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.
Established in 1996, the Mobos celebrate black music in the UK and beyond.
Among this year’s nominees is jungle artist Nia Archives, who’s up for best female and best electronic act, following the success of her debut album, Silence Is Loud.
“It just feels surreal,” she told the BBC, “but it’s nice to be recognised for what I’m doing.”
“I think it’s a really good time for black British musicians, producers and creatives. So it’s really cool for the Mobos to celebrate that.”
Pop star Raye, who has already enjoyed a record-breaking year, caps her achievements with a second consecutive nomination for best female.
She won the prize at the most recent ceremony, in Sheffield, but was unable to attend due to touring commitments in Australia.
Her competition includes street soul singer Jorja Smith and R&B vocalist Cleo Sol – best known for her work with the soul collective Sault.
Both are also up for album of the year, recognising their nuanced, mature takes on British soul: Cleo Sol for Gold and Jorja Smith for Falling Or Flying.
Actor Ashley Thomas is also recognised in the best album category, after breaking a 15-year hiatus to return to his rap alter-ego, Bashy.
His record, Being Poor Is Expensive, is an emotionally gripping account of his childhood, which also earns the musician nominations for best male and best hip-hop act.
The album of the year nominations are rounded out by Ghetts’ similarly autobiographical On Purpose, With Purpose; Sampha’s Lahai, a musing on fatherhood inspired by his young daughter; and West London rapper Skrapz’s densely-packed Reflections – his first ever top 10 release.
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.”
Full list of nominees for the 2025 Mobo Awards
Best male act
Bashy
Central Cee
D-Block Europe
Ghetts
Nemzzz
Sampha
Best female act
Cleo Sol
Darkoo
Jorja Smith
Little Simz
Nia Archives
Raye
Album of the year
Bashy – Being Poor Is Expensive
Cleo Sol – Gold
Ghetts – On Purpose, With Purpose
Jorja Smith – Falling Or Flying
Sampha – Lahai
Skrapz – Reflection
Song of the year
Central Cee Feat. Lil Baby – Band4band
Chase & Status, Stormzy – Backbone
Darkoo Feat. Dess Dior – Favourite Girl
Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
Leostaytrill – Pink Lemonade
Odeal – Soh-Soh
Best newcomer
Chy Cartier
Elmiene
Fimiguerrero
Flowerovlove
Jordan Adetunji
Len
Leostaytrill
Myles Smith
Odeal
Pozer
Video of the year
Meekz – Mini Me’s
Mnelia – My Man
Raye – Genesis
Sampha – Only
Skepta – Gas Me Up (Diligent)
Unknown T Feat. Loyle Carner – Hocus Pocus
Best R&B/soul act
Cleo Sol
Elmiene
Flo
Jaz Karis
Jorja Smith
Nippa
Odeal
Sasha Keable
Shae Universe
Sinead Harnett
Best grime act
Chip
D Double E
Duppy
Kruz Leone
Manga Saint Hilare
Scorcher
Best hip hop act
Bashy
Cristale
Headie One
Nines
Potter Payper
Skrapz
Best drill act
163Margs
Central Cee
Headie One
Kairo Keyz
K-Trap
Pozer
Best international act
Asake
Ayra Starr
Beyonce
Glorilla
Kendrick Lamar
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Tems
Tyla
Best performance in a TV show/film
Angela Wynter As Yolande Trueman In Eastenders
Caroline Chikezie As Noma In Power Book Ii: Ghost
Diane Parish As Denise Fox In Eastenders
Dionne Brown As Queenie In Queenie
Ghetts As Krazy In Supacell
Jacob Anderson As Louis In Interview With The Vampire
Jasmine Jobson As Jaq In Top Boy
Josh Tedeku As Tazer In Supacell
Kingsley Ben-Adir As Bob Marley In Bob Marley: One Love
Tosin Cole As Michael In Supacell
Best media personality
90’s Baby Show
AJ Odudu
Chuckie Online
Craig Mitch
Henrie Kwushue
Madame Joyce
Micah Richards
Specs Gonzalez
The Receipts Podcast
Zeze Millz
Best African music act
Asake (Nigeria)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Bnxn & Ruger (Nigeria)
King Promise (Ghana)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Rema (Nigeria)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
Tems (Nigeria)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Best Caribbean music act
Popcaan
Shenseea
Skillibeng
Spice
Valiant
Yg Marley
Best jazz act
Amy Gadiaga
Blue Lab Beats
Ego Ella May
Ezra Collective
Kokoroko
Yussef Dayes
Best alternative music act
Alt Blk Era
Bob Vylan
Hak Baker
Kid Bookie
Native James
Spider
Best electronic/dance act
Eliza Rose
Nia Archives
Pinkpantheress
Salute
Shygirl
Tsha
Best producer
Ceebeaats
Inflo
Juls
M1OnTheBeat
P2J
Sammy Soso
Best gospel act
Annatoria
Imrhan
Limoblaze
Reblah
Still Shadey
Volney Morgan & New Ye
BBC.COM
