Dua Lipa, Arlo Parks, Celeste, Joel Corry and Young T & Bugsey lead Brit Awards 2021 nominations with three noms apiece. The British album category also features four out of five female nominees for the first time in Brits history, with the aforementioned women joined by Jessie Ware and J Hus. Also, more than half the nominees in key categories are non-white, making the most diverse nominations in the event's history, as Sky emphasizes. Alexis Petridis points out that - "by recognising UK rap and women’s creativity, the Brits are finally in tune".

Rapper Nines won album of the year for 'Crabs in a Bucket', and best hip-hop act, while R&B singer Mahalia won best female act and best R&B/soul act at the 2020 Mobo awards, returning for the first time since 2017 to celebrate music of Black origin. Drill rapper Headie One was named best male act, while 'Don’t Rush' by pop-rap duo Young T & Bugsey was voted Mobo song of the year.