This year’s awards show was hosted by British model Jordan Dunn and comedian Michael Dapaah, the latter stepped in to replace Idris Elba ho had to pull out “Due to circumstances out of my control”. The stage saw performances from Potter Payper who performed his track “Frank White”, Tion Wayne who performed a medley of his hits “Where were they”, “WOW” and “Body”, Pa Salieu and Backroad Gee with “My family”, Enny who performed “Peng black girls”, and Heartless Crew who picked up the Legacy award at this year’s awards show.

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Central Cee picked up his first award of the night for ‘Breakthrough Artist of the year’ who released his debut mixtape which debuted at 2nd on the official charts, as well as this the rapper released a number of singles and amassed well over 200 million youtube views with 5 million monthly Spotify listeners. These impressive achievements helped the west Londoner pick up two awards at last nights awards show with the 23-year-old taking home ‘Male artist of the year’ as well as ‘Breakthrough of the year’.

 

 

 

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Tion Wayne and Russ picked up the second award of the night ‘Video of the year’, for their video for their chart-topping single “Body’. The video shot by Wowa currently sits on 55 million views 5 months after its release. Tion and Russ’s hit ‘Body’ helped the duo pick up their second award of the night for ‘Track of the year’, their number one single was a record-breaker after becoming the first drill song to ever go number 1 in the UK charts and stayed in that position for 3 consecutive weeks.

Potter Payper added a rated award to his list of achievements he has accomplished since his release from jail just over a year ago, the 28-year-old picked up the award for ‘Mixtape of the year’ for his release Training day 3. ‘Album of the year’ went to Ghetts for his mercury prize nominated album Conflict of interest which debuted at 2nd on the official charts.

‘Female artist of the year’ went to Walsall’s Jorja Smith who released her project Be right back this year as well as appearing on a number of impressive features. M1onthebeat picked up ‘Producer of the year’ the UK drill pioneer working with the likes of Headie One, K- trap and Drake in the last year. Charlie sloth picked up ‘Rdio DJ of the year’ while Niko Omilana won ‘Personality of the year’ after having an impressive year that saw his party The Niko defence league (NDL) achieving fifth place in the London mayoral election gaining over 50,000 votes.

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Grm daily released a trailer last Wednesday showing the shadow of a man walking through the GRM offices to the freestyle set, with fans in the comments guessing who it could be. Names such as Dave, Bugzy Malone and Stormzy flooded the comments with only a few people correctly guessing the famed actor.

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Idris Elba has been involved in music for well over 15 years, as a rapper and DJ, having co-produced and performed on the intro for Jay-Zs American gangster album in 2007. He has released projects and DJed at festivals such as Coachella, boardmasters and Elrow town. His daily duppy isn’t his first involvement with UK rap having dropped a remix to Skepta’s hit “Shutdown” in 2015 and appeared alongside Sean Paul, Steff London and Wiley on the smash hit “Boasy”.

The freestyle saw Idris flexing his muscles and accolades. Rapping about having Margot Robbie on speed dial, being in the Arsenal changing room after matches and his friendship with Anthony Joshua. Elba also shared that being James Bond isn’t part of his plan but that he will be making a Luther movie.

The freestyle was ultimately to announce that Idris Elba would be hosting this year GRM rated awards on the 18th of September alongside British model Jourdan Dunn.

Idris Elba’s GRM daily Duppy is available to watch here:

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Grm hosted their first rated awards in 2015 in partnership with Ka and offered the British black music scene a chance to gain recognition and awards for their work, with large award shows such as the Brits ignoring the black British music scene at the time.

The 6 years has seen the award show go from an event held in a 900 capacity hall to the last in-person awards being held at the 3.5 thousand seater Evetim apollo. Artists such as Strormzy, Dave, Jhus and Headie one are all winners of rated awards and as the black British music scene begins to strengthen and grow the winners and nominees are not just the biggest artist in the black British music scene but the biggest artists in the country.

The show will cover 10 categories, Album of the year, female artist of the year, Male artist of the year,  breakthrough of the year, personality of the year, track of the year, video of the year, mixtape of the year, radio DJ of the year and producer of the year.

The nominees for these awards were announced yesterday evening and are as follows;

Album of the Year: AJ Tracey – Flu Game, Bugzy Malone – The Resurrection, D Block Europe – The Blueprint- Us Vs. Them, Fredo – Money Can’t Buy Happiness, Ghetts – Conflict of Interest, Headie One – EDNA, K Trap – Street Side Effects, Loski – Music, Trial and Trauma: A Drill Story, Nines – Crabs In A Bucket, Slowthai – TYRON

Female Artist of the Year:Bree Runway, Darkoo, ENNY, Ivorian Doll, Jorja Smith, Lady Leshurr, Ms Banks, Shaybo, Stefflon Don, Midas The Jagaban

Male Artist of the Year: AJ Tracey, Abra Cadabra, Central Cee, Chip, Digga D, Fredo, Ghetts,Headie One, Potter Payper, Tion Wayne

Breakthrough of the Year : ArrDee, BackRoad Gee, ENNY, Central Cee, French The Kid, Jordan, Shaybo, SR, Pa Salieu, Wewantwraiths

Personality of the Year: Big Zuu, Chunkz, Harry Pinero, Nella Rose, Michael Dapaah, Mo Gilligan, Munya Chawawa, Niko Omilana, Yung Filly, ZeZe Mills

Track of the Year: A1 & J1 – Latest Trends, Abra Cadabra – On Deck, Central Cee – Loading, Digga D – Woi, ENNY – Peng Black Girls (ft Amia Brave), Headie One, Stormzy and AJ Tracey – Ain’t It Different, Nines – Airplane Mode (ft NSG), Pa Salieu – My Family (ft BackRoad Gee), Potter Payper – Purpose,Russ & Tion Wayne – Body

Video of the Year : Aitch – Safe To Say, AJ Tracey – Little More Love, Ghetts – Skengman Mode (ft. Stormzy), Headie One – Princess Cuts (ft. Young T & Bugsey), Little Simz –  Introvert, Meekz – Respect The Come Up, Nines – Clout, Pa Salieu – My Family (ft. BackRoad Gee), Russ & Tion Wayne – Body, Slowthai, Skepta – Cancelled

Mixtape of the Year: Abra Cadabra – Product of My Environment, Central Cee – Wild West, Chip – Snakes and Ladders, Digga D – Made In The Pyrex, Giggs – Now Or Never, M Huncho & Nafe Smallz – DNA, NSG – Roots, Pa Salieu – Send Them To Coventry, Potter Payper – Training Day 3, Unknown T – Rise Above Hate

Radio DJ of the Year: Charlie Sloth, DJ Target, Dotty, Henrie Kwushue, Kenny Allstar, Robert Bruce, Reece Parkinson, Snoochie Shy, Tiffany Calver, Yinka & Shayna Marie

Producer of the Year: 169, 5ive Beatz, Chris Rich, Ghosty, Gotcha, Hargo, M1OnTheBeat, P2J, R14, TSB

The voting for the awards are open to the public and available here.