Everyone who was anyone in the grime music / UK urban music industry, was at Camden’s Roundhouse this week for the second annual Rated Awards.

2016 has been another groundbreaking year for the British urban music scene and The Rated Awards highlighted and commended this year’s high achievers. This year’s awards were hosted by Capital XTRA presenter Manny Norte and 1Xtra presenter Yasmin Evans.

Radio broadcasters Manny Norte and Yasmin Evans host The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

There was much positive energy, compliments from artist to artist and a general feeling of inclusivity and pride regarding the grime scenes national and international takeover this past year. With grime acts headlining festivals globally, to chart topping positions, and even names like Drake co-signing the scene by signing to UK label BBK, it’s been a truly whirlwind year worthy of back slaps.

Skepta at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

Big moments of the night included Tim Westwood picking up the GRM Legacy Award, Kano took home Best Album for ‘Made in the Manor’, Giggs bagged Artist Of The Year Award, Skepta won Best Video for his smash ‘Man (Gang)’​, DJ Manny Norte noting that fellow DJ A.Dot ”gets crisser gal than the man dem’,and Big Narstie actually used the ”C” word onstage!

Jasmine With Naughty Boy , Manny Norte and Yasmin Evans, Chams (NFTR) and Shola Ama, Giggs, Omar and Craig David.

The music industry crowd all agreed that history was made, with the second KA & GRM Daily Rated Awards, celebrating the very best of British urban music. The 1,700-person capacity venue, was packed to the brim full of artists, industry players and fans alike.

Big Narstie and Craig David at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

Craig David, Krept & Konan, Skepta, DJ and producer Naughty Boy and Professor Green were all in attendance, bringing the grime scene into the spotlight in a welcome togetherness and celebration of how far British urban music has come.

Professor Green and Kano at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

The Rated Awards is one of the only award ceremonies that lets the fans decide the winners. By giving the power back to the people it allows the real purveyors of the British urban music scene to be recognised.

English MC AJ Tracey picked up the Best Breakthrough award, with other early winners including Skepta winning Best Video for his smash ‘Man (Gang)’, Charlie Sloth announced as Best DJ for a second year, and Rude Kid collecting Producer Of The Year.

Not For The Radio’s Vis and Chams at The Rated Awards 2016 yellow carpet. Photo – Dave Hogan.

BET Award winner and Mercury Prize shortlisted artist Kano, took home Best Album for his monumental album ‘Made In The Manor’, whilst Giggs took home Best Artist. Abra Cadabra was also full of emotion as he swooped up Best Track for “Robbery Remix” featuring Krept & Konan.

WSTRN at The Rated Awards 2016 yellow carpet. Photo – Dave Hogan.

The show also saw some high-energy performances with R&B band WSTRN making a return to the Rated Awards stage, tearing it up with Youngs Teflon for ‘Best Friend’. We also saw Craig David & Big Narstie perform their hit single ‘When The Bassline Drops’ as well as performances from MoStack, MIst, Fredo, Abra Cadabra, Ray BLK, Donae’o, Big Tobz and Ghetts x Rude Kid.

Tim Westwood gives a speech in honour of his Legacy Award, at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter and A&R Director at Atlantic Records Twin B paid tribute to best friend, business partner, and UK music industry icon Richard Antwi, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Richard Antwi Tribute By Twin B -at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

Richard was responsible for helping establish the musical career of a number of British artists including Lethal Bizzle, Wretch 32 and Tinie Tempah.

Kano , Kyla and Naughty Boy at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

Closing the night off was Artist Of The Year winner Giggs, who ran through a crazy set of old and new tracks. As he performed his latest single ‘Whippin Excursion’, the stage was invaded by his fellow British artists, including Kano, Skepta, Ghetts and GRM Daily’s Posty.

 

Giggs closes The Rated Awards 2016 with a dynamic performance. Photo – Dave Hogan.

GRM Daily founder and CEO, Posty presented the final award of the night – arguably the biggest one – the GRM Legacy award, which highlights the achievements and influence within the British urban scene. The prestigious award went to DJ & presenter Tim Westwood, who throughout his career has championed the British urban music scene.

The Rated Awards and GRM Founder Posty and Tim Westwood at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

Westwood is one of the most recognised urban UK DJ’s of the decade. He is regarded as the most influential figure in hip hop in Europe and as a pioneer of the UK scene with every American rap superstar on first name terms with him.

Ghetts and Rude Kid at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

Over the last three years the UK grime scene has been bigger than it’s ever been, with music talent taking the independent route in marketing themselves and seen acts perform and headline at festivals both nationally and internationally.

BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra broadcasters Charlie Sloth and A.Dot at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

Abra Cadabra & Krept at The Rated Awards 2016. Photo – Dave Hogan.

The 2016 Rated Award Winners

Best Breakthrough, In Association with Vevo AJ Tracey

Best Video Skepta – Man (Gang)

Best DJ Charlie Sloth

Producer Of The Year Rude Kid

Personality Of The Year Poet & Vuj

Best Mixtape 67- In Skengs We Trust

Best Track, In Association with BBC 1Xtra Abra Cadabra featuring Krept & Konan – Robbery Remix

Best Album Kano – Made In The Manor

Artist Of The Year Giggs

Get Rated Figure Flows

GRM Legacy Tim Westwood

The 2016 Rated Awards Performances

Mikil Pane – Dear Diary

Donae’o – My Circle

Big Tobz – Uno My Style

Mo Stack – Liar

Mist – Karlas Black

Fredo – They Aint 100

Abra Cadabra – Robbery

Ray BLK – My Hood

WSTRN – Best Friend

Craig David – Mashup

Craig David & Big Narstie – When The Bassline Drops

Big Narstie – BDL Skank

Ghetts/Rude Kid – Mashup

Giggs – Mashup / Whippin Excursion