Jamaica's leading deejay Vybz Kartel has been nominated for this year's Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards for Best Reggae Act.
In 2004, Kartel's MOBO nominations, along with those of Beenie Man,Elephant Man and Sizzla were withdrawn over concerns of homophobia, acommon issue with dancehall reggae in general.
He is up against Mavado, the 2008 winner of the MOBO Award for BestReggae Act, Alliance artiste Serani, Rastafarian singer Taurus Riley,and mult- Grammy Award winner Sean Paul. Kartel has added to hisinternational prestige with the Billboard charting Ramping Shop,however Sean Paul has once again hit the Billboard Top 100 with SoFine, the lead single from his latest album.
The Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, established in 1995 by KanyaKing MBE and Andy Ruffell are held annually in the United Kingdom torecognise artists of any race or nationality performing black music.
The Mobo nominations were announced in London last week and theceremony i tself will be held outside London for the first time, takingplace in Glasgow, Scotland on September 30. Vybz Kartel has won anaward at the CUMA (Caribbean Urban Music Awards) in 2008. He also wonthree EME awards in 2009 for song of the year(Ramping Shop ft. Spice),Lyricist/Songwriter of the Year, and Male DJ of the Year. He and thePortmore Empire also swept the major categories of the HYPE TV Awardsas well.