Ms Dynamite tops Brits list

This time last year they were barely known outside the underground club scene. But today rappers Niomi Daley and Mike Skinner - alias Ms Dynamite and The Streets - lead the field for Britain's biggest musical awards ceremony.

Each has been nominated four times for next month's Brit Awards after a year that saw a wave of homegrown urban music breakthrough. The ceremony, on 20 February, will give Skinner the chance for revenge against Daley, who pipped him to the Mercury Music Prize last summer.

But the 23-year-old Streets star has vowed to shun the event, telling aides he has "no interest" in the ceremony because it is "not really him".

Skinner and Daley go head to head in three categories - best breakthrough act, best urban act and best British album - and each is also nominated as best male and best female respectively. Both their albums, Ms Dynamite's A Little Deeper and The Streets' Original Pirate Material, were two of the outstanding CDs of 2002.

Skinner's record company has already begun trying to get the star to change his mind and attend the ceremony. A source said: "So far, he's refusing to budge. He's very anti-establishment - a bit like the punk of his generation."

Bookmakers Ladbrokes last night gave odds of 1-4 Ms Dynamite will win more awards. Speaking about the nominations, Ms Dynamite said today: "This is quite an incredible feeling and it tops off an amazing year. I try to stay grounded but there is nothing I take for granted."

Pop trio Sugababes have three nominations, just a year after they were dropped by their old record label. There are also three nominations for Pop Idol winner Will Young and two each for runner-up Gareth Gates and Popstars runners-up Liberty X.

Coldplay are nominated for best British group and best album, along with Oasis and The Coral. Robbie Williams, Craig David, David Gray and Badly Drawn Boy are nominated for best British male artist and Sophie Ellis Bextor is among the contenders for best British female artist.