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PICTURED: South London rapper Dave

GRIME MC Stormzy and south London rapper Dave have both been nominated for Ivor Novello awards, the UK’s most reputable awards for songwriting.

The two artists will go head-to-head in the best contemporary song category where Stormzy has been nominated for his song Don’t Cry for Me and Dave has been nominated for his song Question Time.

Stormzy’s Don’t Cry for Me, which features Raleigh Ritchie, charts his tortured relationship with his hometown, while Dave’s politically-charged Question Time navigates UK foreign policy, Brexit and deaths in police custody.

Radio presenter Paul Gambaccini, who has been presenting the Ivors for 31 years, said: “If there were three songs of the same kind I would be worried because that would mean we’d be in the disco period, where disco just dominated everything for two years.”

Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, is also up for an award in the album category for his debut release Gang Signs and Prayer MC.

Sampha’s (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano is up for best song musically and lyrically.

Neither Dave nor Stormzy, who as recently deleted his Twitter account, have public reacted to the news of the nominations as of yet.

The Ivors are in their 63rd year. The winners of this year’s awards will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Gambaccini on May 31 at Grosvenor House, London.

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