"Kendrick Lamar for the win" — Fans react to 2025 MOBO Awards Best International Act nominees

The full nominations for the 2025 MOBO Awards have been released, with artists like Jorja Smith, Central Cee, and Sampha leading the pack with three nominations each. The 27th edition of the MOBO Awards is scheduled to take place in Newcastle's Utilita Arena on February 18, 2025.

The MOBO Awards (Music Of Black Origin) honors "music of black origin" and includes genres like hip-hop, UK Drill, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, African music, grime, and gospel. Founded by Andy Ruffell and Kanya King in 1996, it is an annual music award presentation held in Great Britain.

Kendrick Lamar, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Tems, Tyla, and Nicki Minaj are some of the juggernauts nominated for Best International Act - one of the most coveted honors at the MOBO Awards. The full list of nominees for the category include:

• Asake
• Ayra Starr
• Beyoncé
• GloRilla
• Kendrick Lamar
• Latto
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Nicki Minaj
• Tems
• Tyla

Netizens were quick to support their favorite artists after the nomination list for Best International Act was released. Some of the most popular comments are as follows:

"Kendrick Lamar for the win," a fan wrote on X.

"What an incredible lineup! Each one brings something unique to the table. Who's your pick?", asked another.

"Megan and Latto being here is disrespectful to the other nominees," opined one fan on X.

Many fans on X supported Beyonce, writing:

"Beyonce will win I hope so"

"Beyoncé will probably win this too," agreed another.

"What a stacked lineup! Tough competition this year," one person wrote on X.

Some other comments on X are as follows:

"This year’s nominations celebrate both established icons and exciting newcomers," one fan observed.

"Diverse lineup of talent nominated for 2025 MOBO Best International Act," another one commented.

"Nicki is winning," wrote a X user.

---

Full list of nominees for the 2025 MOBO Awards revealed

Bashy, born Ashley Thomas, has returned to music after 15 years and has been nominated for Album of the Year for Being Poor Is Expensive. The 39-year-old has already built a lucrative career in the acting industry having bagged roles like Jermaine Newton in the Netflix drama Top Boy and Calvin Hart in the HBO series The Night Of.

Other nominees for the coveted award include Cleo Sol (Gold), Jorja Smith (Falling Or Flying), Skrapz (Reflection), Sampha (Lahai), and Ghetts (On Purpose, With Purpose).

Elsewhere, Jordan Adetunji has picked up two nominations, Best Newcomer and Song of the Year, for his chart-topping single Kehlani. Here is the full list of all the nominees for various categories at the MOBO Awards 2025.

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” (Directed By Kc Locke)
• Mnelia – “My Man” (Directed By Femi Bello)
• Raye – “Genesis” (Directed By Otis Dominique & Raye)
• Sampha – “Only” (Directed By Dexter Navy)
• Skepta – “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” (Directed By Steveo)
• Unknown T Feat. Loyle Carner – “Hocus Pocus” (Directed By Felix Brady)

Best R&B/soul act

• Cleo Sol
• Elmiene
• Flo
• Jaz Karis
• Jorja Smith
• Nippa
• Odeal
• Sasha Keable
• Shae Universe
• Sinead Harnett

Best alternative music act

• ALT BLK ERA
• Bob Vylan
• Hak Baker
• Kid Bookie
• Native James
• Spider

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
• Beyoncé
• 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 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

MOBO founder Kenya King talked about the importance of the MOBO Awards in a statement. He said:

“Each and every time we unveil the MOBO Awards nominations, I am taken aback by the sheer amount of incredible talent we have in the UK. It inspires us all to continue pushing the industry to be more inclusive of a greater variety of Black music and culture. The music coming out of the U.K. this past year has been some of the best we have had in years."

---

Last year at the MOBO Awards, Little Simz, Stormzy, and Dave were the major winners. MOBO Awards 2024 were held in Sheffield, England.