J'can acts get Mobo Awards nominations

J'can acts get Mobo Awards nominations

Shereita Grizzle

STAR Writer

The date for the annual Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards has been announced, and so have the nominees.

The announcements were made on Wednesday at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in England. Five Jamaicans made the list of nominees, including Cheerleader singer OMI.

OMI has been nominated in the category Best Reggae Act and will go up against the likes of Popcaan, Chronixx, Protoje, and last year's winner, Stylo G. This is the first nomination for both OMI and Protoje, the second for Chronixx, the third for Stylo G, and the fourth for the 'Unruly Boss', Popcaan.

Music from all the nominees in the category have been doing well in the UK throughout 2015. OMI topped the British pop charts with his mega-hit, Cheerleader, which sold more than five million copies worldwide. His debut studio album, Me 4 U, is set for release on Ultra Music label later this month.

Stylo G is riding the British pop chart with My Number 1 (Love Me, Love Me, Love Me) featuring Gyptian and Protoje. Stylo G has also topped the Billboard Reggae Album Chart this year with Ancient Future, while Chronixx gained huge attention in the country with his singles Ghetto People and Light it Up. This year, Popcaan made strides in the UK with songs such as Where We come From and Bad Inna Real Life.

The MOBO Awards recognises artistes of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music. Former dancehall artiste Bugsy Malone is also a nominee, gaining nods in the Best Grime Artiste and Best Newcomer categories. British singer FK Twigs (real name Tahliah Debrett Barnett), whose father is Jamaican, is also a double nominee after being listed in the Best Female and Best Video

categories.

Hip-hop duo Krept and Konan, which comprises Casyo Johnson and Karl Wilson - son of reggae singer Delroy Wilson - leads the pack with four nominations. They scored a surprise UK Top 10 hit in the summer with Freak of the Week.

The single samples producer Jeremy Harding's 'Playground' rhythm, which was first released in 1997 and featured Beenie Man's Billboard hit single, Who Am I (Zim Zimma). Krept and Konan are also nominated in the categories Best Hip Hop Act, Best Album, Best Male Act, and Best Song.

The MOBO Awards will take place on November 4 at the Leeds First Direct Arena in the United Kingdom.