Ghetts, Jorja Smith and Central Cee are among the artists leading the nominations for this year’s MOBO Awards.
They all have three nods, alongside Sampha, Bashy, Cleo Sol and Odeal, while Brit record-breaker Raye is up for two awards and Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj and Tyla are among the stars in the running for best international act.
As previously announced, the 2025 ceremony will take place in Newcastle in February. The MOBOs, which have been running since 1996, celebrate black music and culture, from established names to up-and-coming talent.
For Bashy, who is also a successful actor – known for his role as Jermaine Newton in Top Boy – the nominations come following his return to music with his first album in 15 years.
The record, Being Poor Is Expensive, looks back at his childhood and has earned him a place in the shortlists for best male act, best hip-hop act, and album of the year.
He has competition from Cleo Sol’s Gold, Ghetts’s On Purpose, With Purpose, Jorja Smith’s Falling Or Flying, Sampha’s Lahai and Skrapz’s Reflection in the album category.
Little Simz was named best hip-hop act at the 2024 ceremony. Pic: Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images for MOBO
Both Smith and Sol are up for best female, alongside Darkoo, Little Simz, Nia Archives and Raye, while Central Cee, D-Block Europe, Ghetts, Nemzz and Sampha are in the running against Bashy for best male.
Central Cee will be hoping to take the best male gong for the third year in a row – and is also shortlisted for best drill act and song of the year, for Band4Band, featuring Lil Baby.
Other tracks in the running for song of the year are Backbone, by Chase & Status and Stormzy; Favourite Girl, by Darkoo featuring Dess Dior; Kehlani, by Jordan Adetunji; Pink Lemonade, by LeoStayTrill; and Soh-Soh, by Odeal.
Stars including Headie One, Nines, PinkPantheress, Bob Vylan and Shygirl are also in the mix, nominated in genre categories including best hip-hop, best electronic and dance, and best alternative act.
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Film and TV contributions are also recognised – with Netflix series Supacell garnering nods for Ghetts for his role as Krazy, as well as for Josh Tedeku, who plays Tazer, and Tosin Cole as Michael.
EastEnders also picks up nominations in the same category for Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman and Diane Parish as Denise Fox, while Jasmine Jobson is shortlisted for her performance in Top Boy.
The MOBO Awards take place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on 18 February.
