27TH IRAWMA MAY 4, APOLLO THEATER, NYC, TARRUS RILEY LEADS WITH 7, OTHER TOP NOMINEES INCLUDE MAVADO, BEENIEMAN, SEAN KINGSTON, BUJU, STEVEN MARLEY, KYMANI MARLEY, MACHEL MONTANO & JUNIOR REID
Kingston, March 12, 2008 – March 5, 2008 in a packed konkanoo Lounge at the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston, Jamaica, the nominees and special Awardees, for the 27th International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA), were announced.
Special guest artists, celebrities and media personalities such as Miss Jamaica World, Yendi Phillips, Cecile, D’Angel, Norma Brown Bell – RJR, Lovindeer, Copeland Forbes, Claudette Kenlock- Hilton Kingston, Winford Williams, Candice Bucannan and Milk of CVM TV, were on hand to announce the 2007 nominees.
Leading with the most nominations is Tarrus Riley, with a mega seven (7) nods, two of them being Best Male Vocalist and Best Song, for the female anthem “She Royal”. Gangster DJ Mavado has five (5) nods from IRAWMA, for Best Male DJ, Best Album, Best Recording Artist(s), Songwriter of the Year, and Community Service.
Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Steven Marley and Sean Kingston all received four (4) nominations, while soca star Machel Montana, Kymani Marley and Junior Reid, each captured three (3). Reid is nominated for two (2) in the same category of Best Crossover for his hits with Alicia Keys and rapper MIMS.
The 27th IRAWMA is dedicated to “Health Awareness” and takes place on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at the World Famous Apollo Theater, in New York City.
Ephraim Martin, Founder of the IRAWMA, announced that Beenie Man, Kymani Marley, Doug E. Fresh, Sean Kingston, Tarrus Riley, Dean Fraser, D’Angel, and Buju Banton as a presenter are booked for the star studded event so far. The full list of performers and presenters will be announced soon.
Music lovers travelling from other countries/Islands or outside the state of New York are advised to secure their tickets now or as soon as possible, as seats are limited.
ON SALE NOW! TICKETS TO THIS 27TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL REGGAE & WORLD MUSIC AWARDS (IRAWMA) SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008 AT THE WORLD FAMOUS APOLLO THEATER IN NEW YORK CITY . EARLY TICKETS NOW: VIP PLATINUM $125; VIP GOLD $99; AND GENERAL ADM . $53. GET TICKETS AT WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM, 212/307-7171 OR APOLLO BOX OFFICE 212/531-5305. IT’S THE PERFECT GIFT TO GIVE TO FRIENDS OR ASSOCIATES THAT WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED!
Other nominees include : Ziggy Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Rihanna, Jay Z, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, King Sunny Ade, Sly and Robbie, Youssou N’Dour, Toots Hibberts, Beres Hammond, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony, Shakira, Angela Kidjo, Femi Kuti, and Jah Cure.
The sponsors and prospected partners for this coveted event include : American Airlines, Carib News, JAMROCK Magazine/LinkUp Media, Carib News, Sam’s Caribbean Market Place/Sams24-7.com, Dennis Shipping, Atlas Vacations, Gleaner/Star-NA, CVM TV, Keeling Records, DJ Steve’s Tax Services, NY Liberty Star Newspaper, Street Hype Newspaper, Ideal Health- Toni Haynes, Uptown Juice Bar, the Eye Collection Clothing, and Bennett Limousine. To participate as a sponsor, please call 877/9-REGGAE or visit www.internationalmusicawards.org or www.IRAWMA.com.
For more on IRAWMA log on to www.irawma.com
OFFICIAL IRAWMA NOMINATIONS LIST
Mark ONE nominee per category. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON IS ALLOWED!
Be a part of the process and help select the winner! Your decision should be based on material released between December 2006 and November 2007. Consider social relevance of materials, originality & sales, the scope of local, national, and international performances, quality of performances & stage appearance.
