Rapper Tinie Tempah heads Mobo nominations shortlist

Tinie Tempah's debut album Disc-Overy is released on 4 October

Tinie Tempah leads the nominations for this year's Mobo Awards, despite not releasing an album this year.

The English rapper's up for four prizes at the event, which recognises artists of any race or nationality performing black music.

The 21-year-old, real name Patrick Okogwu, will compete for the titles of best newcomer, UK act, song and video in Liverpool on 20 October.

Professor Green, N-Dubz, Dizzee Rascal and Plan B are all up for three awards.

The nominations for the 15th Mobos were announced at the Mayfair Hotel in London on Wednesday night (8 September).

The building's lobby was filled with paparazzi and journalists waiting for this year's nominees.

To keep the waiting press happy jerk chicken, patties and fish cake - supplied by a local Jamaican restaurant - were served.

'Remain relevant'

One of the first to turn up was two-time Mobo winner Chipmunk but his early arrival almost went unnoticed as talent wasn't supposed to be arriving for another hour.

After a few quick snaps he walked over to the press pen, dressed in all black and trademark low hanging diamond-incrusted chain and pendant, smiling as always.

The confident 19-year-old has one thing on his mind, making it a hat-trick of Mobo awards.

"Last year I won one, and the year before I won one and this year I'm still here," says the rapper who's up for best UK Act.

"I don't know who else has done that. To remain relevant three years running for me is an achievement in itself."

He'll do well to win it. To mark 15 years of the Mobos there are 15 artists up for that prize including some of the UK's top talent.

It's not long before a conveyor belt of stars starts arriving including Roll Deep, Skepta and US singer Shontelle.

'Lavish life'

There's more noise than before as N-Dubz walk into the room. Fazer and Tulisa are without third member Dappy who missed his flight from Greece.

Tulisa tells Newsbeat she's been trying to get hold of Dappy but he won't pick up his phone.

N-Dubz are up for three Mobo awards including best UK act and album

The group has been nominated for three awards; best song, UK act and album.

On the red carpet Fazer can't help but boast about their £75,000 video for new single Best Behaviour.

He said: "We shot it in the South of France, a place called Toulon, St Tropez, indeedy.

"We got the human fish tank in the video, private jets, we got yachts and all that, the Hummers lavish life."

Not long after that, man of the moment Tinie Tempah arrived wearing dark shades and a bright smile.

Two number one singles and a highly anticipated debut album makes him one of the hottest properties in UK music.

Tinie's up for four awards; best newcomer, song, UK act and video for Frisky.

No surprises to hear he wants to go home with them all but he does have a favourite.

He said: "[I] feel like I've had a great year this year and I really can't complain. I am grateful for everyone's support.

"I'm really thrilled about best song as awards are more about the music than anything else."

Tinie's debut album Disc-Overy is due out next month and he's already secured a number one hit with Pass Out.

The Mobo awards take place in Liverpool Echo Arena on Wednesday 20 October.

Nominations in full

• Best Newcomer - Tinie Tempah, Professor Green, Scorcher, Labrinth, Devlin.

• Best UK Act - Tinie Tempah, Jay Sean, Tinchy Stryder, Taio Cruz, Chipmunk, N-Dubz, Giggs, JLS, Roll Deep, M.I.A, Dizzee Rascal, Alexandra Burke, Sade, Plan B, Leona Lewis.

• Best song - Taio Cruz ft Ke ha - Dirty Picture, Tinie Tempah - Pass Out, N-Dubz ft Mr Hudson - Playing With Fire, Mark Ronson & The Business Intl ft Q-Tip & Mndr - Bang, Bang, Bang, Professor Green ft Ed Drewett - I Need You Tonight.

• Best UK R&B/soul - Sade, Natalie Williams, Corinne Bailey Rae, McLean, Plan B.

• Best UK hip hop/grime - Giggs, Professor Green, Skepta, Akala, Wiley.

• Best international act - Drake, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Eminem, Janelle Monae, Black Eyed Peas, Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, Usher, Beyonce, Jason Derulo, Lil Wayne, Travie McCoy, Trey Songz.

• Best reggae - Damian Marley, Mavado, Gyptian, Vybz Kartel, Gappy Ranks.

• Best album - Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks, JLS - JLS, N-Dubz - Against All Odds, Chipmunk - I Am Chipmunk, Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N' Cheek.

• Best video - Mark Ronson & The Business Intl ft Q-Tip & Mndr - Bang, Bang, Bang, Tinie Tempah ft Labrinth - Frisky, Tinchy Stryder - You're Not Alone, Alesha Dixon - Drummer Boy, Dizzee Rascal - Dirtee Disco.

• Best African act - K'Naan (Somalia), P-Square (Nigeria), Hip Hop Pantsula (South Africa), JJC (Nigeria), Banky W (Nigeria), Concha Buika (Equatorial Guinea), Mulatu Astatke (Ethiopia), Wanlov the Kubolor (Ghana), Angelique Kidjo (Benin), M3nsa (Ghana), Yuri Da Cunha (Angola), Tinny (Ghana) Waldemar Bastos (Zimbabwe), Staff Benda Bilili (Congo-Kinshasa), Blk Jks (South Africa).

• Best Gospel Act - Faith Child, Guvna B, Rachel Kerr, Jake Isaac, Beverley Trotman.

• Best Jazz Act - Robert Glasper - Double Booked, Brad Mehldau - Highway Rider, Empirical - Out 'n' In, Phronesis - Alive, John McLaughlin - To the One.