From it’s humble beginnings in 2009, the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA’s) has evolved into one of the most prestigious events in the country. Over the years, it’s success has turned more and more heads, gaining support and partnership from some of the country’s leading music bodies to help turn the event into a real hotbed of opportunities, for anyone looking to break the music industry.

The categories are split into seven, and cover a multitude of genres from every nook and cranny of bonnie Scotland. For obvious reasons, we’re going to highlight the nominees for Best Hip-Hop.

The winners will be announced this Saturday at an exclusive, live ceremony at Saint Luke's Glasgow, in the iconic Barrowlands area.

So let’s meet them…

K4CIE is a well established DJ and Producer who has put a lot of solid graft into building and developing the music scene in Glasgow, (and indeed Scotland as a whole). K4CIE is also the founder of 644 Studios and Peach where she continues to provide a platform for local talent and encourage aspiring artists. She really is holding the torch and with her entrepreneurial approach to building her music career, it’s an obvious choice to have her nominated for this year’s Best Hip-Hop Award.

Yet another powerhouse leading the way for the ladies within the industry. Clarissa is a regular occurrence within the Scottish music scene. Her debut EP ‘Honey I’m Gone’ catapulted her onto pretty much every available stage immediately after, supporting legends like RA Ruggedman, Lunar C and she also performed at HANG, (another SAMA ran event, aimed at strengthening the infrastructure of Scottish Hip-Hop through open discussion and various workshops and seminars). She also scooped BBC Track of the Week a few months back and with her ability to switch from hard hitting bars to more melodic hooks, it’s clear to see why she’s a contender for this year’s Best Hip-Hop Award.

Onto the lads now, and who better to kick things off with than Aberdeeen’s very own Chef. Yet again, Chef is one of those faces who just seems to always be in the right place at the right time. He’s well known for his energetic live performances and suave demeanour both on and off stage. His flow always sits nice and his content is always relatable, despite blatantly never following the crowd. Himself and long-term collaborator, Louis Seivwright have already seen a lot of love from the BBC as they even had their own mini-documentary televised, discussing the ‘Granite City’ and their musical endeavours. It’s no surprise he made the shortlist for Best Hip-Hop Award this year.

and last but by no means least… Big Bemz. You can’t help but love this dude. He is without a doubt, one of the most humble and warmest characters you could ever meet. There’s an air of calm and authenticity that follows this guy and it translates perfectly through his music. Originally of Nigerian descent but growing up in Ayrshire, it’s fair to say that Bemz is well cultured. Earlier this year he released a very successful track called ‘26’ where he openly discusses becoming a father and his relationship with Jesus. I found this so unique and refreshing to hear an emcee completely disregard his ego to speak of something more meaningful. Something that seems to be in short supply in a lot of modern urban music. I’m looking forward to seeing what Bemz and his crew, M4, are bringing to the table next year. A solid 4th nominee for this year’s Best Hip-Hop Award.

There’s no two ways about it. This is going to be the closest competition that the awards have ever seen in the 12 years they’ve been running. Each artist continues to raise the bar and prove that Scotland is more than capable of holding their own, in both the UK and global music arenas. Nothing will slow this lot down but that win, may just accelerate them into a more solidified role, within our flourishing music industry.

We wish them all the best of luck!