LONDON RAPPER and PRODUCER KNUCKS leads 2022 PACK with 
5 NOMINATIONS

UK’s BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF BLACK MUSIC ADDS TWO 
NEW CATEGORIES
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT (in association with Marshall) 
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT (supported by Mixmag)

LITTLE SIMZ bags 4 NOMINATIONS: ALBUM OF THE YEAR, BEST FEMALE ACT, BEST HIP HOP ACT and VIDEO OF THE YEAR

KOJEY RADICAL bags 3 NOMINATIONS: ALBUM OF THE YEAR, BEST HIP HOP ACT and VIDEO OF THE YEAR

 CENTRAL CEE scoops 4 NOMINATIONS: 
SONG OF THE YEAR and VIDEO OF THE YEAR for ‘DOJA’, plus BEST MALE ACT and BEST DRILL ACT

*** FULL LIST OF 2022 NOMINEES BELOW ***
including SONG OF THE YEAR (in association with Lucozade) and 
BEST NEWCOMER (in association with ASOS)
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVES at voting.mobo.com

MOBO BRINGS THE PARTY BACK TO LONDON ON 30 NOVEMBER,
LIVE FROM OVO ARENA WEMBLEY
LIMITED TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT MOBO.COM/TICKETS
 
HOSTS and SUPERSTAR PERFORMERS TO BE ANNOUNCED VERY SOON
 
Friday 11 November, 11.05AM GMT: The MOBO Awards in association with Lucozade has announced its 2022 nominees ahead of the triumphant 25th anniversary celebration on 30 November 2022. The UK’s biggest and most prestigious celebration of black music is coming to you live from the OVO Arena Wembley. Tickets are available now at mobo.com/tickets. 

Acclaimed London rapper and producer Knucks leads this year’s list with 5 nominations: Album of The Year for “Alpha Place”, Best Male Act, Best Hip Hop Act (in association with Mixtape Madness), and two Video of The Year (in association with McCrispy) nods – for his single ‘Alpha House/Hide & Seek’ and as a feature artist on Kojey Radical’s ‘Payback’. Hailed by British GQ as “Britain’s most progressive rapper”, Knucks’ decade-long rise to UK rap elite status has been a journey marked with consistency and his contemporary flair of blending rap and jazz.  

Almost 12 months after taking home MOBO’s Best Female Act, Little Simz rounds up her most decorated year by scooping 4 MOBO nominations: Album of The Year for her critically-acclaimed “Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert”, Best Female Act, Best Hip Hop Act (in association with Mixtape Madness) and Video of the Year (in association with McCrispy) for ‘Point And Kill’ featuring Obongjayar.

Arguably the most buzzed-about Drill MC of the year, Central Cee, picks up four MOBO nominations: Best Male Act, Best Drill Act (supported by Trench), Song of The Year (in association with Lucozade) and Video of The Year (in association with McCrispy) for ‘Doja’. The 24-year old rising star – tipped by MOBO last year with his first award nominations – won MOBO Best Newcomer and the inaugural MOBO Best Drill Act in 2021. Elsewhere in Drill, Ivorian Doll becomes the first female artist to be nominated for Best Drill Act (supported by Trench). 

TWO NEW MUSIC CATEGORIES ADDED TO MOBO AWARDS!

For a quarter of a century, MOBO has been proudly celebrating and elevating black music in the UK. Its 25-year legacy has seen MOBO have a pivotal role in supporting the growth of British black music on a global scale, championing homegrown talent, and setting the standard in Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul, Grime, Drill, Gospel, Jazz, Reggae, Garage, Drum & Bass and beyond. 

This year, MOBO is proud to welcome two new categories in acknowledgement of the breadth and depth of music of black origin: Best Alternative Music Act (in association with Marshall) and Best Dance/Electronic Act (supported by Mixmag). 

The Best Alternative Music Act category is in recognition of artists who identify as indie, rock, punk or alternative as their primary genre; while the Best Dance/Electronic Act category recognises artists who perform music within the genres of Jungle, Drum & Bass, House, Techno, Afro House, Amapiano, Dubstep, Garage, Disco, Electro, Dance-pop. 

