BRITAIN’S urban music stars struck a blow against America’s “bling” divas and rappers as they celebrated a triumphant night at the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) Awards.

Any feelings of inferiority were cast aside at the Royal Albert Hall as home-grown acts declared themselves ready for an assault on the US charts.

Lemar Obika, a former Fame Academy contestant, confirmed his rise to credible R&B singer, defeating the high-maintenance Mariah Carey and the rising US star John Legend to take the Best Album award.

The 27-year-old singer-songwriter, who has sold 1.3 million albums, also won UK Act of the Year at the tenth anniversary of the awards. Lemar, who was born to Nigerian parents, spent five years trying to break into the music industry, even working as a NatWest Bank accounts manager, before being given his chance on the BBC talent show.

Sway, a 22-year-old MC from Hornsey, North London, who sells his own “home-burnt” CDs, defeated the multimillion-selling US “gangsta rappers” 50 Cent and The Game to take the Best Hip-Hop award. The unsigned British star, real name Derek Safo, emerged from the London “grime” scene, an abrasive sound mixing Jamaican “ragga”, hip-hop and a defiantly British lyrical take on inner-city life.

“We are proud of our British heritage and if someone like me can get on MTV it gives hope to British kids,” he said. “With the right backing the grime artists can take America like the Beatles did.” His partner-in-grime Kano — Kane Robinson, 20, of East Ham — won Best UK Newcomer award. The pair reject the “guns and bitches” clichés that 50 Cent and The Game rely upon, employing humour and clever lyrical interplay.

Lethal B, another rapper from the East End scene, defeated Snoop Dogg, Amerie and Mario to the Best Single prize for his track Pow (Forward).

Forty years after Mick Jagger attended the London School of Economics, it claimed another music star when Rhian Benson, 27, won the Jazz Act award. Her smooth vocal style has been compared to those of Sade and Joni Mitchell.

British female artists failed to follow Jamelia’s triple-win last year but Ms Dynamite provided one of the show’s highlights with a performance of her comeback single, Judgement Day.

Damian Marley, youngest son of Bob, took the Reggae award. He joined his musical brothers Julian and Stephen Marley for a show-closing performance of Could You Be Loved, in tribute to their father.

THE MOBO AWARD WINNERS 2005

Best Album Lemar Time to Grow

Best Hip-Hop Act Sway

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