The past few years I found myself slightly... unsatisfied...with the nominations and winners of some of the categories in the MOBO awards - that being said, it's hard to complain when it is one of the biggest supporters fighting in the "urban" corner of the music scene. This year however, restored some faith into me I must say. I shall explain how and why in my MOBOs 18th birthday analysis which I know you didn't ask for but you might as well just read because you're here now...
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Now, I'm abusing the powers of juxtaposition to make sure this post is positive, so I'll get my negative out of the way. Note that I said "negative". Singular. Which is progress from last years negatives.
The night kicked off with Tinie Tempah. He is a great performer, he did his thing and yeah... Quite frankly though, I thought that was all the stage time he really should have got. It sounds harsh, I know. I can't argue that he has done so much for the scene, I've hailed him on this very blog before, but when he returned to the stage to accept the award for Best Hip Hop/Grime Act I can't say I was pleased. I like Tinie. He's humble despite his success. Trampoline was a tune (even if it is slightly Americanised). However, winning the award over nominees such as Akala and Wretch 32 who fit the category much more appropriately made me feel like the MOBOs missed the spot once again. I know the vote is public, but he shouldn't have really been a nominee. You can hardly class Tinie's music as Hip Hop or Grime anymore - that's not a bad thing at all...he's got to do what he has got to do and he is still very much supporting the scene he came from. My problem here lies more in the hands of the MOBOs who seem to have slipped him in as a nominee not based on the music he is supplying but the hype he's surrounded by. With the power the MOBOs have, they shouldn't be filling the nominations with artists that will get the show the most views but supporting the artists who may be underground yet are simultaneously worthy contenders of the category.
Anyway lets be happy now...
WILEEEEEEEEEES FINALLY GOT A MOBO! Joy and jubilation! For someone who created one of the most prominent genres in the UK urban music scene it's shocking that this is his FIRST ever MOBO award. It's so refreshing - and I mean cold glass of water after running a marathon in a heatwave (lol) refreshing - to see his years of graft paying off. Along side his plaques for his number one singles he can now put a nice, shiny MOBO on his mantlepiece. In true Wiley-styley there was no sign of him at awards but lets give credit where it is due...he did leave a video message and I'll give him 10 bonus points for putting Angel aka my babes on my screen to represent and pick up the award for him. Maybe in the near future he'll get the chance to accept his own award for the success of an album full of, dare I say it, Grime tunes? No, this isn't me getting caught up in the excitement of him finally winning a MOBO. Mr Cowie, dedicated to the genre he fathered, is apparently leaving behind the formula to success he's been using since Summer 2012 and is bringing it back to the days we saw in the Lights On video. It's not a crazy Wiley-styley stunt. Now that he's in a stronger position than ever and has a better experience of the industry, it's an educated move to become successful and in his eyes this means making music he wants to make. Who knows? It could be possible. Maybe he will bring real Eski to the charts. Either way....congratulations and a big fat GWAAN WILEY!
Krept and Konan winning Best Newcomer was not only responsible for another burst of joy but was also responsible for best reaction of the night, coming from Krept's evidently proud Dad. It makes me proud to see such humble and nice guys (I've met them so I can actually back these claims up) tearing the scene up. They're so unstoppable right now its unbelievable to think this is all being achieved independently. They held a top 20 position in the Official Album Charts for A MIXTAPE and then win Best Newcomer at the MOBOs with no backing of a major label. They had tough competition from fellow nominees (who were ALL worthy so well done MOBOs) Jacob Banks, Shakka, Daley and Etta Bond but the award belonged to Krept and Kones and their victorious past few months. It feels like their recent success is the brewing before the storm rather than the climax of it. That makes me really really excited because they're adding strength and direction to the UK rap scene, which seems like it's lagging at times. They have a real potential to impact.
Other stars of the show include Naughty Boy who won two awards (the second win was accompanied by a wonderfully entertaining drunken speech) with Sam Smith (who looked adorably shy on that stage...and much taller than I had expected) for Best Song and Best Video with their, not even catchy but, contagious song La La La La (dun know the Indian musical flavours seasoning that track!). Also getting the double was Laura Mvula who's soul cleansing sound helped her cop Best Female and Best R&B and Soul Act.
Other stars of the show include Naughty Boy who won two awards (the second win was accompanied by a wonderfully entertaining drunken speech) with Sam Smith (who looked adorably shy on that stage...and much taller than I had expected) for Best Song and Best Video with their, not even catchy but, contagious song La La La La (dun know the Indian musical flavours seasoning that track!). Also getting the double was Laura Mvula who's soul cleansing sound helped her cop Best Female and Best R&B and Soul Act.
After playing a flashback of past MOBO performances - such as LL Cool J, Jigga, Destiny's Child and Mary J Blige - the performers this year had their parade slightly rained on. Nevertheless, the stage held the likes of Iggy Azalea whose cake is way out of Mr Kipling's leauge, FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE ODG and Rudimental with a capital MENTAL. Now, if we are giving out prizes for the performance of the night then it goes to none other than So Solid Crew who closed the show with the same song they opened the show with 12 years ago: 21 SECONDS T-T-T 21 SECONDS T-T-T. They created a legacy so strong they were able to come back years later and still kill the stage using just their history and energy. It makes me wish I went to that comeback show. Maybe then I could have blagged my way backstage and asked Lisa Mafia how she still looks fiyaaaaaaaaaaa.