South London rappers Stormzy and Dave and pop star Mabel have won the three biggest gongs at the Brit Awards 2020.
Stormzy, who became the first black, British solo artist to headline Glastonbury last summer and won the 2018 Brit Award for Best Album with his debut Gang Signs & Prayer, took home Best Male Solo Artist, beating ex One-Directioner Harry Styles and singer songwriter Lewis Capaldi.
Dave, who has been compared to a UK Kendrick Lamar with his “socially conscious” lyricism, won Best Album of the Year for his debut Psychodrama, which, framed as a therapy session (Psychodrama is a particular form of active therapy given to prisoners), included the song Black, a meditation on what it is to be black and British, and Lesley, about a woman suffering from an abusive relationship.
The album debuted at number one when it was released last March, and won the 2019 Mercury Prize.
Mabel, daughter of Neneh Cherry, was the only UK female musician nominated in the gender neutral categories, and won Best Female Solo Artist, while losing Best New Artist to Lewis Capaldi. Highlighting the heavily male dominated UK charts, Mabel, who released her debut album High Expectations last sumer, was the only British female artist to feature in the top 40 singles in the UK last year.
Meanwhile 18-year-old musician of the moment Billie Eilish, who tonight performed her just-released Bond theme for No Time to Die, became this year’s Best International Female, beating Lizzo and Ariana Grande.
Here is the list of nominees and winners in full:
The 2020 Female Solo Artist, in association with Amazon Music
Charli XCX
FKA Twigs
Freya Ridings
Mabel – WINNER
Mahalia
The 2020 Male Solo Artist, in association with Amazon Music.
Dave
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy – WINNER
The 2020 Mastercard Album Of The Year
Dave: Psychodrama – WINNER
Harry Styles: Fine Line
Lewis Capaldi: Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Michael Kiwanuka: Kiwanuka
Stormzy: Heavy Is The Head.
The 2020 Best New Artist
Aitch
Dave
Lewis Capaldi – WINNER
Mabel
Sam Fender.
The 2020 Best Group
Coldplay
Bastille
Bring Me The Horizon
D-Block Europe
Foals – WINNER
The 2020 International Female Solo Artist.
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish – WINNER
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo.
The 2020 International Male Solo Artist
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Post Malone
Tyler, the Creator – WINNER
Dermot Kennedy.
The 2020 Song of the Year
AJ Tracey – Ladbroke Grove
Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man – Giant
Dave feat. Burna Boy – Location
Ed Sheeran feat. Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care
Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved – WINNER
Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like a Heart
Sam Smith feat. Normani – Dancing With A Stranger
Stormzy – Vossi Bop
Tom Walker – Just You and I
Producer of The Year
Fred again… – WINNER
Rising Star
Joy Crookes
Celeste – WINNER
Beabadoobee
