South London Native Among 2026 MOBO Awards Rising Stars
Slick Rick, born Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters in Mitcham, will be honoured at the MOBO ceremony tonight. He will collect a lifetime achievement award and is scheduled to perform.
Roots and early life
The rapper grew up in South London with his Jamaican family. He lived there until he was 11 years old.
At age 11 his family moved to The Bronx in New York. He later became known for his eye patch after losing sight in his right eye to a shard of glass during childhood.
Life in New York
He has described the Bronx of the 1970s as a hard place to grow up. He recalled crowded living conditions with extended family in a small flat.
He also spoke about widespread crime and corruption affecting daily life. Those experiences shaped his early music and outlook.
MOBO Awards 2026 — event overview
The MOBO Awards 2026 take place on Thursday, March 26, at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester. The ceremony covers multiple genres across Black-origin music.
- Hip hop
- Grime
- UK Drill
- R&B and soul
- Reggae
- Jazz and gospel
Last year’s ceremony was staged in Newcastle. Artists such as Central Cee and Bashy were among the winners, while Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi hosted the show.
Filmogaz.com highlights that the South London-born artist is receiving the lifetime accolade. He remains one of the most recognisable figures to attend.
Rising talent and legacy
Alongside established performers, the programme spotlights new names. The shortlist of Rising Stars aims to showcase the next generation.
How to watch
The show is streamed live on the Amazon Music UK channel on Twitch. Viewers can watch via the website or the Twitch app on mobile devices.
Selected Smart TVs and gaming consoles also support the Twitch app. You can watch without signing up, but a free account is required to interact.
