UK grime artist Skepta has won the 25th Mercury Prize for his album Konnichiwa.
The Tottenham artist, who has spearheaded a revival in grime over the last two years, beat favourite David Bowie’s Blackstar to take the crown.
Jarvis Cocker, one of the Mercury Prize judges, announced the winner at a ceremony at London’s Hammersmith Apollo last night (16 September).
‘If David Bowie was looking down on the Hammersmith Apollo tonight - and maybe he is, we've seen traces of his influence in many of the acts tonight - he would want the 2016 Mercury Prize to go to Skepta,’ he said.
Skepta is the first grime rapper to win since Dizzie Rascal picked up the award in 2003 for Boy In Da Corner.
Picking up the award, the MC said: ‘Thank you to everybody who was there for me when I was going through depressed times. I don’t know man, I’m so thankful … With no record label we just travelled the world,’ reported the Guardian.
Read our feature celebrating the return of grime in 2016.
The Mercury Prize 2016 shortlist is below:
Anohni - Hopelessness
Bat For Lashes - The Bride
David Bowie - Blackstar
Jamie Woon - Making Time
Kano - Made in the Manor
Laura Mvula - The Dreaming Room
Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Savages - Adore Life
Skepta - Konnichiwa
The 1975 - I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
The Comet Is Coming - Channel the Spirits
The Tottenham artist, who has spearheaded a revival in grime over the last two years, beat favourite David Bowie’s Blackstar to take the crown.
Jarvis Cocker, one of the Mercury Prize judges, announced the winner at a ceremony at London’s Hammersmith Apollo last night (16 September).
‘If David Bowie was looking down on the Hammersmith Apollo tonight - and maybe he is, we've seen traces of his influence in many of the acts tonight - he would want the 2016 Mercury Prize to go to Skepta,’ he said.
Skepta is the first grime rapper to win since Dizzie Rascal picked up the award in 2003 for Boy In Da Corner.
Picking up the award, the MC said: ‘Thank you to everybody who was there for me when I was going through depressed times. I don’t know man, I’m so thankful … With no record label we just travelled the world,’ reported the Guardian.
Read our feature celebrating the return of grime in 2016.
The Mercury Prize 2016 shortlist is below:
Anohni - Hopelessness
Bat For Lashes - The Bride
David Bowie - Blackstar
Jamie Woon - Making Time
Kano - Made in the Manor
Laura Mvula - The Dreaming Room
Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Savages - Adore Life
Skepta - Konnichiwa
The 1975 - I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
The Comet Is Coming - Channel the Spirits
