Stormzy, the charismatic grime MC who won the approval of Jeremy Corbyn as well as millions of fans, was the big winner at the 2017 Mobo awards.
He scooped three prizes: best male artist, best grime act, and best album, for the chart-topping Gang Signs & Prayer.
Corbyn made his mark at the ceremony with a recorded message which said: “It’s more important than ever that we celebrate black excellence and recognise the achievements of black communities.
“This year grime artists played a huge part in setting the agenda for British music and in the General Election, your contribution helped secure the highest youth turnout in a quarter of a century, showing the positive impact grime has on our society.”
Stormzy was prevented from making it a clean sweep in the five categories he was nominated in.
J Hus’s witty, self-deprecating summer hit Did You See won best song, while Mist took home best video for Hot Property, a big-budget affair in which the Birmingham MC swigs premium vodka on an Icelandic lava field.
Stefflon Don, who was also shortlisted for the star-making Brits Critics’ Choice award this week, won best female. She performed at the ceremony at Leeds Arena alongside the chart-topping US rapper Cardi B, the London duo Krept & Konan, and the rising MCs Yungen and Yxng Bane.
Giggs, the gravel-voiced MC who has recently collaborated with US rappers including Drake, Young Thug and 2 Chainz, and reached No 2 in the UK charts with his two most recent albums, won best hip-hop act. The unglamorously named Dave won best newcomer, after a year in which he has released everything from pop-rap tracks with Drake to hard-edged grime and, in Question Time, a track attacking Theresa May.
Ahead of a new album early next year, Craig David continued his path out of the musical wilderness, winning best R&B/soul act. The Nigerian artist Wizkid beat a strong field including Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar to net the best international artist prize.
The 2017 Mobo winners in full
Best male act: Stormzy
Best female act: Stefflon Don
Best album: Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer
Best newcomer: Dave
Best song: J Hus – Did You See
Best video: Mist – Hot Property
Best hip-hop act: Giggs
Best grime act: Stormzy
Best R&B/soul act: Craig David
Best international act: Wizkid
Best African act: Davido
Best reggae act: Damian Marley
Best jazz act: Moses Boyd
Best gospel act: Volney Morgan & New-Ye
