A primeira edição dos Caribbean Music Awards aconteceu no dia 31 de Agosto no King’s Theatre em Flatbush, Brooklyn (Nova Iorque) – o bairro conhecido como “Little Caribbean”.
Apresentada por Wyclef Jean, a cerimónia foi uma celebração da música, das gentes e da cultura das Caraíbas.
“I’ve been to the Grammys, MTV Awards, all kinds of awards around the world. This is the only award show I feel so comfortable, I can wear my bloodclxt sandals”, referiu Clef no início do espectáculo.
“Tonight is a very, very important night as we celebrate the Caribbean region. Tonight is history. They steal our culture and they change the name of it. They call it ‘pop.’ Tonight, we’re taking everything back to the Caribbean”, disse.
Nestes prémios, os artistas das Caraíbas são reconhecidos, independentemente do género musical, incluindo Soca, Dancehall, Kompa, e muitos outros.
Eis a lista completa dos vencedores dos Caribbean Music Awards:
EP of the year (dancehall): Alkaline, The Ripple EFFX
Impact award (dancehall): Chronic Law
Impact award (reggae): Kabaka Pyramid
Impact award (soca): Viking Ding Dong
Performer of the year (soca): Mr. Killa
Album of the year (dancehall): Masicka, 438
Female artist of the year (dancehall): Spice
Male artist of the year (dancehall): Ding Dong
Male artist of the year (reggae): Beres Hammond
Male artist of the year (soca): Machel Montano
Female artist of the year (soca): Patrice Roberts
People’s choice award: Kes
Artist of the decade: Vybz Kartel
Collaboration of the year (soca): GBM Nutron & DJ Spider, “Down Dey”
Collaboration of the year (dancehall/reggae): Skeng & Nicki Minaj, “Likkle Miss”
Video of the year (dancehall/reggae): Popcaan & Toni-Anne Singh, “Next to Me”
Video of the year (soca): Patrice Roberts, “Mind My Business”
Best new artist (dancehall): Valiant
Best new artist (reggae): Samora
Best new artist (soca): Tempa
Kompa band of the year: Klass
Dance song of the year: Ding Dong, “BOUNCE”
Performer of the year (dancehall): Dexta Daps
Album of the year (reggae): Kabaka Pyramid, The Kalling
Lifetime achievement award: Machel Montano
Elite icon award: Beres Hammond
Humanitarian award: Buju Banton // The Buji Baton Foundation
