The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - New R&B Artist of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners in the new year, but here is a look at the best new rap artists that just missed the cut and why in the New R&B Artist of the Year award.

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - New Hip Hop Artist of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners in the new year, but here is a look at the best new rap artists that just missed the cut and why in the New Hip Hop Artist of the Year award.

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - R&B Artist of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners after the new year, but here is a look at the singers that just missed the cut and why in the R&B Artist of the Year category.

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - Hip Hop Artist of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners on the 31st, but here is a look at which rappers made the cut and why in the Hip Hop Artist of the Year category.

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - UK Album of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners on the 31st, but here is a look at the acts that just missed the cut and why in the UK Album of the Year category.

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - R&B Mixtape of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners on the 31st, but here is a look at the acts that just missed the cut and why in the hardest category of them all, the R&B mixtape of the year award as there have been many, many great mixtapes released in this category in 2011.

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - Hip Hop Mixtape of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners on the 31st, but here is a look at the acts that just missed the cut and why for the Hip Hop Mixtape of the Year Award. 

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - R&B Album of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners on the 31st, but here is a look at the acts that just missed the cut and why: Up next, R&B Album of the Year.  

The Urbanite End of Year Awards (The Countdown) - Hip Hop Album of the Year

The other week, we gave you The Urbanite's definitive list of the best music and artists of 2011.  With only days away until the end of the year, and after much deliberation and last minute changes, the list has finally been made.  We'll be revealing the winners on the 31st, but here is a look at the acts that just missed the cut and why - starting with the Hip Hop Album of the Year Award.

The Urbanite End of Year Awards

As the streets get colder, the coca-cola christmas adverts start playing and your general attitude to work wanes, it can only mean one thing: the end of the year is nigh and it's time for the The Urbanite End of Year Music Awards.

2011 has in many ways been a sick year of music.  Who would have thought that after Tinie Tempah blasted through the charts in 2010 without looking back, others would follow suit and firmly plant the UK "urban" scene on the map?  Wretch 32 released a mainstream but credible first album, scoring a few number one hits on the way, and the likes of Professor Green and Example played out to sold-out arenas up and down the country.  We even got our own, credible urban TV drama featuring the UK's finest and, whilst it is no The Wire, most of us know that Top Boy Season Two is going to be big.

Across the pond, we benefited from the emergence of some exciting new R&B sounds that transcended genres and hooked both indie fans and ballad lovers into tales of heartbreaking and drug taking (see Frank Ocean and The Weeknd). Two of raps greatest living legends made us "watch the throne" when they came together to release an album of epic proportions and, along with MMG, YMCB had another big year and proved that the days of the rap collective are not dead (also see OFWGKTA and Slaughterhouse).

So it is only fair that those who have entertained get praised - and what better praise than an Urbanite end of year award?

Read on for this year's nominations: