Jay Sean’s success story continues as he receives two nominations at this year’s Mobo Awards (Music of Black Origin). The R&B crooner is up for ‘Best UK Male’, alongside Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, Taio Cruz and Sway. He is also up for the ‘Best R’n'B/Soul’ award, where his competition consists of an international line-up of R&B superstars; Namely Usher, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo and Estelle. Another Desi artist up for an award is M.I.A in the ‘Best UK Female’ category.

At the Mobo Award nominations party in East London, Jay recounts his university days as a medical student, watching Craig David scoop 6 awards and dreaming to enjoy the same type of success some day. Now he is up on the very same stage that could earn him the respect that he has been working so hard for over the past few years. However, he is humbled by the fact that he is being nominated at all. The ‘Best UK Male’ category is filled with UK acts that have done equally as well and it is possibly the most anticipated award of the night.

“The good thing is that all of those guys are good friends of mine.” Jay said about the stiff but friendly competition. “I would be happy if any of those guys win. Of course I would be over the moon if I win, but they all deserve to win as well.”

There have been a few changes to the awards this year as Kanya King, Chief Executive and founder of the Mobo’s, revamped the way in which the categories and nominees were compiled. A highly influential panel of leading DJ’s, such as Shortee Blitz, Chris Goldfinger and Tim Westwood, as well as music journalists, broadcasters and other prominent figures from the industry have cast their votes to nominate the finalists. This specialist panel is crucial to ensuring that the nominations are representative of the ‘Black music’ genre, as they have all had a great impact on this genre in their respective capacities. Now the public is allowed to cast their votes to ensure the best of the best walk away with 1 or more awards on the night.

If Jay Sean or M.I.A were to win an award, they would follow in the foot steps of previous winners in those categories, which include Dizzee Rascal, Lemar, Jay-Z, Rihanna and Amy Winehouse.

The show takes place on the 15^th of October at the Wembley Arena in London. To cast your votes go to http://www.mobo.com

(7 votes. Average: 4.43 out of 5)