GENSOCIAL
ONE OF the most exciting new voices in British rap, Kojey Radical, delivered a poignant performance specifically created for the MOBO Awards, titled ‘Good’, which references Black Lives Matter and highlighted the social justice movement this year.
The show also locked in special performances from London MC Ms Banks, who performed her brand new single ‘You Don’t Know’ for the first time, as well as ‘Snack’.
Elsewhere, basking in their first awards show performances are rising British rap stars Young T & Bugsey, who dropped ‘New Shape’ and ‘Don’t Rush’, and Nigerian-born Shaybo who brought her signature blend of Yoruba wit with sharp South London realness on ‘Dobale’.
Elsewhere Stylo G took the party atmosphere up a notch with his potent medley of dancehall tunes ‘Touch Down’, ‘X5’, ‘Oh Lawd’, ‘Dumpling’ and ‘Call Me A Yardie’.
Critically acclaimed R&B and soul artistes H.E.R. and Tiana Major9 brought spine-tingling vocal MOBO Awards performance to the show – with H.E.R. performing her single ‘Damage’, and rising star Tiana Major9 performing ‘Same Space?’ from her debut EP At Sixes and Sevens.
Earmarked earlier this year as ‘one to watch’, soul-jazz singer Tiana Major9 is certainly coming into her own this year.
The East London talent was nurtured through MOBO’s emerging talent program, UnSung, where in 2014 she entered the talent competition and won an opportunity to perform on MOBO’s showcase tour, supported by The Arts Council England and PRS for Music Foundation.
Fast-forward to today, the 24-year old is signed to Motown, nominated for a Grammy, and is gaining critical nods for her thoughtful blend of soul, jazz and reggae.
Started in 1996 by Kanya King to celebrate the incredible talent making music of Black origin in the UK, the MOBO Awards quickly grew to become one of Europe’s biggest music award ceremonies with vast cultural influence.
For more than 20 years, MOBO has honoured the artistic and technical achievements of exceptional British and international talent in Hip Hop, Grime, R&B and Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Gospel and Afrobeats.
See virtual ceremony, hosted by Maya Jama and Chunkz, live-streamed on YouTube (watch here: youtube.com/mobotvofficial)
