Central Cee has set a new record at the Mobo Awards, becoming the first artist to win Best Male Act three times.

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This victory brings his total Mobo trophies to seven, equaling Stormzy's record as the most awarded rapper in the event’s history.

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Rather than attending in person, Central Cee’s award was accepted on his behalf by host Eddie Kadi, who humorously remarked that they "share everything... except royalties."

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The ceremony in Newcastle also saw Bashy secure Best Album and Best Hip-Hop Act after a 15-year hiatus from music, while Darkoo triumphed over Raye and Jorja Smith to win Best Female Act.

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Upon receiving her award, Darkoo admitted, "I tried Chat GPT" to draft her speech, "but I didn't know how to make it work," so she improvised, expressing gratitude to her family for their unwavering support.

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"It's been a rollercoaster but they believed in me for the past year and I've been shutting it down," she added.

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https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4834/live/153877e0-ee3e-11ef-8cfa-11b011e07aa7.jpg.webpDarkoo

also performed at the event, treating the audience to the song of the year - Favourite Girl

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Central Cee, also called Cench, had previously won the Best Male Act award in 2024. Just last month, he dropped his first album after having eight songs make it to the top 10 charts.

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After hearing about his latest win, he reacted on Instagram by sharing a screenshot of the news and simply writing, "that's nice."

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However, he didn’t win in all his nominated categories. The Best Drill Act award went to Pozer, while Darkoo took home the Song of the Year award along with her Best Female Act trophy.

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Even though Darkoo's song Favourite Girl with Dess Dior didn’t enter the UK singles chart, she still won Song of the Year. She beat big hits like Stormzy’s chart-topping Backbone with Chase & Status and Central Cee’s Band4Band with Lil Baby, which had reached number three.

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https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a6b2/live/98489a60-ee3f-11ef-8674-2fbdc08c7863.jpg.webpAyra

Starr made history as the first African woman to win best international act

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Ayra Starr also scooped two awards, making history as the first African woman to win best international act and becoming the first woman to win best African music act in 16 years.

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Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel was also recognised with the Mobo impact award.

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He was released from jail last year after his murder conviction was overturned and at the weekend was confirmed to be performing at this summer's Wireless festival.

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"Think about this, got locked up, did 13 years in prison," he said while accepting his accolade.

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"Meanwhile I'm diagnosed with Graves' disease so I'm fighting to be free, I'm fighting my illness, I'm fighting to keep my family together, I'm fighting to keep the fans pleased.

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"And now I'm here, I walked the red carpet at the Mobo's. That taught me to believe in three things now more than ever: fate, change and forgiveness."

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https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/be04/live/2875f6d0-ee3d-11ef-8cfa-11b011e07aa7.jpg.webpVybz

Kartel attended the awards where he was honoured with the Mobo impact award

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The ceremony saw performances from Nova Twins, Spice, Krept And Konan and award winners Odeal, Darkoo and Bashy.

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Bashy, who returned to music after a 15-year break to focus on his acting career, won best hip-hop act as well as album of the year for Being Poor Is Expensive - an award he said he "wanted and deserved".

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"This has been a 20-year plus journey, it's been hard work, tenacity, a lot of ups and downs.

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"I stood in my truth, stood in my community's truth and now I'm here," he said on stage, making a point to thank the Windrush generation.

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"I'm just a regular guy from the ends. I was a bus driver, I was a postman, I worked in retail. So if you're out there and you're working a job to fund your passion, don't be ashamed of your job.

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"This is an amazing honour, I'm humbled."

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https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9c6a/live/ed951b10-ee49-11ef-bc86-ad466770a69d.jpg.webpBashy,

real name Ashley Thomas, won two awards on his comeback to music after a 15-year break

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It was the first awards since Mobos founder Kanya King revealed she'd been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.

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Labour MP Dawn Butler became emotional as she announced Kanya would receive a surprise award, paving the way, which was also won by athlete and broadcaster Denise Lewis.

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Kanya came on stage to a standing ovation from the crowd, saying she felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude "because there was a time I thought I wouldn't make it".

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"Next year marks our 30th anniversary and I very much intend to be there."

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https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b21f/live/5d175c10-ee49-11ef-8b3b-4f9e79ed3d9c.jpg.webpKanya

said her diagnosis was "a chance to inspire resilience and raise awareness"

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The winners in full:

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Best male act - Central Cee

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Best female act - Darkoo

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Best newcomer - Odeal

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Album of the year - Bashy, Being Poor Is Expensive

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Song of the year - Darkoo feat. Dess Dior, Favourite Girl

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Video of the year - Mnelia, My Man

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Best hip-hop act - Bashy

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Best grime act - Scorcher

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Best drill act - Pozer

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Best R&B/Soul act - Odeal

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Best media personality - 90s baby show

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Best African music act - Ayra Starr

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Best performance in a TV show/ film - Jacob Anderson as Louis in Interview With The Vampire

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Best electronic/ dance music act - TSHA

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Best gospel act - Annatoria

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Best jazz act - Ezra Collective

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Best producer - Juls

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Best Caribbean music act - Shenseea

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Best alternative music act - ALT BLK ERA

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Best international act - Ayra Starr

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MOBO paving the way award - Denise Lewis MBE

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MOBO impact award - Vybz Kartel

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