So Solid Crew are best newcomers at the Mobo awards
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Your support makes all the difference.The thirty members of the British garage act So Solid Crew vied for space on stage last night as they collected two prizes at the Mobo awards for contemporary black music.
The group, whose recent No 1 single "21 Seconds" refers to the limited time each member is allowed at the microphone, were named the best UK garage act and best newcomer in an event at the London Arena attended by the glitterati of UK garage and R'nB .
Craig David, who despite impressive album sales has suffered a series of disappointments at awards ceremonies, was named best UK act.
Two members of the So Solid Crew, Oxide & Neutrino, managed further success by taking the award for best video for their "Up Middle Finger" track beating Outkast, Missy Elliott, Eminem and Usher who all competed for the award.
Missy Elliott made up for defeat in the category by being named the best hip hop act while Usher won the best R&B act and best album awards.
The American girl band Destiny's Child secured the best single award for "Independent Woman" while Shaggy was named best reggae act. One of the biggest surprises came in the best jazz act category which went to Incognito and not the favourites St Germain.
The awards, for Music Of Black Origin, have helped to improve the profile of black musicians since their inception in 1995. Organisers have kept the word Mobo for the awards, but are trying to broaden their appeal and scope by handing them out for "urban music". But with the odd exception, such as Eminem, all the nominees are black musicians.
The contenders were picked by 1,000 music and media experts, who make up the "Mobo Academy".
The Radio 1 DJ Trevor Nelson, who hosted the ceremony, missed out on the award for best UK radio DJ which went to Choice FM's Jigs.
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