Stormzy and Little Simz lead the nominations for the 2024 MOBO Awards with four nods apiece.
The annual ceremony celebrating black music and culture heads to Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on February 7, 2024.
Both rappers are nominated for Album of the Year for ‘This Is What I Mean’ and ‘No Thank You’, respectively, for which they will contend with Raye’s ‘My 21st Century Blues’, Ezra Collective’s ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’, J Hus’ ‘Brutal And Beautiful Yard’, and ‘Real Back In Style’ by Potter Payper.
Raye, Central Cee, PinkPantheress, and J Hus earned three nominations each.
The shortlist for Song of the Year is: ‘Sprinter’ (Central Cee and Dave), ‘Who Told You’ (J Hus and Drake), ‘Little Things’ (Jorja Smith), ‘Boys A Liar Pt.2’ (PinkPantheress and Ice Spice), ‘Escapism’ (Raye and 070 Shake), and ‘Hide And Seek’ (Stormzy).
Stormzy will compete with Central Cee, Dave, D-Block Europe, J Hus, and Nines to be crowned Best Male Act.
And Little Simz faces competition from Flo, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, PinkPantheress, and Raye for Best Female.
Speaking ahead of the event, MOBO Founder Kanya King CBE said: “We are proud to champion this year’s incredible lineup of nominees for the 26th MOBO Awards, who have all brought stellar music and content to our attention through their remarkable work in music, film, TV, online and more. Since 1996, we’ve celebrated Black music and culture, breaking new ground and leading the way, seeing MOBO evolve and innovate to champion outstanding talent beyond music.
“This year’s nominees not only represent the best of their genre and art form and an incredible year of music, but also continue our dedication to sustaining an inclusive ecosystem where diverse talent is both recognised and empowered to thrive. With the advancement of our MOBO UnSung talent programme and career development platform MOBOLISE, we are ready and excited to take our pioneer status to the next level, to celebrate and recognise the vast contributions of trailblazing musicians and cultural heroes, in a way that only MOBO can. See you on February 7th!”
Last year’s ceremony in London was hosted by Chunkz and Yung Filly, with the likes of Little Simz, PinkPantheress and Central Cee receiving the big prizes.
Elsewhere, Craig David was recognised with the Outstanding Contribution award, and Nile Rodgers was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement accolade.
Arena Tickets are on sale now via www.MOBO.com/tickets.
26TH MOBO AWARDS NOMINEES:
BEST MALE ACT
CENTRAL CEE
DAVE
D-BLOCK EUROPE
J HUS
NINES
STORMZY
BEST FEMALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SHEA MOISTURE
FLO
JORJA SMITH
LITTLE SIMZ
MAHALIA
PINKPANTHERESS
RAYE
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
EZRA COLLECTIVE – WHERE I’M MEANT TO BE
J HUS – BEAUTIFUL AND BRUTAL YARD
LITTLE SIMZ – NO THANK YOU
POTTER PAYPER – REAL BACK IN STYLE
RAYE – MY 21ST CENTURY BLUES
STORMZY – THIS IS WHAT I MEAN
SONG OF THE YEAR SUPPORTED BY BBC RADIO 1XTRA
