The UK’s most prestigious celebration of Black music and culture – the MOBO Awards – have announced their 2021 nominees, ahead of the Awards’ return at a live show extravaganza on Sunday 5 December at Coventry Building Society Arena.
MOBO is to partner with YouTube and BBC for the second consecutive year to bring the Awards to a global audience.
The ceremony will be live-streamed on YouTube on 5 December.
BBC One will broadcast a special behind-the-scenes show which will include exclusive backstage content and never-before-seen performances and interviews from the award ceremony. BBC Radio 1Xtra will also be covering the awards starting on Monday 6 December, DJ Target will dedicate his weekday shows to the MOBO Awards 2021 bringing listeners the hottest performances and exclusive interviews with this year’s nominees and winners.
Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of MOBO Group said: “The past 20 months have been extremely challenging for artists everywhere but as always we are seeing creatives rise up and adapt, even in a global pandemic.
“This year’s crop of MOBO nominees have not only shown resilience but incredible talent and range. We could not be prouder to celebrate their achievements across the 18 categories that span genres, as well as excellence in TV, film and media.
“Congratulations and best of luck to all of our nominees. Here’s to a big night on 5th December in Coventry!"
Dave, Central Cee, Ghetts and Headie One lead the 2021 nominations, which also includes Little Simz, Arlo Parks, Cleo Sol, Backroad Gee, Enny, Joy Crookes, Pinkpantheress, Wizkid, Tems, Ayra Starr, Rema, Damson Idris and Daniel Kaluuya.
The full line-up includes:
BEST MALE ACT
AJ TRACEY
CENTRAL CEE
DAVE
GHETTS
HEADIE ONE
POTTER PAYPER
BEST FEMALE ACT
ARLO PARKS
BREE RUNWAY
CLEO SOL
LITTLE SIMZ
SHAYBO
TIANA MAJOR9
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
ARLO PARKS – “COLLAPSED IN SUNBEAMS”
CELESTE – “NOT YOUR MUSE”
CLEO SOL – “MOTHER”
DAVE – “WE’RE ALL ALONE IN THIS TOGETHER”
GHETTS – “CONFLICT OF INTEREST”
HEADIE ONE – “EDNA”
SONG OF THE YEAR – IN ASSOCIATION WITH COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY
A1 X J1 – ‘LATEST TRENDS’
CENTRAL CEE – ‘COMMITMENT ISSUES’
DAVE FEAT. STORMZY - ‘CLASH’
ENNY FEAT. AMIA BRAVE – ‘PENG BLACK GIRLS’
PA SALIEU FEAT. BACKROAD GEE – ‘MY FAMILY’
TION WAYNE & RUSS MILLIONS, ARRDEE, BUGZY MALONE, BUNI, DARKOO, E1 (3X3), FIVIO FOREIGN & ZT (3X3) – ‘BODY (REMIX)’
BEST NEWCOMER – IN ASSOCIATION WITH ASOS
ARLO PARKS
ARRDEE
BACKROAD GEE
BERWYN
CENTRAL CEE
ENNY
JOY CROOKES
MIDAS THE JAGABAN
PINKPANTHERESS
WES NELSON
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
BREE RUNWAY – ‘HOT HOT’ (DIRECTED BY JOCELYN ANQUETIL)
FREDO FEAT. DAVE - ‘MONEY TALKS’ (DIRECTED BY EDEM WORNOO)
LITTLE SIMZ FEAT. CLEO SOL – ‘WOMAN’ (DIRECTED BY LITTLE SIMZ)
M1LLIONZ – ‘LAGGA’ (DIRECTED BY TEEEEZY C)
PA SALIEU FEAT. BACKROAD GEE – ‘MY FAMILY’ (DIRECTED BY FEMI LADI)
SLOWTHAI FEAT. A$AP ROCKY – ‘MAZZA’ (DIRECTED BY THE REST)
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT
BELLAH
CLEO SOL
JORJA SMITH
SAULT
TIANA MAJOR9
WSTRN
BEST GRIME ACT
BUGZY MALONE
CHIP
D DOUBLE E
FRISCO
GHETTS
SKEPTA
BEST HIP HOP ACT
DAVE
D-BLOCK EUROPE
FREDO
LITTLE SIMZ
POTTER PAYPER
SLOW THAI
BEST DRILL ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH TRENCH
CENTRAL CEE
DIGGA D
HEADIE ONE
K TRAP
LOSKI
M1LLIONZ
RUSS MILLIONS
SR
TION WAYNE
UNKNOWN T
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
DOJA CAT
DRAKE
KANYE WEST
LIL NAS X
MEGAN THEE STALLION
POLO G
REMA
SKILLIBENG
WIZKID
YOUNG STONER LIFE (YOUNG THUG & GUNNA)
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM
ASHLEY THOMAS AS HENRY IN ‘THEM’
DAMSON IDRIS AS FRANKLIN SAINT IN ‘SNOWFALL’
DANIEL KALUUYA AS FRED HAMPTON IN ‘JUDAS & THE BLACK MESSIAH’
LETITIA WRIGHT AS ALTHEIA JONES-LECOINTE IN ‘SMALL AXE’
MICHEAL WARD AS FRANKLYN IN ‘SMALL AXE’
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY
CHARLENE WHITE
CHUNKZ & YUNG FILLY
HARRY PINERO
HENRIE KWUSHUE
JULIE ADENUGA
MAYA JAMA
MO GILLIGAN
MUNYA CHAWAWA
NELLA ROSE
ZEZE MILLZ
BEST GOSPEL ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH PREMIER GOSPEL
CALLEDOUT MUSIC
CECE WINANS
GUVNA B
KIRK FRANKLIN
MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
S.O.
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT
AYRA STARR
BURNA BOY
CKAY
DAVIDO
KING PROMISE
NSG
REMA
TEMS
TIWA SAVAGE
WIZKID
BEST REGGAE ACT
LILA IKE
POPCAAN
SEAN PAUL
SHENSEEA
SKILLIBENG
SPICE
BEST JAZZ ACT
ALFA MIST
BLUE LAB BEATS
EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY
JACOB COLLIER
NUBIYAN TWIST
SONS OF KEMET
BEST PRODUCER – IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMPLEX UK
GOTCHA
JAE 5
JULS
M1ONTHEBEAT
P2J
TSB
