Central Cee, Jorja Smith, and Ghetts Lead MOBO Awards 2025 Nominations
The MOBO Awards 2025 nominees have been announced, with Central Cee, Ghetts, Jorja Smith, Cleo Sol, Bashy, Sampha, and Odeal lead the pack with three nominations each. This year's ceremony marks the first time the event will be held in Newcastle, with the award show to take place on February 18th 2025 at the Utilita Arena.
Central Cee aiming to become first 3 time winner of Best Male Act
Central Cee is in the running to make MOBO history as the first artist to win Best Male Act three times. He faces tough competition from Bashy, Ghetts, Sampha, and D-Block Europe. Central Cee is also nominated for Best Drill Act and Song of the Year for his hit Band4Band, featuring Lil Baby.
Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol battle for Best Female Act and Album of the Year
Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol are among the most celebrated female artists this year, competing for Best Female Act alongside Raye, Darkoo, Nia Archives, and Little Simz. Both Smith and Sol have also secured spots in the Album of the Year category. Sol's Gold and Smith's Falling Or Flying are recognized for their unique contributions to British R&B and soul.
The Album of the Year category also features powerful contenders, including Bashy’s deeply personal Being Poor Is Expensive and Ghetts' introspective On Purpose, With Purpose. Sampha's Lahai, inspired by fatherhood, and Skrapz's first Top 10 album, Reflection, round out the list.
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Nicki Minaj in the running for Best International Act
On the international front, the Best International Act category features heavyweights like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Nicki Minaj. Rising stars such as Tyla, whose track Water became a global sensation, and Nigerian artists Tems and Ayra Starr are also in contention.
Top Boy recognised in the TV and film category
Beyond music, the awards celebrate contributions to film and television. Netflix's Top Boy and EastEnders earned several nominations, recognizing performances by Jasmine Jobson, Angela Wynter, and Diane Parish. The MOBOs also highlight emerging talent through categories like Best Newcomer and the MOBO UnSung program.
MOBO Founder Kanya King emphasized the awards’ role in promoting diversity in the industry. “The music coming out of the UK this past year has been some of the best we’ve had in years. These distinct, uncompromising voices… provide healing, reflection, and also escapism in times of need.”
See the nominations below:
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
