Skepta-the first grime victor at Mercury since 2003-takes home a £25,000 cash prize.
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Speaking to press, Hall said: “I have just so much gratitude to be asked to do this”.
At a star-studded ceremony in London’s Eventim Apollo, Skepta played “Shutdown” ahead of accepting his award, and ‘Man (Gang)’ after picking up the prize.
The MC previously told IBTimes UK at the Mercury Prize nominations launch: “One day I was just chilling and she [tweeted] a picture that said “Tottenham boy” and she’s from Tottenham as well”.
Bowie had been bookies’ favorite to take the 25,000 pound ($33,000) album-of-the-year prize for his final album, “Blackstar”. He said: “I wouldn’t say its a grime revolution – this is a really good time for grime but I think this is a revolution for freedom”.
“We all won today”.
Fellow grime artist Kano was also nominated for the Mercury Prize, and Skepta made sure to recognise him during his awards speech.
Shortlisted were Laura Mvula – The Dreaming Room; The 1975 – i like it when you sleep for you are so handsome yet so unaware of it; David Bowie – Blackstar; Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool; and Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate.
This was reduced to a final six during the ceremony which included Bowie, Radiohead, The 1975, Kiwanuka, Mvula and eventual victor Skepta.
A Bowie tribute was planned for the ceremony featuring a performance of his track Lazarus by Dexter star Michael C Hall, who is set to launch a Bowie stage production in London next month.
“Thank you to everybody who was there for me when I was going through depressed times”.
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Scottish rockers Primal Scream were the first winners, with subsequent victors including Portishead, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Suede and Franz Ferdinand.