CENTRAL CEE and DAVE – ‘SPRINTER’
J HUS FEAT. DRAKE – ‘WHO TOLD YOU’
JORJA SMITH – ‘LITTLE THINGS’
PINKPANTHERESS and ICE SPICE – ‘BOYS A LIAR PT.2’
RAYE and 070 SHAKE – ‘ESCAPISM’
STORMZY – ‘HIDE AND SEEK’
BEST NEWCOMER
AMA LOU
ANTSLIVE
DEBBIE
JAYO
NIPPA
NO GUIDNCE
RIMZEE
STRANDZ
TAMERA
TUNDE
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
ANTSLIVE – ‘NUMBER ONE CANDIDATE’ (DIRECTED BY TOM EMMERSON)
ENNY – ‘NO MORE NAIJA MEN’ (DIRECTED BY OTIS DOMINIQUE)
JORDS – ‘DIRT IN THE DIAMOND EP1: MOBAY FEAT. TAY IWAR / STAY CLOSE FEAT. KRANIUM’ (DIRECTED BY RENEE MARIA OSUBU)
LITTLE SIMZ – ‘GORILLA’ (DIRECTED BY DAVE MEYERS)
STORMZY – ‘MEL MADE ME DO IT’ (DIRECTED BY KLVDR)
TION WAYNE – ‘HEALING’ (DIRECTED BY WOWA)
BEST R’N’B/SOUL ACT
BELLAH
JAZ KARIS
MAHALIA
RAGZ ORIGINALE
SAMPHA
SAULT
BEST HIP HOP ACT
AVELINO
CLAVISH
DIGGA D
ENNY
FREDO
GIGGS
LITTLE SIMZ
LOYLE CARNER
NINES
POTTER PAYPER
BEST GRIME ACT
BUGZY MALONE
DUPPY
FLOWDAN
MANGA SAINT HILARE
NOVELIST
P MONEY
BEST DRILL ACT SUPPORTED BY TRENCH
CENTRAL CEE
HEADIE ONE
K-TRAP
KWENGFACE
M24
RUSS MILLIONS
TEEZANDOS
UNKNOWN T
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT (US)
DOJA CAT
DRAKE and 21 SAVAGE
TRAVIS SCOTT
ICE SPICE
LATTO
LIL UZI VERT
NICKI MINAJ
SEXYY RED
SZA
VICTORIA MONET
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM
ADJANI SALMON AS KWABENA – DREAMING WHILST BLACK
DAMSON IDRIS AS FRANKLIN SAINT – SNOWFALL
DÉJA J. BOWENS AS VITA – CHAMPION
IDRIS ELBA AS SAM – HIJACK
INDIA AMARTEIFIO AS QUEEN CHARLOTTE – QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY
JOHN BOYEGA AS FONTAINE – THEY CLONED TYRONE
LASHANA LYNCH AS IZOGIE – THE WOMAN KING
LETITIA WRIGHT AS SHURI – BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
MALCOLM KAMULETE AS BOSCO – CHAMPION
VIVIAN OPARAH AS YAS – RYE LANE
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY SUPPORTED BY BET UK
ALISON HAMMOND
AMELIA DIMOLDENBERG
HENRIE KWUSHUE
MADAME JOYCE
MAYA JAMA
PRESSED PODCAST
REMI BURGZ
SHXTSNGIGS
SPECS GONZALEZ
ZEZE MILLZ
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH LOCO MUSIC
ADEKUNLE GOLD (NIGERIA)
ASAKE (NIGERIA)
AYRA STARR (NIGERIA)
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
DAVIDO (NIGERIA)
LIBIANCA (CAMEROON)
REMA (NIGERIA)
TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)
UNCLE WAFFLES (ESWATINI)
WIZKID (NIGERIA)
BEST CARIBBEAN MUSIC ACT
BYRON MESSIA
DESTRA
KABAKA PYRAMID
POPCAAN
SHENSEEA
VALIANT
BEST JAZZ ACT SUPPORTED BY JAZZ FM
BLUE LAB BEATS (UK)
CKTRL (UK)
EZRA COLLECTIVE (UK)
MASEGO (US)
REUBEN JAMES (UK)
YAZMIN LACEY (UK)
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARSHALL
ALT BLK ERA
ARLO PARKS
DEIJUVHS
KID BOOKIE
SKINDRED
YOUNG FATHERS
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT SUPPORTED BY BEMA and MIXMAG
ALUNA
NIA ARCHIVES
PINKPANTHERESS
SALUTE
SHYGIRL
TSHA
BEST PRODUCER SUPPORTED BY COMPLEX UK
INFLO
KYLE EVANS
M1ONTHEBEAT
P2J
STEEL BANGLEZ
TSB
BEST GOSPEL ACT SUPPORTED BY PREMIER GOSPEL
ANNATORIA (UK)
CALLEDOUT MUSIC (UK)
GUVNA B (UK)
LIMOBLAZE (NIGERIA)
TOFUNMI ADORNA (UK)
TRIPLE O (UK)