The MOBO Awards, the UK’s premier celebration of Black music and culture, have announced the nominees across 20 categories for their 2025 edition. For the first time, the iconic ceremony will take place in Newcastle at the Utilita Arena on Tuesday 18 February. Tickets are on sale now.
For nearly three decades, MOBO has celebrated established stars and some of the fastest-rising talent in music and the 2025 edition once again shows that breadth.
The British R&B scene shines brightly this year, with triple MOBO nominees Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol leading the charge. This year, got2b is the official sponsor of the hotly contested Best Female Act category, as well as the MOBO Awards’ Official Hair Styling Partner, and both stars are nominated in the category, and for Album of The Year and Best R&B/Soul Act supported by Kiss FM.
Sampha topped the UK R&B charts with his second album, Lahai, and is nominated by MOBO for Best Male Act and Album of The Year and his music video ‘Only’, directed by Dexter Navy, has been shortlisted for Video of the Year in Association with LNER – MOBO is proud to announce that LNER (London North Eastern Railway) is the Official Travel Partner for the awards.
Also nominated for three awards each are Central Cee, Bashy, Ghetts and Odeal. Central Cee now attracts more than 25 million monthly streams, and 2024 saw the release of singles including ‘BAND4BAND’ featuring Lil Baby, which receives a Song of the Year. A debut studio album, Can’t Rush Greatness, is due in 2025. Having won Best Male Act for the last two years, he is nominated once again, as well as being up for Best Drill Act.
While rooted in music, the MOBO Awards also spotlight cultural contributions. This year, Netflix’s hit series Supacell sees Best Performance In a TV Show/Film nominations for Ghetts for his role as Krazy, as well as for Josh Tedeku, who plays Tazer, and Tosin Cole as Michael. EastEnders picks up nominations in the same category for Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman and Diane Parish as Denise Fox. These nominations showcase the breadth of diverse talent across TV and film, highlighting the richness of creative storytelling and the depth and diversity of talent shaping today’s TV and film industry.
Having built a successful acting career, including his role as Jermaine Newton in Top Boy, Ashley Thomas, aka Bashy, returned to music with his first studio album in 15 years. The record, Being Poor Is Expensive, is an intimate look back at his childhood and earns him nominations for Best Male Act, Best Hip Hop Act and Album of The Year.
After a stunning year in her career, RAYE is nominated twice and has a chance of a second win in a row in Best Female Act in association with got2b.
At the heart of MOBO’s mission is championing emerging talent. This year, MOBO UnSung alumni Jordan Adetunji, who has had a big year with his track ‘KEHLANI’ clocking up more than 275 million streams after going viral on TikTok, picks up two nominations for Best Newcomer and Song of The Year. MOBO UnSung Top 20 finalist, Native James, is shortlisted for Best Alternative Music Act in association with Marshall, reflecting the UnSung programme’s enduring impact on the industry.
The MOBO Awards celebrate the most exciting artists in the world today in categories including Best Caribbean Music, as well as Best Jazz Act and Best Gospel Act supported by Premier Gospel.
Both Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, are among the nominees for Best International Act but the year has been notable for the rise of a number of female African stars, with Ayra Starr, Tems and Tyla all nominated in both Best African Music Act in Association with Loco Music and the Best International Act category.
Marshall, the premier amplifier company, returns for a third year to sponsor Best Alternative Act. Loco Music, a Cape Verdean music company, is once again sponsoring the Best African Music Act category. This year, got2b is the Official Hair Styling Partner and also the sponsor of the hotly contested Best Female Act category.
MOBO Founder Kanya King CBE said: “Each and every time we unveil the MOBO Awards nominations, I am taken aback by the sheer amount of incredible talent we have in the UK. It inspires us all to continue pushing the industry to be more inclusive of a greater variety of Black music and culture. The music coming out of the UK this past year has been some of the best we have had in years. These distinct, uncompromising voices – across different genres from R&B and Soul to Grime, Hip-Hop to Jazz and Alternative – are not just soundtracks for our days. They provide healing and reflection, and also escapism in times of need. For several years now we have also seen the growth of our MOBO UnSung talent programme, as it continues to be a beacon for spotlighting and empowering emerging artists. Some of the artists tipped by UnSung have gone on to achieve great things and we’re so proud to be following their journey, and celebrating their success. A huge congratulations to all our nominees across music, film and television, and entertainment. We look forward to welcoming you in Newcastle!”
Since its inaugural ceremony in 1996 at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms, MOBO Awards has become a calendar staple in the UK and its iconic trophy is now one of the highest accolades in music. The Awards have honoured music stars such as Central Cee, Stormzy, Janet Jackson, Little Simz, Davido, Rihanna, RAYE, Wizkid, Beyoncé and Jay Z, while also helping to elevate the careers of rising stars in the industry.
The impact of the MOBO Group extends far beyond the annual awards show. MOBO is deeply committed to promoting social change and inclusion, supporting the development of young talent, and advocating for diversity across the entertainment industry and beyond. Through mentorship programmes, partnerships with educational and charitable organisations, and career development opportunities with leading organisations, MOBO has been a driving force for positive change.
By championing creativity, providing platforms for new voices, and advocating for equality, the MOBO Awards and the wider MOBO Group continue to inspire and empower talents and communities across the UK and beyond.
