2017 MOBO AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED!

NEW GRIME KING STORMZY LEADS THE PACK WITH

5 NOMINATIONS – INCLUDING BEST MALE, BEST ALBUM AND BEST GRIME ACT

RAP TITAN J HUS SCORES 4 NOMINATIONS – INCLUDING BEST MALE, BEST ALBUM AND BEST SONG

JORJA SMITH AND STEFFLON DON PICK UP

3 NOMINATIONS EACH – INCLUDING BEST FEMALE AND BEST NEWCOMER

SAMPHA EARNS NODS FOR BEST MALE, BEST ALBUM and BEST R&B/SOUL ACT

MOBO AWARDS 2017 TAKES PLACE AT LEEDS FIRST DIRECT ARENA ON WEDNESDAY 29 NOVEMBER

Tickets now on sale at www.mobo.com

Tuesday 17 October 2017 London, United Kingdom – New Grime king Stormzy leads the 2017 MOBO Awards nominations, which was announced today at YouTube Space London. The 24-year old South London MC picked up a whopping five nominations for Best Male, Best Grime Act, Best Album for “Gang Signs & Prayer”, Best Song and Best Video for ‘Big For Your Boots’.

Stormzy has been on a steady crescendo of success since picking up the MOBO Award for Best Grime Act in 2014 and 2015, and Best Male in 2015. The MC references the moment he saw Krept & Konan win Best Newcomer at the 2013 MOBO Awards as the tipping point that pushed him to quit his job at an oil refinery and pursue a full-time career in music. He tweeted, ‘Krept & Konan just won a MOBO, I’m going studio.’

Fast forward four years from that moment and Stormzy’s debut album “Gang Signs & Prayer” has topped the UK Album Chart – becoming the first Grime album in history to reach #1. According to the OfficialCharts.com, it is also the biggest independent album of 2017 so far with over 220,000 sales. Stormzy has to date clocked up over 197 million views on his YouTube channel, 37 million of which are for the ‘Big For Your Boots’ music video directed by Daps.

While Grime may have well and truly captured the mainstream’s attention now, MOBO has been championing talents in this genre since 2001 when So Solid Crew put on a landmark performance at the Awards. With the movement teeming with unsung talent and demonstrating increasing cultural significance, MOBO formally recognised Grime as an award category in 2010.

After two years of solid underground appeal, East London rapper J Hus has broken through in a big way, picking up four nominations for Best Male, Best Album for “Common Sense”, Best Song for ‘Did You See’ and Best Video for ‘Spirit’. The 21-year old MC hit MOBO’s radar two years ago, which earned him a prestigious nomination in the Best Newcomer category and he followed up last year with a Best Song nod for ‘Friendly’. “Common Sense” – J Hus’ debut album – reached #6 on the UK Album Charts earlier this year and features the Top 10 hit ‘Did You See’, which has also amassed over 42 million views on YouTube.

Hotly tipped R&B singer Jorja Smith picks up three prestigious nominations for Best Female, Best R&B/Soul Act and Best Newcomer. In the last 12 months, the 20-year old singer-songwriter from Walsall has featured on Drake’s hit album “More Life” and even supported him on his UK tour. Her recent garage-infused banger with Preditah ‘On My Mind’ earned her rave reviews from music press far and wide.

Rising rap star Stefflon Don makes her MOBO debut with three nods in major categories for Best Female, Best Hip Hop Act and Best Newcomer. Mercury Prize winner Sampha receives three nominations for Best Male, Best R&B/Soul Act and Best Album for his critically acclaimed debut “Process”. 

Elsewhere, the always front-running MOBO Best Newcomer category is brimming with 10 of the industry’s hottest future stars. Poised for a big night at the awards in Leeds next month is South London rapper Loyle Carner, who is also nominated for Best Hip Hop and Best Video for ‘The Isle of Arran’. 

Traditionally, the MOBO Best Newcomer category has been the industry’s best indicator of foreteller or black music excellence. As an aspirational touchstone, winning this highly coveted award became the first step on the ladder for many artists who have forged a successful career, including Craig David (2000), Estelle (2004), Kano (2005), Chip (2008), Tinie Tempah (2010), Jessie J (2011), Rita Ora (2012) and Krept & Konan (2013).

