Tonight (December 9), the MOBO Awards made a huge comeback with a virtual ceremony, hosted by Maya Jama and Chunkz, live-streamed on YouTube and broadcast on BBC One at 10.45pm, with highlights special on BBC iPlayer tonight.
In a show like no other taking place in a year like no other, the UK’s biggest celebration of Black music reclaimed its power with a 90-minute spectacle that recognised the hottest new talent from around the globe, with some special performances that encapsulated the strength and pride of Black voices that underpinned 2020.
London rapper Nines received a whopping five nominations this year and took home the prestigious Album of The Year for Crabs In A Bucket and was also crowned Best Hip Hop Act tonight, after first being nominated for this category at the MOBO Awards three years ago.
The ‘King of Drill’ Headie One loomed large at this year’s ceremony where he took home the coveted Best Male Act. The Tottenham-born rapper also locked in a slick medley performance of ‘Bumpy Ride’ with M Huncho and ‘Teach Me’, taken from his UK No. 1 debut album Edna. He also teamed up with Young T & Bugsey on the show for a performance of their smash ‘Don’t Rush’.
Mahalia scooped up Best Female Act (in association with ISAWITFIRST) and Best R&B/Soul Act – her first major music awards win following a consistently noteworthy rise in recent years. The Leicestershire-born rising star released her debut album, Love and Compromise, in 2019 which includes ‘Shimmer’ (featuring Burna Boy) and ‘What You Did’ (featuring Ella Mai).
In the hugely popular public voted categories, Mancunion rapper Aitch wins Best Newcomer (in association with Arts Council England) and while Nottingham duo Young T & Bugsey take home Song of The Year for their global viral hit ‘Don’t Rush’ (featuring Headie One).
Check out the full list on winners below…
2020 MOBO AWARDS WINNERS
BEST MALE ACT
HEADIE ONE
BEST FEMALE ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH ISAWITFIRST)
MAHALIA
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
NINES – ‘CRABS IN A BUCKET’
SONG OF THE YEAR [PUBLIC VOTED]
YOUNG T & BUGSEY FEAT. HEADIE ONE – ‘DON’T RUSH’
BEST NEWCOMER
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND)
[PUBLIC VOTED]
AITCH
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
NSG – ‘LUPITA’ (DIRECTED BY KEVIN HUDSON)
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT
MAHALIA
BEST HIP HOP ACT
NINES
BEST GRIME ACT [PUBLIC VOTED]
JME
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT [PUBLIC VOTED]
BURNA BOY
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM [PUBLIC VOTED]
MICHEAL WARD AS MARCO – ‘BLUE STORY’
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY [PUBLIC VOTED]
CHUNKZ
BEST ALBUM (2017 – 2019)
This is a one-off additional category just for this year’s MOBO Awards to highlight the best albums released from 1st September 2017 – 31st August 2019.
ELLA MAI – ‘ELLA MAI’
BEST AFRICAN ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH AFROZONS)
[PUBLIC VOTED]
WIZKID
BEST REGGAE ACT
BUJU BANTON
BEST GOSPEL ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH PREMIER GOSPEL)
CALLEDOUT MUSIC
BEST JAZZ ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC)
EGO ELLA MAY
BEST PRODUCER
JAE 5
INSPIRATION AWARD
STEVE MCQUEEN
