MzVee

MzVee
MzVee in concert in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda
Born	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]

Discography

• Re-Vee-Lation (2014)
• Verified (2015)

Awards & Nominations

Year	Organization	Award	Work	Result
2014	Ghana Music Awards	Unsung Artiste of the Year	Herself	Won[32]
	4syte Music Video Awards	Best Discovery	Herself	Won[33]
2015	Bass Awards	Best Female Vocal Artist	Herself	Won[34]
	Ghana Music Honors	Most Promising Act	Herself	Won[35]
	Ghana Music Awards	Artiste of the Year	Herself	Nominated[36]
	Ghana Music Awards	Reggae/Dancehall Artiste Of The Year	Herself	Nominated[36]
	Ghana Music Awards	Best New Artiste Of The Year	Herself	Won[37]
	Ghana Music Awards	Album Of The Year	Re-Vee-Lation	Nominated[36]
	Ghana Music Awards	Reggae Dancehall Song Of The Year	Natural Girl	Nominated[36]
	Ghana Music Awards	Best Female Vocal Performance	My Everything	Nominated[36]
	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	Nominated[31]
	Ghana Music Awards	Reggae Song Of The Year	Hold Me Now	Nominated[38]
	Ghana Music Awards	Afro Pop Song Of The Year	Abofra	Nominated[39]
	Ghana Music Awards	Record Of The Year	Abofra	Nominated[40]
	Ghana Music Awards	Reggae/Dancehall Artist Of The Year	Herself	Nominated[41]

References

1. "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. "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. "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. "Ghana Music Awards Songwriter of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
30. "Ghana Music Awards Album of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
31. "Ghana Music Awards Best Female Vocalist of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
32. "Behold Unsung Artiste of the Year". afrisounds.com.
33. "Winners of 2014 MTN 4syte Music Video Awards". Joy Online.
34. "BASS awards full list of winners". Peace FM.
35. "Ghana Music Honors held in Accra". Ghana Web.
36. "List of nominees for 2015 Ghana Music Awards". Daily Guide.
37. "Full list of winners at 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards". Joy Online.
38. "Ghana Music Awards Reggae Song of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
39. "Ghana Music Awards Afro Pop Song of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
40. "Ghana Music Awards Record of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.
41. "Ghana Music Awards Reggae/Dancehall of the Year". Ghana Music Awards.

External links

• Official website
• Lynx Entertainment