Hosted by by comedian Jack Whitehall, the 2021 BRIT Awards kicked off tonight (May 11) at London’s O2 Arena as part of the government’s pilot scheme for events.
East London’s very own J Hus scooped the award for the Best Male Artist but couldn’t be in attendance the award was accepted on his behalf by DJ Semtex.
Arlo Parks also won a big prize as she took home the award for Breakthrough Artist. Other winners include The Weeknd, Little Mix and Dua Lipa.
In addition to seeing the above names win awards, we also received performances from the aforementioned Arlo, The Weeknd, Elton John and more, as well as Rag ‘n’ Bone Man and Pink who joined forces to perform “Anywhere Away from Here” with special guests, the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Choir.
Headie One also teamed up with AJ Tracey and Young T & Bugsey to deliver a huge performance which shone a light on key workers and Marcus Rashford’s campaigning, while also challenging the negative press drill music receives.
Rather than offering a stock standard performance, Headie used his performance to speak out against the long-running negative and racist stereotypes associated with drill music as he stood in a box designed by Virgil Abloh.
Reclaiming the genre as a voice of unheard and disenfranchised youth. Featured in the performance was be sound bites of media quotes such as “some say it’s a symptom of societal failings” and “a form of aggressive rap music”.
It was definitely a night to remember to say the least and if you missed out on all the action, you can watch everything that went down on ITV Hub.
Check out the full list of winners from tonight below!
Mastercard Album Of The Year
Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams
Celeste – Not Your Muse
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia – WINNER
J Hus – Big Conspiracy
Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?
SONG OF THE YEAR
220 Kid and Gracey – Don’t Need Love
Aitch and AJ Tracey – Rain
Dua Lipa – Physical
Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar – WINNER
Headie One, AJ Tracey and Stormzy – Ain’t It Different
Joel Corry and MNEK – Head and Heart
Nathan Dawe and KSI – Lighter
Regard and Raye – Secrets
S1mba and DTG – Rover
Young T & Bugsey feat. Headie One – Don’t Rush
BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST
AJ Tracey
Headie One –
J Hus – WINNER
Joel Corry
Yungblud
BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Arlo Parks
Celeste
Dua Lipa – WINNER
Jessie Ware
Lianne La Havas
BRITISH GROUP
Bicep
Biffy Clyro
Little Mix – WINNER
The 1975
Young T & Bugsey
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Arlo Parks – WINNER
Bicep
Celeste
Joel Corry
Young T & Bugsey
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish – WINNER
Cardi B
Miley Cyrus
Taylor Swift
INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Childish Gambino
Tame Impala
The Weeknd – WINNER
INTERNATIONAL GROUP
BTS
Fontaines D.C.
Foo Fighters
Haim – WINNER
Run The Jewels
via GRM
