Speech Debelle wins the Barclaycard Mercury Prize
The 26 year old rapper's debut album "Speech Therapy" which deals with her troubled teenage years, has only sold 3000 copies to date although sales are likely to surge following last night's win.
She said: "I feel so good. It feels better than I imagined. My family's here. My friends are here. I'm from south London. I don't get emotional - I'm emotional.
"This proves if you believe in something and you think you can do it, you can achieve it."
The win came as a shock to many pundits who had predicted wins for La Roux, Bat for Lashes or Florence and the Machine.
Debelle now join the ranks of Franz Ferdinand, Badly Drawn Boy and the Arctic Monkeys who have all won the prize in previous years.
Click below to watch her single 'The Key' or click here to visit her myspace page.
This isn't having a go at her music but just what i think will happen....
Not sure who is on the panel but the winner is chosen becasue they are different,the singers voice has to have some attraction and lyricaly they also need to have some inspiration.
Out of all the contenders this year i would have said Speech was up there and i know Florence was the mail contender but if you follow the Mercury awards you will know that the obvious rarely wins...............its not some pop music awards its for serious artists...............unfortunately some who do win do go pop in the end...Arctics and the alike.
Don't forget looks aint everything unless Amy Winehouse would have been buried long ago in a winehouse!!!!
I saw Friendly Fires in July. They're a top band!
I wanted them to win :| xox