Skepta had a very good day today, as his Konnichiwa won the 2016 Hyundai Mercury Prize for best British album of the year, beating out the legendary likes of David Bowie and Radiohead along with other favorites such as Anohni, Savages, and The 1975. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, the grime MC thanked his “mum and dad” as they stood beside him onstage and said, “R.I.P. David Bowie, R.I.P. Amy Winehouse” in honor of the late British music icons.
While the judges awarded Skepta’s Konnichiwa the grand prize, The 1975’s I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It won the Mercury Prize’s inaugural fan vote. (This probably won’t surprise anyone who’s had to navigate the jungle of screaming fans at a 1975 show). Check out the full list of runners-up below.
The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
Anohni – Hopelessness
Bat for Lashes – The Bride
David Bowie – Blackstar
The Comet Is Coming – Channel the Spirits
Kano – Made in the Manor
Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
Laura Mvula – The Dreaming Room
Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
Savages – Adore Life
Jamie Woon – Making Time
Skepta joins a list of winners that includes Suede, Portishead, Pulp, Franz Ferdinand, PJ Harvey, and James Blake. Last year’s winner was Benjamin Clementine’s At Least for Now. Skepta is the first hip-hop artist to win since Dizzee Rascal in 2003.
