Pharrell and Slick Rick to be honoured at 2026 MOBO Awards
Pharrell and Slick Rick will receive special recognition at the upcoming MOBO Awards.
The 2026 MOBO Awards, celebrating music of Black origin, is set to take place on March 26th at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, with Eve and Eddie Kadi serving as hosts.
On March 11th, it was announced that Pharrell would be crowned with the MOBO Global Songwriter Award.
Slick Rick will also receive the prestigious MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony.
Reacting to the news, Rick said, “It’s a real honour to be recognised by the MOBO Awards, which have long celebrated the richness of Black music and culture. From Mitcham, south London, to New York and beyond, my journey in hip-hop has always been about storytelling, imagination and staying true to the culture, so this moment right here feels special and warm.”
The British-American rapper will mark the occasion by performing alongside Estelle. The performance is described as “a unique collaborative performance that highlights Slick’s incredible hip-hop journey.”
In a statement, MOBO Group founder and CEO, Kanya King, said, “MOBO has always been about recognising the cultural architects as well as the rising stars shaping the future. Pharrell Williams’ songwriting genius has influenced the sound of global music for decades, while Slick Rick’s storytelling laid the foundations for generations of hip hop artists.”
She continued, “To celebrate that legacy with a special performance alongside Estelle is a real full-circle moment for us. And with Shenseea representing the vibrant new wave of Caribbean music on the world stage, this year’s show captures exactly what the MOBO Group has stood for over the last 30 years.”
Little Simz, Olivia Dean, Kwn, and Jim Legxacy are the most-nominated artists at this year’s MOBO Awards, with each of them boasting four nominations.