Wednesday, 9 September 2009

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SEE PICS Speech Debelle wins Mercury Music Prize

Singer chuffed with victory

Speech Debelle was the surprise winner of the Mercury Music Prize

Rapper Speech Debelle has won the Mercury Music Prize 2009 for her debut album Speech Therapy.

The 26-year-old beat favourites La Roux and Kasabian and scooped £20,000 at last night’s ceremony in London.

‘I feel so good, it feels better than I imagined,’ she said.  

‘There's a lot of music that sounds the same, all day on the radio. Hopefully people will hear this album and realise they don't have to make music that sounds the same - they can make music that sounds good.’

Speech Therapy - which failed to enter the Top 40 when it was released in June - was among a shortlist of 12 albums.

‘It does present a real freshness and individuality,’ panel member Jude Rogers tells the BBC.

‘The thing I love about this record is that it is a rap record which doesn't sound like a rap record.’

SEE PICTURES All the stars at the Mercury Music Prize 2009>>

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