This year, the Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO) will return as a live show event on December 5 at the Coventry Building Society Arena. Each year, the prestigious event celebrates the UK’s vibrant Black music and culture scene, awarding artists in 18 distinct categories across a variety of genres, such as Grime, Gospel, Reggae, and Hip Hop. While The MOBO Award Academy members produce the final list of nominees, the public determine each category’s winner. Congratulations to The Orchard’s eight distributed artists who received a MOBO nomination this year!
The fast emerging London-based rap star, Backroad Gee (23 Formation Music), received a MOBO nomination for Best Newcomer, as well as Video of the Year for his single, “My Family.” Backroad Gee rose to international fame this year with his album, Reporting Live (From the Back of the Roads), which turned heads with its unique genre-blending sound of drill, grime, and smooth soul. Backroad was also recently featured on Gambian-British rapper’s chart-topping single, “My Family,” which was accompanied by an eye-catching video directed by Femi Ladi. The video, which is nominated for this year’s MOBO Video of the Year Award, showcases both rapper’s families within a cohesive world. Ladi describes how the video adds another layer of thrills to the song’s compelling performance, telling Promonews, “The idea was to replicate the camera movement precisely for each performance, allowing us to switch between the rappers and their boys seamlessly throughout the video.”
Breakout 26-year old rapper and singer, ENNY (FAMM), was also nominated for two MOBO Awards this year, including Best Newcomer and Song of the Year. Less than a year ago, ENNY released her single, “Peng Black Girls” (feat. Amia Brave). Nominated for this year’s MOBO Song of the Year category, “Peng Black Girls” (feat. Amia Brave) has become a sensation and unifying anthem for Black women everywhere. Shortly after its release, ENNY presented her highly anticipated debut EP, Under Twenty Five, which showcased her inspiring storytelling abilities and further solidified her as an activating force for underrepresented people everywhere.
Be sure to tune on December 5, 2021 to watch the MOBO Award ceremony live-streamed on Youtube. Find the full list of nominees here, and the list of The Orchard’s nominees below:
Best R&B/Soul Act:
Jorja Smith (FAMM)
Video of the Year:
“My Family” – Pa Salieu (feat. Backroad Gee) (23 Formation Music)
Best Grime Act:
Chip (Cash Motto Limited)
Skepta (UK Boy Better Know)
Best African Music Act:
NSG (NSG Entertainment)
Best Newcomer:
BackRoad Gee (23 Formation Music)
ENNY (FAMM Limited)
Song of the Year:
ENNY – “Peng Black Girls” (feat. Amia Brave) (FAMM Limited)
Best Gospel Act:
Guvna B (Allo Mate Records)
