With less than a month to go, the UK’s biggest celebration of black artists and music, the MOBO awards, has today announced this year’s nominees. The Music Of Black Origin awards, founded in 1996 by CEO of MOBO Group Kanya King, honours the excellence of black artists and talent, as well acting as an outlet to recognise the achievements made spanning across UK Hip Hop, Grime, Soul, RnB and Reggae. A highlight of the UK cultural calendar, the awards have played pivotal parts in the careers of both up-and coming and established black musicians, from Kano to Ms Dynamite, Stormzy to Krept & Konan. The 24th MOBO awards will take place on the 5th of December in Coventry Arena.
We’ve compiled a list of nominated artists that are touring in the not-to-distant future. Check out below to see if your favourite artist is up for nomination, and where and when you can catch them in the flesh.
Dave
Nomination: Best Male Act, Best Album, Song of the Year (Clash ft Stormzy), Best Hip Hop
Coming in strong with 4 nominations, following the release of his critically acclaimed UK #1 sophomore album We’re All Alone In This Together, which had the biggest first week sales in the UK since October 2019, Dave heads off on tour in 2022. Kicking off in Nottingham on February 15th, the tour sees Dave perform 11 dates across the UK, including a show at the London’s O2 Arena, before finishing in Dublin on March 3rd.
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Little Simz
Nominations: Best Female Act, Best Video (Little Simz featuring Cleo Sol – Woman (Directed by Little Simz), Best Hip Hop
With two nominations, Little Simz is a force to be reckoned with on stage – potent, furious, vital and never anything less than fully compelling. She will be taking Sometimes I Might Be Introvert on the road, kicking off at the O2 Institute in Birmingham before taking in dates in Glasgow, Dublin and more and ending in not one, not two, but THREE big showdowns at O2 Brixton Academy in London in December.
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Joy Crookes
Nomination: Best Newcomer
With Joy credited as an executive producer on the album, alongside the formidable Blue May (Kano, Blood Orange), Skin is a hugely personal, game-changing body of work from one of the UK’s boldest and brightest young talents. A collection of songs built and honed throughout her adolescence and into her early twenties, and finessed last year within the most turbulent of circumstances, Skin touches on topics such as mental health, relationships, and politics all with grace and sensitivity. The tour, which is currently underway, has Manchester and Leeds dates remaining. Limited tickets still available now.
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Bugzy Malone
Nomination: Best Grime Act
Bursting onto the scene in 2015, Manchester born wordsmith Bugzy Malone is one of the UK’s brightest independent grime and UK rap talents. Armed with dexterous wordplay, an unwavering sense of self belief and a willing work ethic, Bugzy has proved time and time again that he is The King of The North. His performance at the Manchester AO Arena will crown him as the first Manchester rapper to grace the venue solo. Not content with a catalogue that boasts four top ten projects; last year Bugzy launched his B Malone clothing line and made his acting debut in Guy Ritchie’s box office hit movie The Gentlemen. Catch Bugzy’s homecoming performance, alongside London and Birmingham shows now:
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D Block Europe
Nomination: Best Hip Hop
The rappers have been putting out music together as group since 2014 and have released four mixtapes ahead of their debut record. D-Block Europe’s 2019 mixtape Home Alone reached #6 on the charts and was proceeded by PTSD which peaked at #4 and went on to be certified gold. The new release The Blue Print Us VS Them is the pair’s first full-length release, containing 29 tracks.
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