UK Garage madam Ms Dy-na-mi-tee wins the 2002 Mercury Music Prize.

Last night the winner of the 2002 Mercury Music Prize was announced and the judges once again managed to wrong foot the bookies by awarding the album of the year to A Little Deeper by 21 year old UK Garage MC Naomi McLean-Daley, better known as Ms Dynamite.

The urban and pop-laced diva also beat the acts popular with you lot. The Streets topped the Collective pool, receiving 22.6% of your votes, The Coral were runners up with 17.1%, followed by Roots Manuva with 12.2%. You didn’t think much of A Little Deeper giving Ms Dynamite only 4.9% of the vote.

The Mercury is always hard to predict due the eclectic nature of the albums shortlisted but is this deliberate shift in tact by the prizes organisers to raise the profile of the award by awarding the album of the year accolade to the most radio friendly of the nominees?

If so then the award is in danger of abandoning the people who do respect it. Mind you, Dy-na-mi-tee is a bloody good pop song. MW 18 September 02