This year’s MOBO Awards, supported by Leeds City Council and LeedsBID, will be hosted at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on 29 November. Performers and broadcast partners will be announced shortly. The third annual Pre-MOBO Awards Show – specially devoted to jazz, gospel, R&B/Soul categories – will be hosted in London. More details to come.

MOBO AWARDS 2017 NOMINEES

BEST MALE

Bugzy Malone

Chip

Dave

Giggs

J Hus

Maleek Berry

Mostack

Sampha

Skepta

Stormzy

BEST FEMALE

Emeli Sandé

Jessie Ware

Jorja Smith

Lady Leshurr

Little Simz

Mabel

Nadia Rose

NAO

Ray BLK

Stefflon Don

BEST ALBUM

J Hus – Common Sense

Nines – One Foot Out

Sampha – Process

Stormzy - Gang Signs & Prayer

Wretch 32 – Growing Over Life

BEST NEWCOMER

Dave

Jorja Smith

Kojo Funds

Lotto Boyzz

Loyle Carner

Mabel

Mist

Not3s

Stefflon Don

Yxng Bane

BEST SONG

J Hus “Did You See”

(Produced by JAE5)

Kojo Funds Feat. Abra Cadabra “Dun Talkin’”

(Produced by GA)

Not3s “Addison Lee”

(Produced by Malv On The Track)

Stormzy “Big For Your Boots”

(Produced by Sir Spyro & Fraser T Smith)

Yungen Feat. Yxng Bane “Bestie)

(Produced by ADP)

BEST VIDEO

Bossman Birdie “Walk The Walk”

(Directed by Luke Davies)

J Hus “Spirit”

(Directed by Hugo Jenkins)

Loyle Carner “The Isle Of Arran”

(Directed by Georgia Hudson)

Mist “Hot Property”

(Directed by Oliver Jennings)

Stormzy “Big For Your Boots”

(Directed by Daps)

BEST HIP HOP ACT

Giggs

Little Simz

Loyle Carner

Nines

Stefflon Don

Wretch 32

BEST GRIME ACT

AJ Tracey

Chip

P Money

Skepta

Stormzy

Wiley

BEST R&B/SOUL ACT

Supported by Mi-Soul

Craig David

Jorja Smith

NAO

Ray BLK

Sampha

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Cardi B

DJ Khaled

Drake

Jay Z

Kendrick Lamar

Migos

Solange Knowles

SZA

Travis Scott

Wizkid

BEST AFRICAN ACT

Davido

Eugy 

Juls

Maleek Berry

Mr Eazi

Sarkodie

Tekno

Tiwa Savage

Wande Coal

Wizkid

BEST REGGAE ACT

Aidonia

Alkaline

Chronixx

Damian Marley

Popcaan

BEST JAZZ ACT

Supported by Jazz FM

Cleveland Watkiss

Daymé Arocena

Moses Boyd

Mr Jukes

Terrace Martin

BEST GOSPEL ACT

Supported by Premier Gospel

Lurine Cato

Mali Music

S.O.

Triple O

Volney Morgan & New-Ye

MOBO Awards arena tickets are on sale now from www.mobo.com and www.firstdirectarena.com  Prices are £22, £35 and £45 excluding handling charges.

VIP packages can be obtained via VIPtickets@mobo.com

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Editor’s notes

Throughout the year MOBO supports undiscovered musical talent online, via the Connect playlists, its UnSung talent competition followed by an artist development programme and other initiatives which have led to various aspiring artists being given record deals and other opportunities.

Other MOBO activities include #MOBOmovement – offering people the opportunity to see their contributions published on MOBO’s YouTube channel – songwriting workshops, film screenings and support to talent across the wider creative industries. The newly established charity, MOBO Trust, aims to help young people realise their potential in the creative sector.

Press contact:

The Outside Organisation

David Lim – david.lim@outside-org.co.uk

Jack Delaney – jack.delaney@outside-org.co.uk

Corinna Ingram – corinna.ingram@outside-org.co.uk