Pharrell Hosts MOBO’s, American Acts Dominate

The MOBO’s (Music of Black Origin) have announced that Pharrell Williams will host this year’s awards in the Royal Albert Hall, London. The Neptunes producer will be the fourth American presenter to host the ceremony, which in the UK’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards for urban music. Previous guest hosts have included LL Cool J, […]

The MOBO’s (Music

of Black Origin) have announced that Pharrell Williams will host this year’s awards

in the Royal Albert Hall, London.

The Neptunes producer

will be the fourth American presenter to host the ceremony, which in the UK’s

equivalent of the Grammy Awards for urban music.

Previous guest

hosts have included LL Cool J, Left Eye and Lil’ Kim.

Meanwhile, Kanye

West has been nominated for an astounding seven awards including best producer,

best hip-hop act and best collaboration for “Talk About our Love”

with Brandy.

Other artists nominated

this year are Jay Z, Outkast, Timbaland and Norah Jones.

Strangely, there

appears to be a lack of UK artists being nominated. The only award title with

UK names is the best DJ category.

Gay right activists

will also be prominent in this year’s ceremony. The MOBO’s have been accused

of supporting homophobic lyrics as both Elephant Man and Vybz, who have been

nominated for best reggae act.

Peter Tatchell

from a UK gay rights group, Outrage said, "The Mobos are awarding singers

who incite the murder of gays and lesbians".

However a MOBO’s

spokesperson defended their position by suggesting that the artists are not

referring homosexual connotations.

The ceremony will

take place on Thursday 30th September and will be aired on the BBC. Other guests

have yet to be announced.