The nominees for the sixth edition of the Rated Awards in the UK were announced on 20 July, with Gambian-British rapper Pa Salieu and Ghanaian-British acts Headie One and Stormzy securing nods. 

The awards are organised by music portal GRM Daily, and reward accomplishments in multiple categories in the UK’s rap and grime scene. This year’s edition will celebrate music released between 1 June 2020 and 1 June 2021 at a virtual ceremony on 16 September. It will be broadcast exclusively on GRM Daily’s YouTube channel(link is external).

Headie One leads the nominations alongside AJ Tracey. Both artists were shortlisted in four categories each, namely Male Artist, Track of the Year, Video of the Year and the Album of the Year. Stormzy and Pa Salieu secured nominations for the Track of the Year and Video of the Year awards.

Pa Salieu, who won BBC Music’s Sound of 2021 in January, is also up for the Mixtape of the Year Award and the keenly contested Breakthrough Award against ArrDee, ENNY, Shaybo and Central Cee.

“Returning in 2021 for its sixth year, this year’s GRM Daily Rated Awards will showcase a broad range of the hottest upcoming and established artists and is guaranteed to provide a selection of iconic performances that simply wouldn’t be seen at other award ceremonies,” the awards platform said. “Broadcast exclusively on YouTube, the awards will be a must-see event with a carefully curated line-up of unmissable live performances yet to be announced.”

“Excited to be back celebrating the best in UK rap and grime music,” GRM Daily founder Koby ‘Posty’ Hagan said. “It’s been an incredible year in music, congratulations to all of this year’s nominees.”

Voting is open and fans can cast their votes here. 

Below is the full list of nominees:

Album of the Year

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

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

• Supported by 1Xtra
• 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

• ‘Latest Trends’ – A1 & J1
• ‘On Deck’ – Abra Cadabra
• ‘Loading’ – Central Cee
• ‘Woi’ – Digga D
• ‘Peng Black Girls’ – ENNY ft. Amia Brve
• ‘Ain’t It Different’ – Headie One, Stormzy and AJ Tracey
• ‘Airplane Mode’ – Nines f.t NSG
• ‘My Family’ – Pa Salieu ft. BackRoad Gee
• ‘Purpose’ – Potter Payper
• ‘Wayne Body’ – Russ & Tion

Video of the Year

• ‘Safe To Say’ – Aitch
• ‘Little More Love’ – AJ Tracey
• ‘Skengman Mode’ – Ghetts ft. Stormzy
• ‘Princess Cuts’ – Headie One ft. Young T & Bugsey
• ‘Introvert’ – Little Simz 
• ‘Respect The Come Up’ – Meekz
• ‘Clout’ – Nines
• ‘My Family’ – Pa Salieu ft. BackRoad Gee
• ‘Body’ – Russ & Tion Wayne
• ‘Cancelled’ – Slowthai, Skepta

Mixtape of the Year

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

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
• 5ive Beatz

source: musicinafrica.net