Tinie Tempah and Jessie J lead the new Brit pack

South London rapper Tinie Tempah and Essex singer-songwriter Jessie J look set to be crowned king and queen of the UK music scene at next month's Brit awards, after the 2011 nominations were announced.

Tempah has been nominated for four awards - including the biggest prize of the night, British album of the year. His other nods come in the best single, best breakthrough act and best male solo artist categories.

Jessie J, who has already won the BBC Sound of 2011 poll, cemented her reputation as the Next Big Thing by grabbing the Critics' Choice award, which will be presented to her at the ceremony next month.

The music industry is obviously determined to milk the awards for all they are worth as the nominations were announced at a ceremony at the O2 that was almost as lavish as the main event, which takes place at the same venue on February 15.

Both Tempah and Jessie J were on hand to perform at the show, having no doubt been informed of their prospects beforehand.

Neither artist had any kind of public profile this time last year, but both have enjoyed a stratospheric rise to fame. 

Tempah has emerged as the darling of the British hip hop scene, at least in the eyes of the Guardian reading intelligentsia, who see him as the heir to Dizzee Rascal. They eulogise about his unusually witty lyrics, which set him apart from contemporaries like Tinchy Stryder and Roll Deep.

Jessie J has been hailed as the British answer to Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and she claims to have written her debut single Do It Like A Dude, which enjoyed chart success late last year, for Rihanna before deciding to record it herself.

There was still room for the old guard in the Brit nominations, if 27-year-old Cheryl Cole can be considered old. The X-Factor judge, who caused controversy by miming on the show in 2010, is up for best solo artist and best single, where her song Parachute is up against Tempah's Pass Out. 

Newly reformed Take That are in the running for best album and Paul Weller is up for best male, but most of the British nominees are relative newcomers. The likes of Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith, Rumer, Plan B and Mumford and Sons all get nods.

There are more established acts in the international categories. Katy Perry and Rihanna will fight it out with Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys and Robyn for best international female, but the star of last year's show, Lady Gaga, appears to have been snubbed after scooping three gongs in 2010. 

Black Eyed Peas look a good bet for best international group and old stager Bruce Springsteen is nominated for best international male.

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