Mobo Awards
O2 Arena, London SE10
The annual awards for 'music of black origin' have had a turbulent 12-year history - riling gay rights campaigners, reggae and jazz fans along the way. With the R&B and hip hop categories the inevitable main attraction, the Mobos have come to reflect the gulf of success and style between the UK and US urban stars.
The last-minute cancellation of this year's guest of honour, 50 Cent, left the cavernous O2 arena littered with empty blue seats. Organisers had their work cut out creating magic in a venue seemingly modelled on one of the sponsor's high-street mobile phone centres, and the poorly scripted, self-parodying banter between hosts Shaggy and Jamelia only made matters worse.
Amy Winehouse failed to step up to her top billing; her lacklustre performance followed by a monosyllabic acceptance speech on receiving the Best UK Female gong provided an early anticlimax. The live highlight was the duet between East End rapper Kano and a seemingly reinvigorated Craig David.
Rising US soul singer Robin Thicke managed to inject some glamour into proceedings, while ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena and double-award-winner Ne-yo (Best Song, Best R&B) were both disappointing.
No one seriously expected Kanye West to collect his Best Hip Hop and Best Video awards in person, but the lack of even a video message was telling. When Londoner Dizzee Rascal similarly failed to turn up or send any acknowledgment of his Best UK Male win, it was evident that this year's Mobos had fallen well short of being the memorable showcase its organisers wanted it to be.