Central Cee and Jorja Smith among Mobo nominees

He has yet to release his debut album, but Central Cee could become the first musician to win best male artist at the Mobo Awards three times.

The West London rapper is currently tied with Stormzy, who also has two wins, but picked up his third consecutive nomination when the 2025 shortlist was announced on Wednesday morning.

He's up against stars including Bashy, Sampha and D-Block Europe for the award, which he last won in February. The musician is also nominated for best drill act and song of the year, for the Top 10 hit Band4Band.

Other triple nominees include R&B singers Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol. Winners will be announced next February.

Former winners Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar are among the nominees for best international act, but the category is more notable for its promotion of African artists.

Tyla, the South African star whose slinky seduction anthem Water became a global smash last year, is a front-runner for the prize, alongside Nigerian singers Tems and Ayra Starr - who became the first Afrobeats artist to play Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage earlier this summer.

They're joined on the shortlist by Nigerian rapper and singer Asake, as well as US musicians Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion and Glorilla.

They'll find out who has won in a star-studded ceremony at Newcastle's Utilita Arena on 18 February 2025.

Nia Archives said it was important that big events like the Mobos were held outside London, recalling how she had been inspired by watching Lethal Bizzle "from the nosebleed seats" when the ceremony came to her hometown, Leeds, in 2015.

"When you have those outreach moments to regional towns and cities like Leeds and Bradford, it's really inspiring as a young person.

"It's really cool that that the Mobos decided to do that and it was really impactful for me at that age."

Best male act

Best female act

Album of the year

Song of the year

Best newcomer

Video of the year

Best R&B/soul act

Best grime act

Best hip hop act

Best drill act

Best international act

Best performance in a TV show/film

Best media personality

Best African music act

Best Caribbean music act

Best jazz act

Best alternative music act

Best electronic/dance act

Best producer

Best gospel act