MOBOs 2022 | Knucks leads the way among nominees for this year’s awards

Rapper and producer Knucks leads the way for this year’s MOBO Awards nominees, which also includes Little Simz, Nova Twins and Kojey Radical.

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The MOBO Awards, which celebrates “music of Black origin”, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. Following the release of his debut album, ALPHA PLACE, earlier this year, North London rapper and producer Knucks tops the billing with five nominations, including for Album Of The Year and Best Male Act. Mercury Prize-winner Little Simz and Shepherd’s Bush’s Central Cee closely follow with four nominations each. The awards this year will also feature two new categories: Best Alternative Music Act and Best Electronic/Dance Act. Rock duo Nova Twins, also nominated at this year’s Mercury awards, are up for the former, whilst FKA Twigs and Nia Archives are among those hoping to lay claim to the latter. Beyoncé, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, meanwhile, have all been nominated for the Best International act. The live ceremony will be held at the end of this month, on 30 November, at the OVO Arena Wembley. Anyhow, enough of me babbling on. Here’s the list of nominees in full:

Best male act

Central Cee Dave D-Block Europe Digga D Knucks Tion Wayne

Best female act

Little Simz Mahalia Miraa May Ms Banks PinkPantheress Tiana Major9

Album of the year

Aitch – Close To Home Knucks – Alpha Place Kojey Radical – Reason to Smile Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert M Huncho – Chasing Euphoria Miraa May – Tales of a Miracle

Song of the year

Aitch feat Ashanti – Baby Central Cee – Doja Dave – Starlight Digga D & Stillbrickin – Pump 1010 Dreya Mac, Felixthe1st & Finch Fetti – Own Brand (Baddie) Potter Payper feat Tiggs Da Author – Gangsteritus

Best newcomer

AMARIA BB Bru-C Cat Burns Clavish Cristale Flo Jbee Nemzzz Nia Archives SwitchOTR

Video of the year

Central Cee – Doja (directed by Cole Bennett) Headie One, Abra Cadabra & Bandokay – Can’t Be Us (directed by Headie One and Don Prod) Knucks – Alpha House/Hide & Seek (directed by Emile Ebrahim Kelly) Kojey Radical feat. Knucks – Payback (directed by Charlie Sarsfield and Ejiro Dafé) Little Simz feat. Obongjayar – Point and Kill (directed by Ebeneza Blanche) Mahalia – Whatever Simon Says (directed by Mahalia)

Best R&B/Soul act

Ella Mai Mahalia Miraa May Nao Shakka Tiana Major9

Best grime act

Blay vision D Double E Frisco Kamakaze Manga Saint Hilare Novelist Best Hip Hop act D-Block Europe Knucks Kojey Radical Little Simz Potter Payper Youngs Teflon

Best drill act

Central Cee Digga D Headie One Ivorian Doll K-Trap Kwengface M24 Russ Millions Unknown T V9

Best international act

Beyoncé Burna Boy Chris Brown Drake Jack Harlow Jazmine Sullivan Kendrick Lamar Skillibeng Summer Walker Tems

Best performance in a TV show/film

Damson Idris as Franklin Saint – Snowfall Daniel Kaluuya as Otis “Oj” Haywood Jr. – Nope Jasmine Jobson as Jaq – Top Boy Kane Robinson (Kano) as Sully – Top Boy Lashana Lynch as Nomi – No Time To Die Samuel Adewunmi as Hero – You Don’t Know Me

Best media personality

Big Zuu Chuckie Online Chunkz Harry Pinero KSI Mo Gilligan Munya Chawawa Nella Rose Yung Filly Zeze Millz

Best alternative music act

Big Joanie Bob Vylan Kid Bookie Loathe Nova Twins Skunk Anansie

Best electronic/dance act

Anz Eliza Rose FKA Twigs Jax Jones Nia Archives Sherelle

Best African music act

Adekunle Gold (Nigeria) Asake (Nigeria) Burna Boy (Nigeria) Fireboy DML (Nigeria) Kabza De Small (South Africa) Omah Lay (Nigeria) Oxlade (Nigeria) Pheelz (Nigeria) Rema (Nigeria) Tems (Nigeria)

Best gospel act

Asha Elia Calledout Music Rachel Kerr Reblah Sarah Teibo Still Shadey Best jazz act Blue Lab Beats Doomcannon Ego Ella May Ezra Collective Jas Kayser Kokoroko Best Caribbean music act Koffee Popcaan Sean Paul Shenseea Skillibeng Spice

Best producer

Inflo Jae5 Labrinth M1onthebeat P2J TSB