Nines leads nominations for returning MOBO Awards

The MOBO Awards is back this year following a three year hiatus, with the virtual award ceremony set to place on December 9 across an exclusive YouTube live stream and BBC One highlights broadcast later that evening.

Nines (pictured), who is up for five awards, leads the nominations, while Lianne La Havas, Mahalia and Tiana Major9 each have three.

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Other artists nominated include J Hus, Dutchavelli, Ms Banks, Headie One, Ivorian Doll, Kojey Radical, Stormzy, FKA twigs, Burna Boy, Pa Salieu, Aitch, JME, Koffee, Megan Thee Stallion, D-Block Europe, M1llionz, Alicaì Harley and Rema.

Maya Jama and Chunkz will host the 90 minute virtual ceremony, which will feature performances from Headie One, M Huncho, Ms Banks, Tiwa Savage and Kojey Radical, with more to be confirmed.

Some categories are voted by the public, which is open now here.

The MOBO Awards has been on hiatus following its 2017 event, with a one-off ‘Best Album (2017 – 2019)’ category introduced this year to cover that period.

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MOBO Founder, Kanya King, said: “Recognising the unique role the MOBO Awards plays for so many, and the challenging year we find ourselves in, it is now more important than ever to be there and to continue the rich history of showcasing the very best of Black music and culture.”

YouTube Music’s Director of EMEA, Dan Chalmers said: “It’s a real privilege to be partnering with The MOBO Awards to bring a global audience to such an important British music event. It’s vital that artists and creators from across all backgrounds, genres and sounds are given a platform to build an audience and fanbase. I’m honoured to continue to lift up and support the Black British music community, which continues to be at the heart of the music experience in the UK.”

See the nominees and find out more on MOBO’s website.

BEST MALE ACTHEADIE ONEJ HUSSTORMZYNINESAJ TRACEYYOUNG T & BUGSEY

BEST FEMALE ACT (IN ASSOCIATION WITH ISAWITFIRST)LIANNE LA HAVASMS BANKSTIANA MAJOR9MAHALIADARKOOFKA TWIGS

ALBUM OF THE YEARJ HUS – ‘BIG CONSPIRACY’STORMZY – ‘HEAVY IS THE HEAD’MAHALIA – ‘LOVE AND COMPROMISE’NINES – ‘CRABS IN A BUCKET’LIANNE LA HAVAS – ‘LIANNE LA HAVAS’

SONG OF THE YEAR [PUBLIC VOTED]YOUNG T & BUGSEY FEAT. HEADIE ONE – ‘DON’T RUSH’DIGGA D – ‘WOI’DARKOO FEAT. ONE ACEN - ‘GANGSTA’TION WAYNE FEAT. STORMZY & DUTCHAVELLI – ‘I DUNNO’ABRA CADABRA – ‘ON DECK’

BEST NEWCOMER (IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND) [PUBLIC VOTED]AITCHALICAÌ HARLEYDARKOODUTCHAVELLIIVORIAN DOLLM1LLIONZMIRAA MAYPA SALIEUSHAYBOTIANA MAJOR9M HUNCHOLOSKI

VIDEO OF THE YEARBREE RUNWAY – ‘APESHIT’ (DIRECTED BY WILL HOOPER)NINES – ‘CLOUT’ (DIRECTED BY CHARLIE DI PLACIDO)NSG – ‘LUPITA’ (DIRECTED BY KEVIN HUDSON)JORJA SMITH – ‘BY ANY MEANS’ (DIRECTED BY OTIS DOMINIQUE)KNUCKS – ‘HOME’ (DIRECTED BY RAY FIASCO)KOJEY RADICAL – ‘20/20’ (DIRECTED BY CHARLIE DI PLACIDO)

BEST R&B/SOUL ACTWSTRNTIANA MAJOR9MICHAEL KIWANUKAMAHALIALIANNE LA HAVAS

BEST HIP HOP ACTJ HUSNINESMS BANKSD-BLOCK EUROPEKREPT & KONANPOTTER PAYPER

BEST GRIME ACT [PUBLIC VOTED]GHETTSP MONEYMANGA SAINT HILARECAPO LEEJME

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT [PUBLIC VOTED]BURNA BOYDRAKEKOFFEEMEGAN THEE STALLIONPOP SMOKEPOPCAANRODDY RICCHREMASHENSEEASUMMER WALKERH.E.RLIL BABY

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM [PUBLIC VOTED]KANE ROBINSON AS SCULLY – ‘TOP BOY’MICHAELA COEL AS ARABELLA – ‘I MAY DESTROY YOU’NCUTI GATWA AS ERIC EFFIONG – ‘SEX EDUCATION’JESSICA PLUMMER AS CHANTELLE – ‘EASTENDERS’MICHEAL WARD AS MARCO – ‘BLUE STORY’DAMSON IDRIS AS FRANKLIN SAINT – ‘SNOWFALL’

BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY [PUBLIC VOTED]MUNYA CHAWAWACHUNKZYUNG FILLYMO GILLIGANCLARA AMFOMAYA JAMAHENRIE KWUSHUEKSIHARRY PINEROZEZE MILLZ

BEST ALBUM (2017 – 2019)DAVE – ‘PSYCHODRAMA’KANO – ‘HOODIES ALL SUMMER’ELLA MAI – ‘ELLA MAI’SKEPTA – ‘IGNORANCE IS BLISS’NINES – ‘CROP CIRCLE’LITTLE SIMZ – ‘GREY AREA’

BEST AFRICAN ACT (IN ASSOCIATION WITH AFROZONS) [PUBLIC VOTED]BURNA BOYTIWA SAVAGEDAVIDOFIREBOY DMLREMAMASTER KGADEKUNLE GOLDNSGAFRO BWIZKIDSTONEBWOYSHATTA WALE

BEST REGGAE ACTPOPCAANKOFFEELILA IKÉBUJU BANTONPROTOJE

BEST GOSPEL ACT (IN ASSOCIATION WITH PREMIER GOSPEL)CALLEDOUT MUSICNOEL ROBINSONGUVNA BTHE KINGDOM CHOIRSHEKINAH

BEST JAZZ ACTMOSES BOYDJOE ARMON-JONESTOM MISCH & YUSSEF DAYESYAZMIN LACEYEGO ELLA MAY

BEST PRODUCERJAE 5808 MELOSIR SPYROTSBSTEEL BANGLEZM1ONTHEBEAT

Patrick Hinton is Mixmag's Digital Features Editor, follow him on Twitter

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