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Lady Lava Dominates Nominations, New Categories Revealed & More For @CaribMusicAwards 2026

Posted on by swadedavillain

Story By: CaribMusicAwards.com

The countdown begins as the Caribbean Music Awards returns for its highly anticipated fourth annual celebration, delivering its most expansive and electrifying edition yet, spotlighting the artists, songs, and cultural innovators shaping the global sound of Caribbean music. Additional details about the event and date will be announced soon.

This year marks a major milestone with over 250 nominees across more than 40 categories, reflecting the rapid global rise, diversity, and creative expansion of Caribbean music. Voting officially opened on June 10, 2026, and will remain open through August 10, 2026, giving fans worldwide an extended opportunity to support their favorite artists, songs, and cultural icons. Voting and full details are available at caribmusicawards.com. Building on its commitment to cultural expansion and genre inclusivity, the Awards introduces a powerful slate of nine new and expanded categories spotlighting Dennery Artist and Song of the Year, Zess Song of the Year, Konpa Song of the Year, Chutney Soca Artist and Song of the Year, Jab Artist and Song of the Year, and French Caribbean Song of the Year. These additions further solidify the Caribbean Music Awards as the most comprehensive platform celebrating the full spectrum of Caribbean sound.

This year’s nominations tell a defining story of a rapidly evolving musical landscape driven by collaboration, genre-fluidity, and global crossover success. Leading the artist field is Lady Lava, who emerges as the most nominated artist with nine nominations, reflecting her rare cross-genre presence across Soca, Zess, Chutney Soca, and performance categories.

Close behind is a tightly packed group of dominant forces shaping the year’s soundscape, with Ayetian, Machel Montano, and V’ghn each securing seven nominations, underscoring their wide-ranging impact across Dancehall, Soca, and collaboration-heavy categories. Shenseea and Skillibeng follow with six nominations each, while Masicka, Popcaan, Valiant, Vybz Kartel, and Yung Bredda each earn five nominations, reinforcing the continued global dominance and cultural influence of Dancehall and Soca’s leading voices.

A strong second tier of consistent contenders also emerges with Full Blown, Jesse Royal, Joé Dwèt Filé, Kes, Lila Iké, Lola Doll, Mical Teja, Mikado, and Voice, each earning four nominations, highlighting the depth and competitive balance across genres including Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Zess, and French Caribbean music. On the song side, “Shake It to the Max (Fly) Remix” by Moliy, Skillibeng, Shenseea & Silent Addy leads the 2026 field as the most nominated song of the year, earning three nominations across multiple categories, the highest total for any single track. Its cross-category strength highlights its broad cultural reach across Dancehall, collaboration, and visual recognition, cementing it as one of the defining records of the year.

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"10 Songs That Made Impact In The 2020s" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Dancehall #Music #13thStreetPromotions #10SongsThatMadeImpactInThe2020s #2020sList #SocialMedia #Music #Caribbean #BestOf2020s

10 Songs That Made Impact In The 2020s So Far

Posted on by swadedavillain

We have officially crossed the half mark of the 2020s, and a lot has happened. In Jamaica’s music scene, many new Artists and movements emerged, some fell by the wayside just as quickly as they get the break, and others never made it to the 2020s for one reason or another. We remember those who passed away, and may their music and works live on. In remembering the first half of the 2020s, we look back at a few songs that made impact in the 2020s so far. These songs may have officially given the Artists their big break, rejuvenated a career or few, set Social Media and the streets on fire, and crossed over to the International market. Here are 10 of them in no particular order.

1. Valiant – Dunce Cheque (2022)

2022 was a year for Dancehall Artist Valiant. While he was building his career for a number of years, his name got the people’s attention thanks to a TikTok video. The video, which found him dressed in Ralph Lauren, gave the birth to the phrase, “Kotch E Hat A lie?“, which found life on Social Media thanks to various posts using the sound. From there, Valiant would capitalize off the buzz with singles like “St. Mary” and “North Carolina“. Those singles enjoyed love in the streets, but it was the Tarick-produced “Dunce Cheque” that took over households, and took flight to various parts of the world. The music video quickly hit over 1 Million views in a couple days, the single overall scored streaming numbers in the millions while securing a place in Dancehall and Social Media, and caused a few controversies thanks to the rise of the “Dunce” movement. Valiant officially became a star, and he keeps the fire going in 2026.

