Rapper Nines and R&B singer Mahalia tops winners at the 2020 Mobo awards.
The 2020 MOBO Awards held at Exhibition London on Monday (December 7) in London. 19 artistes were awarded.
The album of the year award was won by Nines for Crabs in a Bucket, and he also won the best hip-hop act award. The north-west London rapper was nominated five times at the Mobos and topped the UK album chart in September.
Mahalia won best female act and best R&B/soul act, following her acclaimed 2019 album Love and Compromise and her 2020 EP Isolation Tapes.
2021 Grammys looks bright for her, has she is nominated for the best R&B performance category for All I Need with Jacob Collier and Ty Dolla Sign.
Drill rapper Headie One was named best male act, topping the UK charts with his album Edna in October and spent nine weeks in the Top 5 with his track Ain’t It Different. He also featured on the Mobo song of the year, Don’t Rush by Nottingham pop-rap duo Young T & Bugsey, which was voted for by the public.
Another public vote winner was Mancunian rapper Aitch, who picked up best newcomer.
The Inspiration Award was given to Steve McQueen, the director and visual artist whose BBC TV series Small Axe documents Black British life. “This is an extraordinary prize,” he said.
“Thank you so much. The Mobo awards for me is part of the idea of Small Axe. When people didn’t want to recognise us, we recognised ourselves and that’s given me the inspiration to go forward.” Steve appreciated.
The award which was livestreamed had Maya Jama and Chunkz (the comedian-musician who was also voted best media personality by the public) has its host.
Nigeria aristes were not left out. Burna Boy and Wizkid went home with Best International Act and Best African Act awards respectively.
The ceremony featured performances by Headie One (featuring M Huncho) and Young T & Bugsey; rappers Ms Banks, Kojey Radical and Shaybo; dancehall vocalist Stylo G; and soul singer Tiana Major9.
R&B singer HER, from outside the UK performed her song Damage, while two of Nigeria’s biggest pop stars also appeared: Tiwa Savage and Davido.
The founder of MOBO Organisation, Kanya King hailed the awards saying, “an empowering show with a purpose that represents opportunity over inequality, that represents pride for an audience that often feels marginalised, that represents achievement against all odds”.
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