The Brits took place on the 8th of February and the event was hosted by comedian Mo Gilligan, while fellow comedian Munya Chawawa and YouTuber Nella Rose tended to the Red Carpet.
The big talking point of the night: for the first time in its 45-year history, gendered categories were scrapped (Best Male/Female Artist Of The Year and Best International Male/Female Artist of the Year). Instead, they were replaced with the gender-neutral categories Artist Of The Year and International Artist Of The Year.
Concerns were voiced stating that women would be unfairly sidelined — as has so often been the case. However, this year’s Brits featured the most female nominees in over a decade and in the end, female winners outnumbered men by two to one.
The biggest winner of the night was Adele, who completely dominated as she took home a total of three awards — Best Artist, Best Song and Best Album. Given that her latest album, 30, became the biggest-selling album of 2021 in the UK and the US, it’s fair to say she deserved it.
As the first-ever winner of the new genderless Best Artist award, the superstar had something to share: “I understand why the name of this award has changed – but I really love being a woman and a female artist. I’m really proud of us.”
Little Simz and Dave were also nominated for the award. And though they lost this particular one to Adele, they successfully picked up awards in other categories.
Little Simz won Best New Artist. “Look at what you’ve done, Mum,” she stated as her Mum joined her on stage and shed a few tears. Later in the night, she blessed us with a beautiful medley of her songs ‘Introvert’ and ‘Woman’.
Dave left with the Best Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap prize in hand. Fredo, Giggs, Ghetts, Meekz, and a gospel choir all linked up to help the rapper close the show with his track ‘In The Fire’. As if this star-studded lineup wasn’t enough of a gift in itself, Dave went a step further and concluded his performance flexing his skills on the electric guitar.
Fortunately for Boris Johnson, Dave felt more celebratory this time around — compared to his 2020 performance, during which he powerfully called out the Prime Minister as “a real racist” as he gave an unforgettable live rendition of his song ‘Black’.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that Inflo won Producer Of The Year — becoming the first black producer ever to receive the award. He was responsible for producing two albums that were nominated for Best Album — Adele’s 30 and Little Simz’s Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. So while a black producer winning the award is long overdue, Inflo is definitely a deserving recipient.
For a full list of winners and nominees head over to BBC.
