As he prepares to take carry out throughout one of the largest nights for Black music, Scorcher is nicely conscious of how vital the second will likely be.
The Grime MC will likely be joined by fellow legends as they run via a medley of their greatest hits to commemorate 25 years of the style.
“I remember watching So Solid all those years ago, all dressed in white at the MOBOs, performing,” he informed the M.E.N. “For me, that was inspirational.
“It’s like a full circle second as a result of I bear in mind watching and seeing that, being impressed and it is full circle to the place I’m hopefully half of one thing that may encourage and steer individuals in doing what they will do and pushing the style ahead.”
From North London, the MC is one of Grime’s pioneers. He reached the wider public’s conscious in 2004 as a member of the foundational crew Cold Blooded, before founding The Movement a Grime supergroup.
In the last few years, he’s been part of the genre’s resurgence. After a period away, he decide to pick up the mic again and embark on a series of substantive, concise and awe inspiring freestyles that saw him crowned as Grime act of the year at last year’s MOBO Awards in Newcastle.
Scorcher will be performing at the MOBO Awards 2026 -Credit:beaswrk
He hasn’t rested on his laurels either, continuing his path to steer the genre away from obsessions with analytics, chart positions and record label deals. This year, he’s up for Best Grime Act supported by TRENCH.
But despite this, he still views himself as an outsider. “I’m not half of the scene,” he proclaims.
“Last I used to be on the purple carpet and so they stored asking me in regards to the scene, there was naked questions that did not relate to me.
“I remember saying, ‘I’m not part of the scene, I’m part of the culture’. It’s a totally different thing.
“Last yr after I gained, quite a bit of individuals felt like we gained. I’m not in no competitors, I’ve clashed within the dungeons, I’ve clashed in all of the fallacious locations that man do not wanna go.
“That’s where I’m at, I’m not in the competing section of this. When I go to the MOBOs this year, I like seeing the scene in a space closer to what I recognise culturally than it was last year, that’s a win for me.
“The extra differing kinds of those who I relate to taking a look at this factor like that is for them, that is who I relate to.”
Known as Europe’s greatest and most influential celebration of Black music and tradition, the awards will happen in Manchester for the primary time this Thursday, March 26. Some of the largest stars in music and tradition are getting ready to go to Co-op Live for MOBO Organisation’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
The awards will take place at Co-op Live on March 26 at 8pm and will be streamed on Twitch. Hosting the evening will be hip-hop icon Eve and acclaimed comedian and broadcaster Eddie Kadi.
In its first year in Manchester, the awards will play host to the likes of Olivia Dean, Aitch, AJ Tracey, PinkPantheress, Myles Smith and many more. Olivia will also be performing on the night, as will Aitch, Myles Smith, FLO, Tiwa Savage, and Shenseea.
Scorcher will be taking the stage with Wiley, Chip, Nolay, Scorcher and D Double E. Speaking ahead of the night, he said: “For me it appears like the tip of the season and also you sort of get to take pleasure in.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the other acts and just enjoying the night really.
I’m a simple guy, I don’t need no one’s help. I need the microphone working and I’ll take it from there, that’s how I feel.
“I hold the identical ideology as I did at first. I used to go radio and generally a mic is not working correctly. I’m from that period, I’m not from the period of recording a video that goes on-line and you are able to do the video seven occasions.
“I’m from, you’re live on radio, now! For me, this is just all fun.
“How can I lose? I’m on that large stage with this microphone that is working, the lights are shiny, the viewers is there. Sometimes you are going locations and you do not know how you are going to make it house tonight!”