2. Skeng – Gvnman Shift (2021)

In 2020, people were made aware of an upcoming Dancehall Artist named, Skeng. The Spanish Town native was armed with aggressive lyrics and a presence that would unleash brimstone if he was approached the wrong way. He started to make noise with the gun-toting single “Brrp“, but it was his 2021 release “Gvnman Shift” that would open up the gates for him. His stance as an Intellectual who carefully detailed his badness throughout, placed him on the forefront of Dancehall music. The John Coop/DiTruth-produced “Gvnman Shift” enjoyed viral success, and even had kids in Basic School/Kindergarten reciting the lyrics word for word. Skeng became a star in the 2020s, with hit singles quickly following, and he successfully crossed over to the overseas market thanks to his collaborations with Rapper Nicki Minaj. Ay BWOY!

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Content, Manchester, Jamaica on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Manchester #Content #HurricaneMelissa ##Hurricane #13thStreetPromotions #Recovery #Caribbean #HurricaneSeason

We Survived Hurricane Melissa!

Posted on by swadedavillain

As the title says, we survived Hurricane Melissa! October 2025 will be a month to remember as we’ve been on Hurricane Watch for a good part of the month, till Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 ascension on the Island, and the aftermath that we’re currently dealing with. While this is not your typical post from us, we give thanks on behalf of many who have lived to tell the tale in not only Jamaica, but The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic), Turks & Caicos, and Bermuda, and we mourn those who passed away due to the event. The week before and after October 28, 2025 hasn’t been smooth sailing.

We are thankful for those who have been making efforts in the recovery process. Jamaicans locally and abroad have been rallying for help in cash and kind to support those who have suffered losses, and rebuild. We ask that you lend your support to the likes of SupportJamaica.gov.jm, and initiatives by the likes of X Users @BrayForJade, Jodi of WheresTheFoodJo’s “Cups Up“, Emma, @JsCallMeTee, Better Help, and many more. As power and certain resources are still major things in various parts of Jamaica, we’re also trying to help out a few families/individuals in our communities with necessities including Power Banks, Power Stations, Water, and even Supermarket Vouchers so they can secure a few items. If you wish, you can make a contribution to our Paypal here. Wherever and whoever you support during this time, THANK YOU in advance, a little goes a long way.

Before we head out, we thank those who have been hitting up the Website and checking out the content. Feel free to click on the Ads, and if you need promotion or any service provided by us, do make a contact, and we’ll get back to you. We’re not officially back online, but we’ll make it happen until we’re 100% again.

*The Cover Photo Is The Aftermath Of Hurricane Melissa In The Community Of Content In Manchester, Jamaica.

R.I.P. Barry G!

Show us some love/follow us on Twitter, TikTok, Threads, and Instagram at @13thStreetPromo.

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Elephant Man on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Dancehall #Music #13thStreetPromotions #ElephantMan #EnergyGod #September11 #Birthday #OnielBryan #Caribbean #RojhayAnderson

We Reflect On Elephant Man’s 30 Year Career On His Birthday

Posted on by swadedavillain

Jamaican Dancehall Artist Elephant Man is a King, and there’s no denying it. Known as the “Energy God”, he ensures that every musical release puts a jolt in your spine, and he electrifies the stage whenever he is summoned to perform. With a career that started in the 90s, it’s amazing that he still commands a large audience, and still possesses a hit-making skillset. This year he celebrates 30 years of music, a feat that is well-respected, and he is as active as ever. He has a few things in store, but let’s go back down memory lane a little.

