Raye wins major Mobo Award weeks before hotly-anticipated Brits moment

It was a huge success for Raye at tonight’s Mobo Awards as she won one of the top categories, right beforehaving broken nomination records.

The Escapism hitmaker, 26, won best female act at tonight’s 26th annual Mobos, which celebrates music of Black origin, hosted in Sheffield.

This comes after Londoner Raye – real name Rachel Agatha Keen – made Brits history last month when she was nominated for a record-breaking seven Brit awards.

That’s the most Brit nominations received by any artist in a single year in its almost five-decade history – not bad for someone who was .

Known for her husky Amy Winehouse-esque voice, and soulful songwriting, Raye publicly claimed in 2021 that Polydor Records – who she’d signed with aged 14 – were preventing her from releasing an album.

In a series of posts to X, she wrote: ‘Imagine this pain. I have been signed to a major label since 2014… and I have had albums on albums of music sat in folders collecting dust, songs I am now giving away to A list artists because I am still awaiting confirmation that I am good enough to release an album.’

The Londoner said she had ‘done everything’ they asked her to do, including switching genres and working long weeks.

‘I’m done being a polite pop star. I want to make my album now, please that is all I want,’ she said.

Three weeks later, Raye was dropped by the label and emerged as an independent artist out of the ashes.

So what did Raye do? She released her critically-acclaimed debut album, My 21st Century Blues, which is nominated for the coveted album of the year Brit, and has now earnt her a Mobo nod too.

Elsewhere at the Mobos – hosted by comedian Babatunde Aleshe and Love Island’s Indiyah Polack – Central Cee won best male act and scooped the song of the year gong, while the best album award went to Potter Payper for Real Back In Style.

Stormzy won video of the year at the awards, with Mel Made Me Do It, while best R&B/soul act went to Sault, and Little Simz was awarded best hip hop act.

Drake and 21 Savage won best international act, while Sugababes were honoured with the impact award.

Speaking about receiving the recognition, the Overload hitmakers said: ‘Mobo Awards, thank you for presenting us with 2024’s Impact Award!

‘To be able to look back on our two decades plus journey and be told that our music has touched so many people – even inspiring other artists – is something to be proud of. 

‘We are really looking forward to celebrating with everyone and performing at this year’s show.’

with an emotional nine-song set.

She reminisced on being eight-years-old, when all she ever wanted was to be a writer, musician, and singer.

‘And I haven’t had the simplest of journeys,’ she explained. ‘I was told that I would never have a fan base big enough for anyone to care about an album, and right now Glastonbury, in front of the Pyramid Stage, I’m performing my album. My debut album. My baby, and my first child.’