Hotly-tipped teenage grime star MC Chipmunk, from north London, overcame Eminem and Kanye West, and beat hip-hop artist Dizzee Rascal, who has had three number one singles this year, to win the best hip-hop category. Kanya King, founder of the Mobos, said the awards had shown that British acts were outperforming better known R&B, soul and urban acts from the US. The winners were chosen by the public.
"I think we've seriously arrived this year," she said. "We've an amazing line-up and this is what we've been working towards … outselling a lot of other American counterparts and we've got them all on one stage. Let's give them the credit they deserve because all too often we've been told that British acts aren't up to the same standard."
However, the event has been dogged by claims that top British and US performers were unwilling to appear because the awards were in Glasgow. Music industry figures said performers were put off by the location, the cost and the view that Glasgow is "too white".
King rejected the view. Jermaine Jackson and LaToya Jackson appeared together at the event to present a tribute to their brother Michael, she said. Keri Hilson, the songwriter and vocalist who won best R&B and soul act prize, performed and presented an award.
But one prize – for best international artist – was downgraded this year.
The award, which was given to the US soul star Beyoncé, was not part of the main two-hour long televised event. Beyoncé, who also won best video tonight for Single Ladies, gave a pre-recorded acceptance speech.
Other winners, including Sean Paul, the Jamaican-born musician who won best reggae act for the second time, and Nneka, the Nigerian-German singer who won best African act, did not appear at the ceremony. Sean Paul recorded a video acceptance speech instead.
King said she was considering staging next year's Mobo outside London: "It has been phenomenally successful for us."
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