2025 MOBO AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Winners will be revealed on 18 February 2025
BEST MALE ACT
BASHY
CENTRAL CEE
D-BLOCK EUROPE
GHETTS
NEMZZZ
SAMPHA
BEST FEMALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH got2b
CLEO SOL
DARKOO
JORJA SMITH
LITTLE SIMZ
NIA ARCHIVES
RAYE
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
BASHY – BEING POOR IS EXPENSIVE
CLEO SOL – GOLD
GHETTS – ON PURPOSE, WITH PURPOSE
JORJA SMITH – FALLING OR FLYING
SAMPHA – LAHAI
SKRAPZ – REFLECTION
SONG OF THE YEAR
CENTRAL CEE FEAT. LIL BABY – ‘BAND4BAND’
CHASE & STATUS, STORMZY – ‘BACKBONE’
DARKOO FEAT. DESS DIOR – ‘FAVOURITE GIRL’
JORDAN ADETUNJI – ‘KEHLANI’
LEOSTAYTRILL – ‘PINK LEMONADE’
ODEAL – ‘SOH-SOH’
BEST NEWCOMER
CHY CARTIER
ELMIENE
FIMIGUERRERO
FLOWEROVLOVE
JORDAN ADETUNJI
LEN
LEOSTAYTRILL
MYLES SMITH
ODEAL
POZER
VIDEO OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH LNER
MEEKZ – ‘MINI ME’S’ (DIRECTED BY KC LOCKE)
MNELIA – ‘MY MAN’ (DIRECTED BY FEMI BELLO)
RAYE – ‘GENESIS’ (DIRECTED BY OTIS DOMINIQUE & RAYE)
SAMPHA – ‘ONLY’ (DIRECTED BY DEXTER NAVY)
SKEPTA – ‘GAS ME UP (DILIGENT)’ (DIRECTED BY STEVEO)
UNKNOWN T FEAT. LOYLE CARNER – ‘HOCUS POCUS’ (DIRECTED BY FELIX BRADY)
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT SUPPORTED BY KISS FM
CLEO SOL
ELMIENE
FLO
JAZ KARIS
JORJA SMITH
NIPPA
ODEAL
SASHA KEABLE
SHAE UNIVERSE
SINEAD HARNETT
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARSHALL
ALT BLK ERA
BOB VYLAN
HAK BAKER
KID BOOKIE
NATIVE JAMES
SPIDER
BEST GRIME ACT SUPPORTED BY TRENCH
CHIP
D DOUBLE E
DUPPY
KRUZ LEONE
MANGA SAINT HILARE
SCORCHER
BEST HIP HOP ACT SUPPORTED BY BBC RADIO 1XTRA
BASHY
CRISTALE
HEADIE ONE
NINES
POTTER PAYPER
SKRAPZ
BEST DRILL ACT
163MARGS
CENTRAL CEE
HEADIE ONE
KAIRO KEYZ
K-TRAP
POZER
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
ASAKE
AYRA STARR
BEYONCE
GLORILLA
KENDRICK LAMAR
LATTO
MEGAN THEE STALLION
NICKI MINAJ
TEMS
TYLA
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM
ANGELA WYNTER AS YOLANDE TRUEMAN IN EASTENDERS
CAROLINE CHIKEZIE AS NOMA IN POWER BOOK II: GHOST
DIANE PARISH AS DENISE FOX IN EASTENDERS
DIONNE BROWN AS QUEENIE IN QUEENIE
GHETTS AS KRAZY IN SUPACELL
JACOB ANDERSON AS LOUIS IN INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE
JASMINE JOBSON AS JAQ IN TOP BOY
JOSH TEDEKU AS TAZER IN SUPACELL
KINGSLEY BEN-ADIR AS BOB MARLEY IN BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE
TOSIN COLE AS MICHAEL IN SUPACELL
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY
90’S BABY SHOW
AJ ODUDU
CHUCKIE ONLINE
CRAIG MITCH
HENRIE KWUSHUE
MADAME JOYCE
MICAH RICHARDS
SPECS GONZALEZ
THE RECEIPTS PODCAST
ZEZE MILLZ
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH LOCO MUSIC
ASAKE (NIGERIA)
AYRA STARR (NIGERIA)
BNXN & RUGER (NIGERIA)
KING PROMISE (GHANA)
ODUMODUBLVCK (NIGERIA)
REMA (NIGERIA)
SHALLIPOPI (NIGERIA)
TEMS (NIGERIA)
TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)
UNCLE WAFFLES (SOUTH AFRICA)
BEST CARIBBEAN MUSIC ACT
POPCAAN
SHENSEEA
SKILLIBENG
SPICE
VALIANT
YG MARLEY
BEST JAZZ ACT
AMY GADIAGA
BLUE LAB BEATS
EGO ELLA MAY
EZRA COLLECTIVE
KOKOROKO
YUSSEF DAYES
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT SUPPORTED BY MIXMAG
ELIZA ROSE
NIA ARCHIVES
PINKPANTHERESS
SALUTE
SHYGIRL
TSHA
BEST PRODUCER
CEEBEAATS
INFLO
JULS
M1ONTHEBEAT
P2J
SAMMY SOSO
BEST GOSPEL ACT SUPPORTED BY PREMIER GOSPEL
ANNATORIA
IMRHAN
LIMOBLAZE
REBLAH
STILL SHADEY
VOLNEY MORGAN & NEW YE
