmakers after the screening cut the numbers down to 108 hopefuls, who progressed to the next stage of the MTN Hitmaker 9.
Unlike previous editions, this year’s entire selection process, understandably, took on a whole new look due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All qualifying contestants had to be recorded for the judges to watch and make their selection.
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MTN Hitmaker 9 main auditions
Oforiwaa was the first hopeful to see the judges, and she seemed to have impressed them. The first male to enter, Rola sung and was advised to learn how to communicate with his eyes when singing. Achiaa took a big risk with her song choice but was able to deliver it so well. Sarpomaa wooed the judges with some cool attitude-fuelled performance alongside a beautiful vocal delivery.
Josh Blakk opened the flood gate of the guitarist hopefuls, and he blew all the judges away, earning himself an automatic qualification to the next stage. The two more guitarists that came afterwards were also able to impress the judges. The rappers then took centre stage, starting from Kay T, who impressed the judges with his rap but slacked with the rapper attitude it should have come with. TM Music was unable to capture the judges, likewise Ellis Baby, who also left doubts in the minds of the judges. Jimmy impressed all the judges but Kaywa.
Ewurama (season 4) and MimiGold, from previous seasons, were back to contest again, Mimi gave a better version of herself this year, so the judges were very much impressed.
Pashyn came through and gave the judges an amazing account of her talent. A visually impaired rapper, Kwame Berry also came through with so much energy behind the mic. Raceless Taylor brought on some dancehall vibe, his voice was good, but he turned the judges off with his breath control.
Kwacy Boat went in the last, blew the judges with rap lyrics which even got Eazzy up and dancing.
The judges were expected to have trimmed the number down to 16, however, with some being too good to be sent away, a total of 19 were picked instead. The 19 would be sent to boot camp, after which the final twelve would be selected.
MTN Hitmaker 9 contestants
The 19 selected contestants are:
- Maxx Skillz
- Biu Samuel
- A dot K
- Josh Blakk
- Nessa Cute
- MiMiGold
- Kojo Eugene
- GabiNova
- Jimi
- Achiaa
- Bryan
- Pashyn
- Kwacy Boat
- Ka’leb Mensah
- Nazah
- Robert Hud
- RBJ
- Adepa
- Kobby Tuesday
The 19 qualified to be taken to MTN Hitmaker 9 boot camp to be groomed and readied for the main show and from the boot camp sessions, the final 12 would be chosen.
The judges for the 9th season of MTN Hitmaker were Kaywa, Eazzy and Richie.
Kaywa
An award-winning sound engineer, who has won the VGMA Sound Engineer of the year four times, winning it in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. He has produced some of the biggest hits in ghana’s music industry, including Sarkodie’s Onyame Nhyira, Samini’s Where My Baby Dey, R2Bees’s Makoma, Buk Bak’s Kolom and Ma Girl, among others.
Eazzy
A popular Ghanaian female singer and rapper, with nearly a decade of experience in Ghana’s music industry. The Afropop/Afrobeats singer has worked with big music names including Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Mr Eazi, Medikal, others locally and Donaeo, Skales, others internationally.
Richie Mensah
A renowned Ghanaian singer and music producer. He currently owns one of the biggest record labels in Ghana, Lynx Entertainment, the makers of music award-winners like Eazzy, and MzVee. Also in the Lynx stable are singers and previous Hitmaker contestants Kidi and Kuami Eugene.
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