Valiant Cops 8 Nominations At Irie FM Music Awards
Singjay Valiant has copped a total of eight nominations for the Irie FM Music Awards, leading the pack ahead of his compatriot Popcaan, who is in second place with five.
Irie FM made the announcement on their Instagram page on Monday, just ahead of the awards ceremony which is set to take place on Wednesday March 1.
Valiant was nominated for the New Artiste of the Year, Male Deejay of the Year, and Male Singjay of the Year awards, while three of his songs St Mary, North Carolina and Dunce Cheque, were all nominated for Song of the Year. Additionally, his “Kotch E hat a lie” and “Fada” lingos, were also nominated for the Slang of the Year award.
Popcaan was nominated for the male deejay of the year award, while two of his songs Next to Me featuring former Miss World Toni-ann Singh and Elevate featuring Imeru Tafari were nominated for the Collaboration of the year Award.
His “Dat is it” slogan has also been nominated for the Slang of the year Award.
Interestingly, his Toni-ann Singh single with Burna boy, is nominated for what has been titled the Afrobeats song of the Year award.
In a release, Irie FM said that there “are 25 categories up for grabs which include the IRIE FM Humanitarian Award, Reggae Ambassador Award, Male and Female DJ of the year, Male and Female Singer of the year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Social Media Influencer of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Collaboration of the Year”.
According to the St. Ann-based Radio Station, Spice and Shenseea have been nominated for four awards each, while Dexta Daps, Shaneil Muir, Stalk Ashley, Moyann, and Skeng have three nominations each.
Rounding out the list of nominees are Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Ding Dong, Koffee, Masicka, D’Angel, Alkaline, Burna Boy, Jada Kingdom, Shaggy, and Sean Paul.
Irie FM has been the launching pad for the careers of some of Reggae and Dancehall’s biggest names, including Sean Paul, Buju Banton, Sizzla and Mr G.
At the 2022 awards, Spice, Masicka and Yaksta had reigned supreme. Spice, who was nominated in six categories, had won three awards including the Female Deejay of the Year and the Listeners Choice Award. Her Go Down Deh collab with Shaggy and Sean Paul, was also voted the Best Collaboration for the Year.
Masicka, in addition to copping the Male Deejay of the Year award, scored big with his 438 album, which also copped the Album of the Year award.
Yaksta was not only voted the Best New Artiste of the year but also tied with Dexta Daps for Singjay of the Year. In addition, the Singer/Singjay of the year and the Best Dressed Female awards went to Shenseea, while Beenie Man won the Best Dressed Male award.
Big Deal singer Christopher Martin copped the Singer of the Year Award, while 10-Tik’s Roll Deep won Song of the Year and Kevin Downswell was voted the Gospel artiste of the Year.
Special awards were also bestowed on veteran artists, among them Shaggy who won the Reggae Ambassador Award and Marcia Griffiths, who won the Living Legend Award.
Jordan McClure’s Chimney Records had copped the Producer of the Year Award, while Chemist Records and Raheef Music’s Imatik, which featured Skeng’s Gvnman Shift copped the Rhythm of the Year award.
The term “Dolly”, popularised by Shenseea was also voted the Slang of the Year, while dancer Tyreek’s Dirt Bounce won the Dance of the Year award.
Zip FM’s ZJ Sparks, was also voted the Social Media Influencer of the Year.
Last year’s staging was a new iteration of the awards which was halted for more than a decade. The first awards ceremony was staged in February 2006 and was the brainchild of veteran broadcaster/producer Big A, who had been a longstanding advocate for the awards and led the organising team for three years – 2006, 2007, and 2008.