Winehouse leads white artists in line for black music awards

By Arifa Akbar, Arts Reporter

Thursday, 23 August 2007

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Amy Winehouse's distinctive soul sound was hailed as representing the best of "black music" as she was nominated for four Mobo music awards yesterday.

The middle-class Jewish singer from Enfield in north London is leading the way for a growing number of mainstream artists who are influenced by black music, the award organisers say. Yesterday Winehouse announced that she was cancelling her US tour, amid rumours that she is in rehab.

Now in its 12th year, the Mobo awards celebrate the best of black music. Nominees from the mainstream sector have in the past included the Detroit rapper, Eminem and R&B singer, Justin Timberlake. The inclusion of more and more white artists in such lists has opened a debate over what constitutes "black music" and if white artists should feature on them.

But Kanya King, founder of the Mobos, said a celebration of black music did not exclude white artists, adding that the roots of black jazz and soul could be traced to white artists, such as Elvis Presley.

"More and more white artists are inspired by black, urban culture and we want to demonstrate the influence black music has had on the mainstream. Britain is changing rapidly and sales of black music are now around 50 per cent in the country," she said.

Winehouse, who pulled out of the V Festival last weekend as friends and family voiced concern over her health, was nominated in the best female artist category, alongside Beverley Knight, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamelia and the only other white singer, Joss Stone. She also features in best R&B singer, best video, for "Back to Black", and best song, for "Rehab".

Ms King said the singer's two albums, Frank and Back to Black, demonstrated her heavy jazz influence. "She has been compared to the likes of Macy Gray and other soulful artists," she said.

Last year, nominations included the white urban rap artists, The Streets, Lady Sovereign and Plan B as well as Bobby Gray, a white reggae artist, and Nelly Furtado.

The Mercury Prize-winning rapper Dizzee Rascal is in the running for four awards, with nominations in the categories best male artist, best song and best video, for "Sirens", and best hip hop act, which will pit the American rivals, 50 Cent and Kanye West against each as well as Common and Kano.

West has vowed to retire if his album, which was released in September, sells more than 50 Cent's latest album.

Dizzee Rascal is up against Wiley for the best male artist accolade. Both artists worked together as part of the east London crew, Roll Deep. Meanwhile, Mutya Buena was nominated for her first Mobo award as best newcomer after her departure from the pop band, Sugababes.

This year's awards include a best African act category, whose nominees are currently being selected.

Rihanna features as the only female in the best international act category alongside P Diddy, Akon and T.I. The awards ceremony, held on 19 September, will be hosted by the reggae artist, Shaggy, and the R&B singer, Jamelia, who are previous award winners.

The Mobo nominees

Best Female Artist

Amy Winehouse

Beverley Knight

Corinne Bailey Rae

Jamelia

Joss Stone

Best Male Artist

Dizzee Rascal

Kano

Lethal Bizzle

Sway