Hip Hop star Genesis Owusu scoops ARIA Awards, The Kid LAROI wins big

One artist dominated the ARIA Awards on Wednesday night, scoring four of the night’s gongs and busting out a truly memorable performance.

Genesis Owusu has left the ARIAs with an armful of gongs off the back of a massive 2021, making him the most-awarded musician of the year at Aussie music’s night of nights.

The Ghanaian-Australian Hip Hop artist took home four awards at the event held at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, including Best Album for his cracking debut Smiling With No Teeth.

Meanwhile, international superstar and Grammy nominee The Kid LAROI took out Artist of The Year, which came as little surprise given the proud Kamilaroi teen’s mammoth hit Stay, featuring Justin Bieber.

A pre-recorded performance of Stay was played at the end of the ceremony.

Genesis Owusu, born Kofi Ansah-Owusu, was up for a massive seven trophies, just ahead of past ARIA winner Amy Shark, who had six nods.

Budjerah, Masked Wolf, Midnight Oil, The Avalanches, Tones and I and Vance Joy trailed close behind with five.

Owusu’s unforgettable debut release received four ARIAs.

It comes after Owusu bagged two honours at Triple J’s J Awards last week, including Australian Album of the Year for Smiling With No Teeth.

Tonight, the artist who burst onto the scene as a finalist of Triple J’s Unearthed High competition in 2015, picked up Best Album Art, Best Independent Release, Best Hip Hop Release and Best Album.

He also led the performances of the evening with a bouncy rendition of I Don’t Need You, donning a bright red suit with gold buttons sans-shirt.

Genesis Owusu riled up the crowd at Taronga Zoo with the first performance of the night.

Accepting the Best Album gong, Owusu told the crowd: “I used to get side eyed a lot for when I was young because of the way that I dressed and the things I did,” going on to thank the people that stood by him.

He added to roars from the audience: “For all those people, eccentric black people, it’s not up to us to change people, but for them to catch up to us.”

Elsewhere, 19-year-old Coodjinburra artist Budjerah took out the first ever Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Award, presented by none other that Ed Sheeran, sobbing with joy and declaring he “couldn’t believe it” as he accepted the gong.

It marks the first ARIA for the Missing You hit maker.

Budjerah was emotional as he accepted his first ever award.

This year marks the first ARIAs without gendered categories in a bid to make the music awards ceremony more inclusive.

Organisers said last month there would be no Best Male Artist or Best Female Artist in favour of a sole Best Artist award.

There will be 10 nominees in the running for the gong, as opposed to five in each of the previous categories.

Check out all the winners below:

Artist of The Year

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – Stay (Columbia/Sony Music)

Album of The Year

Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)

Best Live Act

Lime Cordiale – Relapse Tour (Chugg Music Pty Ltd)

Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist

Budjerah – Budjerah (EP) (Warner Music Australia)

Song of The Year

Spacey Jane – Booster Seat

Best Video

Vance Joy — Missing Piece

Best Hip Hop Release

Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)

Best Pop Release

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – Stay (Columbia/Sony Music)

Best Independent Release

Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)

Best Soul/R & B Release

Tkay Maidza – Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

Best Group

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Alive (Rose Avenue Records/Reprise/Warner Music)

Best Rock Album

Middle Kids – Today We’re The Greatest (EMI Music Australia)

Best Blues & Roots Album

Archie Roach – The Songs Of Charcoal Lane (Bloodlines/Mushroom)

Best Children’s Album

Bluey The Album – Bluey (Ludo Studios / Demon Music Group / BBC Studios / Rocket)

Best Country Album

Troy Cassar-Daley – The World Today (Tarampa Music / Sony Music)

Best Dance Release

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Alive (Rose Avenue Records/Reprise/Warner Music)

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Crowded House – Dreamers Are Waiting (EMI Music Australia)

Most Popular International Artist

Taylor Swift

Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album

Tropical F**k Storm – Deep States (TFS Records/Virgin Music)

Best Cover Art

Genesis Owusu — Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)