Newcastle rapper and founder of the MOBO Awards share delight as city to host ceremony for first time
The MOBO Awards are heading to Newcastle for 2025 - the first time in the events nearly 30 year history that the city is to play host.
The ceremony that fames itself on being Europe's biggest celebration of Black music, is to be held on February 18, 2025 at the Utilita Arena Newcastle.
Ahead of the award ceremony, the city will play host to the MOBO Fringe Festival - a series of events celebrating Black music and culture in the city across multiple venues, organised by the Newcastle City Council with members of the local community, North East music organisation, Generator, Glasshouse Centre for International Music, and Northern Roots.
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Kay Greyson, rapper and musician born and raised in Newcastle, spoke to ChronicleLive sharing her excitement about the announcement made today by MOBOs Found Kanya King that Newcastle will play host city to the awards in 2025.
The 26 year old rapper discussed just how important the impact of the MOBO awards coming to Newcastle for the first time is: "It's just such a massive thing. I watched it as a kid, telling my mum I'm gonna be there one day and be part of it!"
"So it happening now in the city that I'm from and care about so much means a lot to me but its going to mean even more to the next generation."
Kay explains how growing up in Newcastle shaped her music experience, and influenced the content of her lyrics: "Newcastle gets into my music in strange ways. I'm so proud f where I came from."
"Geordies are known for their resilience. They're known for wanting to have a good time, knowing their history and all of these things pop up in my music - It really just shows my pride of being from here, its a beautiful thing.
"I started music and got into it from a young age because my dad is a musician. My dad played in bands all his life and I remember watching and thinking he has a really fun life, I'm just gonna be him. So I've kind of followed in his footsteps to where I am now."
"Last year I signed to EMI North and Soul Kitchen - that was really awesome to sign a deal. We’ve been able to put out the new album, which comes out next week so I'd definitely say that's my biggest achievement so far."
Kay's newest album - Chekhov’s Gun - promises eight tracks of flair, and draws influence from hip-hop, alongside punk, rock and jazz to create a modern sound: "My album is definitely a hip-hop album. It can make you dance but also gonna make you think."
Expressing her pride for the city and what it means to her, she continued: "The MOBO awards 2025 are definitely going to inspire a new generation of little Geordies."
"The thing about Geordie people is once they set their sight on a goal they don't let it go. So if you show the kids this is possible, in ten years time there's going to be nothing but Geordies at the MOBOS and its so exciting to be a part of."
Ahead of next years celebration, Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of the MOBO group spoke to ChronicleLive sharing her enthusiasm on the announcement of the awards: "What's special about Newcastle is its steeped in heritage. There's a passion here in the city where people collaborate and can make so much happen and it's really exciting.
"There's a vast growing diverse population in Newcastle, and MOBO platform has always been about reaching sometimes underrepresented talent and trying to use the power music and culture to bring people together, and that's what we want to do.
"We’ve never been here before, it's our first time I cant believe it. There's an eclectic awesome music scene here which we love and for those who don't know MOBO celebrates everything from hip-hop, reggae, R&B, dance, and alternative music its very very broad.
"So to have a vibrant dynamic scene which is what's happening here - were just hoping to inspire young people to want to dream big and make their mark upon the world within their musical creativities."
Kanya hopes by coming to Newcastle, MOBO 2025 inspires young people of the North East to want to dream big.
She added: "I hope it inspires them to want to do more. To go and fulfil their dreams. We want to see whatever support we can provide."