Nines, the rapper who topped the 2020 Mobo nominations

West London rapper Nines scores five nominations at the Mobo Awards, the celebration of Black British music. J Hus, Lianne La Havas, Mahalia, Tiana Major9 and Darkoo all earning three

The Mobo awards have announced the nominees for their first awards show since 2017.  The Mobos award artists within the British drill, hip-hop, soul categories.

Rapper Nines has already stolen the show by receiving nominations for his album Crabs in a Bucket. Nominations include album of the year, best male act, best hip-hop act, video of the year (for Clout) and – in a category that acknowledges the awards’ fallow years – best album (2017-2019) for Crop Circle, released in 2018. The other albums nominated for the latter award are from Skepta, Ella Mai, Dave, Little Simz and Kano.

Stormzy and east London rapper J Hus join Nines in the album of the year category. J Hus topped the UK chart with his successful second album Big Conspiracy. This landed the rapper with three nominations (best male and best hip-hop act). Stormzy received two nominations, for best male act and album of the year for his No 1 Heavy Is the Head.

The best female act category features Ms Banks – who is also the only female nominee in the best hip-hop category alongside Nines, J Hus, D-Block Europe, Krept & Konan and Potter Payper.

The ceremony will take place virtually and will be hosted by DJ and TV presenter Maya Jama alongside vocalist and online entertainer Chunkz, and feature performances from Headie One (with guest M Huncho), Ms Banks, Tiwa Savage and Kojey Radical.

Check out the full list of nominees below.

Album of the year
J Hus – Big Conspiracy
Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head
Mahalia – Love and Compromise
Nines – Crabs in a Bucket
Lianne La Havas – Lianne La Havas

Best male act
Headie One
J Hus
Stormzy
Nines
AJ Tracey
Young T & Bugsey

Best female act
Lianne La Havas
Ms Banks
Tiana Major9
Mahalia
Darkoo
FKA twigs

Song of the year
Young T & Bugsey – Don’t Rush (feat Headie One)
Digga D – Woi
Darkoo – Gangsta (feat One Acen)
Tion Wayne – I Dunno (feat Stormzy & Dutchavelli)
Abra Cadabra – On Deck

Best newcomer
Aitch
Alicai Harley
Darkoo
Dutchavelli
Ivorian Doll
M1llionz
Miraa May
Pa Salieu
Shaybo
Tiana Major9
M Huncho
Loski

Video of the year
Bree 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 act
Wstrn
Tiana Major9
Michael Kiwanuka
Mahalia
Lianne La Havas

Best hip-hop act
J Hus
Nines
Ms Banks
D-Block Europe
Krept & Konan
Potter Payper

Best grime act
Ghetts
P Money
Manga Saint Hilare
Capo Lee
JME

Best international act
Burna Boy
Drake
Koffee
Megan Thee Stallion
Pop Smoke
Popcaan
Roddy Ricch
Rema
Shenseaa
Summer Walker
HER
Lil Baby

Best album (1 September 2017 – 31 August 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
Burna Boy
Tiwa Savage
Davido
Fireboy DML
Rema
Master KG
Adekunle Gold
NSG
Afro B
Wizkid
Stonebwoy
Shatta Wale

Best reggae act
Popcaan
Koffee
Lila Iké
Buju Banton
Protoje

Best gospel act
Calledout Music
Noel Robinson
Guvna B
The Kingdom Choir
Shekinah

Best jazz act
Moses Boyd
Joe Armon-Jones
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes
Yazmin Lacey
Ego Ella May

Best producer
Jae5
808 Melo
Sir Spyro
TSB
Steel Banglez
M1 On The Beat

Best performance in a TV show/film
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
Michael Ward as Marco – Blue Story
Damson Idris as Franklin Saint – Snowfall

Best media personality
Munya Chawawa
Chunkz
Yung Filly
Mo Gilligan
Clara Amfo
Maya Jama
Henrie Kwushue
KSI
Harry Pinero
Zeze Millz