Let’s step back to the 2002 MOBO Awards, hosted by Alesha Dixon and LL Cool J – which saw Ms. Dynamite follow up on her huge UK success with a Best Single gong for ‘It Takes More’, which reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
Ashanti won Best R&B Act for a huge year in which she featured on Fat Joe’s ‘What’s Luv?’ and Ja Rule’s ‘Always on Time’ –two of the biggest songs of 2002. Best Garage Act went to Mis-Teeq, who were nominated alongside Daniel Bedingfield, Heartless Crew, More Fire Crew and So Solid Crew, with Sean Paul running the Best Reggae Act field with his second album Dutty Rock.
Ja Rule himself took away Best Hip-Hop Act, with Aaliyah winning Best Video for ‘More Than A Woman’ – a track shot in Los Angeles in August 2011, just two weeks before the fateful video shoot for ‘Rock The Boat’. Alicia Keys won Best Album for her sensational solo success Songs In A Minor, which saw her come crashing onto the music scene.
Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams’ transition into gospel saw her pick up a Best Gospel Act gong, after releasing Heart To Yours, a solo album including collaborations with Carl Thomas, Shirley Caesar and Mary Mary.
Jimmy Cliff won Contribution To Music while Chaka Khan took away Lifetime Achievement, with special respect paid to Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes with an Outstanding Achievement Award – the American rapper, dancer and singer-songwriter tragically passed away as the result of a car crash in April 2002.
Winner: Alicia Keys
Album: Songs In A Minor
Winner: Ms Dynamite
Song: It Takes More
Winner: Ms Dynamite
Winner: Ms Dynamite
Winner: Aaliyah
Video: More Than A Woman
Winner: Ja Rule
Winner: Ashanti
Winner: Sean Paul
Winner: Michelle Williams
Winner: Norah Jones
Winner: Angelic Kitto
Winner: Mis-teeq
Winner: Neptunes
Winner: Street Politics
Winner: Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes
Winner: Chaka Khan
Winner: Steve Sutherland
Winner: Jimmy Cliff