*** FULL LIST OF ALL 2022 NOMINEES BELOW ***
Winners will be revealed on 30 November

Since its inaugural ceremony in 1996 at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms, the MOBO Awards has become a calendar staple in the UK and its iconic trophy now one of highest accolades in music. In recent years, it has honoured trailblazers and exceptional homegrown talent like Dave, Little Simz, Skepta, Ghetts, Headie One, Stefflon Don, Mahalia, Central Cee, Aitch, Ella Mai and more. Recognising its unique position in Black British popular culture, MOBO in recent years have also expanded beyond music to celebrate talent in the arts and media. It awarded an Inspiration Award to acclaimed British filmmaker Steve McQueen, Best Media Personality to Chunkz and Yung Filly, and Best Performance In A TV Show/Film to Micheal Ward at last year’s ceremony.

MOBO Founder Kanya King CBE said: “Today's announcement truly shows what a bumper year it has been for the scene. It’s a proud moment to see MOBO once again recognise and honour the luminaries and tip the stars of the future. This is what it means when we say ‘honouring the past, inspiring the future’. Big congratulations to all our nominees and thanks to our headline partner Lucozade. A special mention to ASOS, Marshall and all our other partners. We are proud to announce the addition of two new categories to recognise the breadth of black culture’s impact on a variety of music genres and welcome more rising stars, ahead of what will be a truly unmissable celebration of our 25 years.”

MOBO AWARDS 2022 NOMINEES

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 IN ASSOCIATION WITH LUCOZADE  - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY] 
AITCH FEAT. ASHANTI - 'BABY' 
CENTRAL CEE - 'DOJA' 
DAVE - 'STARLIGHT' 
DIGGA D & STILLBRICKIN - 'PUMP 101' 
DREYA MAC, FELIXTHE1ST & FINCH FETTI - 'OWN BRAND (BADDIE)' 
POTTER PAYPER FEAT. TIGGS DA AUTHOR - 'GANGSTERITUS'

BEST NEWCOMER IN ASSOCIATION WITH ASOS - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
AMARIA BB
BRU-C
CAT BURNS 
CLAVISH 
CRISTALE
FLO
JBEE
NEMZZZ
NIA ARCHIVES
SWITCHOTR

VIDEO OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH MCCRISPY - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
CENTRAL CEE - 'DOJA' (DIRECTED BY COLE BENNETT)
HEADIE ONE, ABRA CADABRA & BANDOKAY - 'CAN'T BE US' (DIRECTED BY HEADIE ONE & DON PROD)
KNUCKS - 'ALPHA HOUSE/HIDE & SEEK' (DIRECTED BY EMILE EBRAHIM KELLY)
KOJEY RADICAL FEAT. KNUCKS - 'PAYBACK' (DIRECTED BY CHARLIE SARSFIELD & 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 - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
BLAY VISION 
D DOUBLE E 
FRISCO 
KAMAKAZE
MANGA SAINT HILARE 
NOVELIST 

BEST HIP HOP ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH MIXTAPE MADNESS 
D-BLOCK EUROPE 
KNUCKS 
KOJEY RADICAL 
LITTLE SIMZ 
POTTER PAYPER 
YOUNGS TEFLON 

BEST DRILL ACT SUPPORTED BY TRENCH - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
CENTRAL CEE
DIGGA D 
HEADIE ONE 
IVORIAN DOLL 
K-TRAP
KWENGFACE 
M24
RUSS MILLIONS 
UNKNOWN T 
V9

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
BEYONCÉ 
BURNA BOY 
CHRIS BROWN 
DRAKE 
JACK HARLOW 
JAZMINE SULLIVAN 
KENDRICK LAMAR 
SKILLIBENG
SUMMER WALKER 
TEMS 

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
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 - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
BIG ZUU
CHUCKIE ONLINE
CHUNKZ 
HARRY PINERO 
KSI 
MO GILLIGAN 
MUNYA CHAWAWA 
NELLA ROSE
YUNG FILLY 
ZEZE MILLZ

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARSHALL
BIG JOANIE 
BOB VYLAN 
KID BOOKIE 
LOATHE 
NOVA TWINS 
SKUNK ANANSIE 

BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT SUPPORTED BY MIXMAG
ANZ
ELIZA ROSE 
FKA TWIGS 
JAX JONES
NIA ARCHIVES
SHERELLE

BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT SUPPORTED BY AFROZONS - [PUBLIC VOTED CATEGORY]
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 SUPPORTED BY PREMIER GOSPEL 
ASHA ELIA 
CALLEDOUT MUSIC 
RACHEL KERR
REBLAH 
SARAH TEIBO 
STILL SHADEY

BEST JAZZ ACT SUPPORTED BY JAZZ FM
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 SUPPORTED BY COMPLEX UK 
INFLO 
JAE5
LABRINTH 
M1ONTHEBEAT
P2J 
TSB 

Note to editors:

Tickets and VIP packages for MOBO Awards 2022 are on sale now at www.MOBO.com/tickets

The nominations are decided by a large body of industry professionals known as the MOBO Voting Academy. With the exception of public-voted categories, winners of the categories are exclusively voted for by a diverse panel of music experts on the MOBO Judging Panel, which include specially dedicated teams for Jazz, Gospel, Caribbean Music, and Music Producer categories. 

For media enquiries, contact The Outside Organisation:
David Lim – [email protected] 
Suzie Fellows – [email protected] 
Joe Brett – [email protected] 
Caitlin Buller – [email protected] 

Follow MOBO Awards:
YouTube |Instagram |Twitter |Facebook | Website

About MOBO
Since 1996, the MOBO Organisation has discovered and supported talent in music, film and TV. MOBO operates 365 days a year to create events, content, partnerships and opportunities for young people in the entertainment industries and beyond. For 25 years, the MOBO Awards has remained a significant cultural event in the British music industry, celebrating excellence in Black music. Its enduring legacy as the premiere outlet for recognising and honouring the artistic achievement of exceptional British and international talent in Hip-Hop, Grime, R&B and Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Gospel and African music has been unparalleled. Global superstars who have been part of the Awards include Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Sade, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Diddy, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Usher, Rihanna, Cardi B, Davido and H.E.R. just to name a few. The Awards has proudly been hosted all over the United Kingdom in over the years including shows in London, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow and Coventry, the UK’s City of Culture. Beyond the Awards, MOBO supports undiscovered talent in music via MOBO UnSung, and across the wider creative and tech industries MOBO supports and connects career opportunities for black talent via MOBOLISE, a platform to empower diversity, excellence and transformation in the workplace.

About Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain and Ireland 
Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain and Ireland (SBF GB&I) is one the leading soft drinks businesses in the UK and Ireland. SBF GB&I was formed in 2014 as Lucozade Ribena Suntory and is part of Suntory Beverage & Food Europe. Our much-loved soft drinks brands include Lucozade Energy, Lucozade Sport, Ribena and Orangina.

Our business is driven by our “Yatte Minahare” spirit and our role is to have a positive impact on the lives of our consumers by providing them with a responsible choice of great-tasting drinks that people can feel good about while enabling them to lead active lifestyles.

For further information, please visit our website or follow @SuntoryBF_GBI
[email protected] 

About Café KOKO
Cafe KOKO is a new, lively day-to-night eatery and music venue in Camden with music at its core, situated behind London’s iconic KOKO, serving up soulful Italian cooking with a modern twist and with expertly curated music playing at all times. Open from 8am till 2am, Cafe KOKO is a new addition to KOKO which reopened in April following a spectacular three year restoration and redevelopment. Cafe KOKO is a favourite amongst musicians; it’s where Stormzy held his birthday party; Nicki Minaj stopped traffic for her meet and greet, whilst artists playing the theatre are often seen hanging in the Cafe beforehand. A carefully curated art and photography collection is exhibited on the walls, referencing the theatre’s deep music history featuring photography of Kanye West, Grace Jones and Anderson Paak, along with original works by David Shrigley and emerging star Joachim Lambrechts. Drawing inspiration from the new generation of trattoria seen in LA and New York, Executive chef Andreas Engberg (La Petite Maison, The Arts Club) has curated a team of talented chefs from (Amazonico, Pizza Pilgrims, ROKA) and as such the venueis fast becoming a favourite with food & drink lovers and the music elite alike, who visit to pizza and Italian dishes or watch live music in a buzzy and laid-back setting. As you might expect from an iconic music venue, expertly curated music is always playing - whether it’s live music or DJs - reflecting contemporary music across jazz, soul, Brazilian and with a nod towards hip hop culture, old and new, tying back to the venue’s roots.

@cafekokocamden IG and Tik Tok