Singers gear up for Mobo awards

Beyonce and Corinne Bailey Rae are leading the female front for this year's Mobo (Music of Black Origin) Awards.R'n'B singer Beyonce is nominated for four categories in tonight's awards: best international female, best song, best video and best R'n'B act.But she'll see some strong competition for the first category, as she is up against Mary J Blige, Nelly Furtado, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys.Meanwhile Leeds-born soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae is short-listed for best UK female, best UK newcomer and best song.After being named as the number one predicted breakthrough act of 2006 in an annual poll of BBC critics, Rae's debut album went straight to the top of the UK album charts.Likely winners for the best UK male award include former Fame Academy winner Lemar and hip-hop singer Sway.Held at the Royal Albert Hall, the awards will be shown live tonight on BBC 3 with highlights shown on BBC 1 this Friday.