I'm a Newcastle rapper and the MOBO Awards will be fantastic for the city

After taking over Sheffield in 2024, the MOBO Awards are heading further north this year and will be hosted by Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.

This will be the first time the awards, which celebrate music of black origin and the culture surrounding it, will be held in the North East, and it is somethign parts of the local music scene are looking forward to.

“I think there’s definitely some excitement within the scene” explains North Tyneside rapper NE-O.

“It’s exciting, I just think it’s really cool. It should bring some eyes on the city.

He added: “I think people are really excited to perform at the fringe events. I’m looking forward to performing at the Glasshouse again. It’s one of my favourite places to perform so it’s just nice.”

The MOBO Fringe is a five day run of events across the city to showcase the voices of the region, set to take place between Thursday, February 13 and Monday February 17 before the award ceremony takes place at the arena the following day.

Events will take place at Gateshead’s Glasshouse as well as The Grove and World Headquarters to the north of the Tyne.

“It’s really nice to hear about all the different organisations coming together, trying to make the event as big as possible for the local music scene” explains NE-O.

“People are excited for these performance opportunities” he explains.

Speaking on the hold London has on the music scene, NE-O adds: “The MOBOs do a good job of moving around.

“It’s nice that they go to these areas. Everywhere will have a local rap scene and R&B scene. Newcast;e has a great one, I think. I think it’s great to even have Newcastle be acknowledged as a place that exists.

“One time I got asked if Newcastle is in Scotland!

“People [from further afield] don’t even know there are rappers in Newcastle.”

The performance at the MOBO Fringe is just the start of what is set to be a big year for NE-O.

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“At the start of last year I started to learn how to produce and make beats for myself. I spent a large part of the back end of last year writing and producing my next EP so I’ve been writing and recording that” he explains.

“We’re in the final stages of recording that and hopefully it’ll be mixed and mastered soon so hopefully it’ll be out around September time.

“I’m not going to be as active with releases this year but I’m working on bringing out an actual body of work that I can be very proud of which I produced myself.”

The MOBO Award ceremony will be taking place on Tuesday, February 18 with names such as Stormzy, Central Cee, Little Simz and Chase and Status all nominated.