Born O’Neil Bryan on September 11 in Seaview Gardens, Kingston, Elephant Man was made to entertain.  His music career started as a member of the group, “Scare Dem Crew”, which consisted of himself, Harry Toddler, Boom Dandimite, and Nitty Kutchie, and had a close association with Dancehall Icon Bounty Killa. Elephant Man would disband from the group after a number of releases to pursue a solo career, and he would cause a storm from there. With a charged delivery, catchy lyrics, loud fashion, and the ability to get you dancing, Ele became a hit machine since the mid 90s. His crossover to the International market in the 2000s made him a dominant force, and helped to increase the value of the Jamaican music scene during that era. His catalog is filled with hits like “Pon De River”, “Jook Gyal”, “Nuh Linga”, “Signal De Plane”, “Elephant Message”, and “Log On”, and he had something for everybody. He also had a knack for remixing popular songs, making hits out of them (you can find a number of them in this Playlist), and teaming up with various dancers to create catchy moves to accompany certain releases. The 2010s never found Ele slowing down, and he continued to feed the streets, and cause scenes when he gets to perform. This King of Dancehall reigned supreme.

Since the advent of the 2020s, Elephant Man continued to produce music at a rapid pace, while welcoming an influx of regional and International bookings during various times of the year. He is a regular in North America during the summer, and being a part of annual events like Hot 97’s “On The Reggae Tip” and “Summer Jam”, “Reggaefest”, and the “Love and Harmony Cruise” not only keeps him busy, but allows him to introduce new music along with the hits. He made waves this year on Social Media when he made a remix to Ghanaian-American Singer Moliy’s “Shake It To The Max” called “Dancing To The Max”, flipped the Connie Francis 60s hit, “Pretty Little Baby” called “Pretty Baby“, and recently he celebrated another high point in his career when he was granted the opportunity to perform for the first time in 16 years in the UK.

Elephant Man has enjoyed a successful career that still takes care of him. His 30 years has been filled with many high points, and not so high ones, but his support system continues to uplift him, and the various accolades and awards he has received over the years are testaments to what he’s really about, making good music for the people. You can find Elephant Man on Instagram at @ElephantManTheEnergyGod, and on TikTok at @Oniel.Bryan.

Check out our “30 Years Of Elephant Man” videos below, and share with a friend. Show us some love/follow us on Twitter, TikTok, Threads, and Instagram at @13thStreetPromo.

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Jelissa Marie's "Felt Like Yard" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #London #UK #Design #Creative #Art #Craft #13thStreetPromotions #JelissaMarie #JelissaWilliamson #FeltLikeYard #Montessori #Education #DIY #Caribbean

Jelissa Williamson Celebrates Jamaican Heritage With Kid-Friendly Craft

Posted on by swadedavillain

To all my viewers and readers living overseas, how much do you miss being at home? We understand many migrated for financial reasons, and some desire to return living better than they lived growing up in the Caribbean. Some keep the feeling alive by visiting when they can, some attend Caribbean-themed events, some secure the family connection, while others find creative ways to make “farrin” feel like home. London-based Creative and Mother of two Jelissa Williamson a.k.a. Jelissa Marie may not have been born in Jamaica, but she makes connections to keep herself and her family close to her heritage. Recently, she used her love of being creative to celebrate her heritage that everyone can enjoy.

With “Felt Like Yard“, Jelissa Marie creates fun items that tap into her love for Jamaica. In a series of videos she shared on Social Media, she displayed Jamaican cuisine and fruits that had many doing double takes to see if the food was real. From Ackee & Saltfish, to Oxtail with Plantain and Rice and Peas, to Patty, to Guineps, to Porridge with Crackers, to Jerk Chicken, Jelissa’s hands were given a special touch to make these well-loved items from home come to life. With children in mind including her two daughters, Jelissa’s creations encourage stronger family bonds, and with the use of the Montessori Education system, boost children’s zeal for learning and creativity, and develop a love and respect for heritage. The Montessori system is an educational system designed to tap into children’s natural interests and activities rather than a formal way of learning. This includes hands-on learning, playing, developing real-world skills, emphasizing a child’s independence and eagerness to learn.

Jelissa is currently dealing with a demand for her Island creations to be made for purchase, but she is finalizing her catalogue of items, and has a waiting list available for those interested. She’s also open for collaborations. You can find Jelissa on Instagram and TikTok.

Check out some of her content below, and share with a friend. Show us some love/follow us on Twitter, TikTok, Threads, and Instagram at @13thStreetPromo.

Continue reading “Jelissa Williamson Celebrates Jamaican Heritage With Kid-Friendly Craft” →