Let’s be honest. When we heard there was going to be an Official Mixtape Awards we were all wetting ourselves with laugher. Why do we need mixtape awards? Like why? I instantly thought it was just a scam for the organisers to make some money off the tickets sold and I wasn’t really going to get involved… That was until two of my artists were nominated for awards. (By “my artists” I mean two of the artists I do PR for) P Money and Little Dee (both Grime acts). So then I thought A. This will show whether I actually done a good PR job on them and B. Be good for them to… you know, say they won an award and know that people acknowledge them as artists… if they win.

So, as a PR I was involved in various ways, we went to Portsmouth for the pre party and radio session. Big up DJ Grind. And we got all of the e-flyers in the nessisary places for people to vote. P Money was up for “Mixtape of the Year” and “Best Grime Mixtape”. And Little Dee was up for “Best Grime Mixtape” too. Bit of competition but its cool cause they’re in the same crew (O.G’z). Anyway, we went up to Portsmouth for the awards not really knowing what to expect. It was pretty empty at first. We bumped into some familiar faces. Wretch 32, Bashy, C Jay Beatz, Griminal, Ghetts etc. Then sat down and waited.

Artist Kele Le Roc stepped on stage. Looking fabbbbuuulousssss! In a dress and hells. 1Xtra’s Ras Kwame too, looking… well, looking like Ras Kwame. They introduced the awards and blah blah blah and then the performances/awards began;

Best mixtape DJ; Dj Limelight. I was going to “Kanye” this; everyone in the audience was screaming “Spyro” and let’s be honest. The guy tours with Tinchy Stryder as his DJ, has a show on Rinse FM where he plays the best off UK artists’ mixtapes and does loads of his own bookings playing again, music off mixtapes then puts out a mixtape. No par to you Limelight but Spyro should have won that (in my humble opinion).

Mixtape Of The Decade; Sway.

I didn’t rate this category from the beginning. As far as I’m concerned J2K and JME are the mixtape legends! They weren’t even nominated! Anyway, Uk rapper Sway won. And in the words of Jamie Howard…’Akon must be so proud’.

Best Hip Hop Mixtape; Wretch 32.

I can’t honestly say where the barrier for UK Grime and UK Rap goes up and Wretch 32 is an amazing artist so I don’t dispute this. He deserves recognition for all the work he’s put into his music.

Best producer: Scorcher.

And before you ask; Yes Davinche was nominated. I rate Scorcher highly, as an artist. His greezy bars are the best! But when it comes to producing, well I dunno what he’s produced so I can’t pass comment. Davinche on the other hand, has done soooo much in 09 for the scene that he should have gotten a separate “Davinche award”.

Best Grime Mixtape: P Money.

And I’m not just saying this cause he’s my artist but he truly deserved that! Money Over Everyone is the best Grime mixtape I’ve heard. Frisco’s mixtape was wicked too, but P Moneys was… gosh, I can’t go on.

Best newcomer: Marvell.

I won’t dispute this. I love Marvell. They’ve done a lot and their lyrical content is wickkkked! Farda.

Mixtape of 09; P Money.

Again, he deserved this. Bashy was also nominated for Bashy.com but to me Catch Me If You Can should have gotten some type of award for all of the hard work, promo and love that Bashy put into it!

Performances from Natalie May, Bashy, Wiley (Yes he did turn up), Lady Leeshur, The Movement, Sway, Marvell, Devlin and Ny (not forgetting a cameo from Griminal) took place during the awards. The performances were performances, so I won’t go on about those; the one I will mention is The Movement. Scorcher, Wretch and Ghetts really know how to perform! They had the crowd going wild, were confident in their show and were loving to the audience. That’s what we like!

Overall, I’d say to all of those involved, a big well done. It wasn’t the most organised thing in the world, but for the first OMA’s I’d say you done a good job of making it a success. Minor things like people not being backstage in time to collect their awards, security not keeping fans from blocking up the front of the stage and a really bad windows media player showing the nominees were annoying but I’m sure they are things you’ll take on board and make better at next years awards!

A big pat on the back to those who won and an even bigger pat on the back for those who were nominated cause even having your mixtapes acknowledged by the fans is something to be proud of!

Can we just have a moment of silence for me too please? I feel as though I won the “Best PR of 09″ award last night… Just saying =)

Toodles

Sian x

Shouts to Bish Bash Bosh, Toddla T on the beat, Des, George, CJ and the GGI familia. This tracks is HUGE – any DJ’s who aren’t playing it are waste. Simple as.

Can’t wait to see his performance at Radio 1′s Big Weekend this year during my set on the outdoor stage.

Surprise and horror because when this record was Jam Hot last year, Scorch passed through the studio and promised that I could be in the video….

Great track, great video. Go support Concrete Jungle when it’s out.

They does this!