Vote online (www.IRAWMA.com) or submit ballot to International Reggae & World Music Awards, c/o Martin’s International and Associates, P.O. Box 5836, Chicago, IL 60680. Deadline for voting is April 20th, 2008. Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster.com, 212-307-7171, Apollo Theater Box Office, or call 877-9-REGGAE (877-973-4423
1. Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year– Sponsored by
– Beenie Man
– Buju Banton
– Tarrus Riley
– Stephen Marley
– Machel Montano
2. Recording Artist(s)/Group of the Year- Sponsored by
– Mavado
– Munga Honorable
– Beenie Man
-Tarrus Riley
– Mr. Vegas
3. Best Male Vocalist– Sponsored by
– Daville
-Tarrus Riley
– Richie Spice
– Jah Cure
– Luciano
4. Best Female Vocalist– Sponsored by
– Cecile
– Etana
-Tessanne Chin
– Alaine
– Queen Ifrika
5. Best Song– Sponsored by…
– “She’s Royal”-Tarrus Riley
– “Hot Wuk”- -Mr. Vegas
– “Church Heathen”-Shaggy
– “Sticky”-Jah Cure
– “Come Around” – Collie Buddz
6. Best Album/CD– Sponsored by Sam’s Caribbean Market Place/ www.sams24-7.com
– “Intoxication”-Shaggy
– “Mind Control”-Stephen Marley
– “True Reflections”-Jah Cure
-“Parables” -Tarrus Riley
– Gansta for Life – Mavado
7. Best Crossover Song-
-“Beautiful Girls”-Sean Kingston
– “Watch Di Gyal Dem Roll”– Sean Paul
– “Five O”-Elephant Man, featuring Wyclef
– “This is Why I’m Hot” -Mims featuring Junior Reid
– “No One Remix”- Alicia Keys featuring Junior Reid
8. Best Gospel-Oriented Song- Sponsored by Dennis Shipping
– “More Life”- Papa San
– “Back to the Owner”- DJ Nicolas
– “God Is By My Side”- Kerron Ennis
– “Lava Ground” – Prodigal Son
– “Testify” – Sherwin Gardner
9. Best Male Disc Jockey/Rapper– Sponsored by CVM TV
– Mavado
– Beenie Man
– Shaggy
– Buju Banton
– Munga Honorable
10. Best Female Disc Jockey/Rapper– Sponsored by Jamrock Magazine/Linkup Media/Plush TV
– Lady G
– Lady Saw
– Queen Ifrica
– Macka Diamond
– D’Angel
11. Best New Entertainer– Sponsored by
– Munga Honorable
– Sean Kingston
– Barbee
– Bugle
– Demarco
12. Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer– Sponsored by CaribNews (www.nycaribnews.com)
– Shurwayne Winchester
– Machel Montano
– Destra
– Bunji Garlin
– Allison Hinds
13. Best Reggaeton Entertainer– Sponsored by…
– Daddy Yankee
– Luny Tunes
– Tego Calderon
– Winsin y Yandel
– Don Omar
14. Best Latin Entertainer– Sponsored by…
– Shakira
– Marc Anthony
– Juanes
– Luis Miguel
– Celia Cruz
15. Best Compas/Racine– Sponsored by…
– Carimi
– Nu Look
– Sweet Micky
– T-Vice
– Zin
16. Best African Entertainer- Sponsored by…
– 2face Idibia
– Angelique Kidjo
– Femi Kuti
– Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars
– Lucky Dube Post Humous
17. Best Soukous Entertainer- Sponsored by…
– Koffi Olomide
– Papa Wemba
– Bouro Mpela
– Fally Ipupa
– Ferre Gola
18. Most Popular Hip Hop Entertainer– Sponsored by…
– Akon
– Jay-Z
– Kanye West
– Sean Kingston
– Rihanna
19. Outstanding Contribution to World Music– Sponsored by American Airlines (A/A)…
– Stephen Marley- Jamaica
– Sly & Robbie- Jamaica
– Magic Systeme- Ivory Coast
– King Sunny Ade- Nigeria
– Youssou N’ Dour- Senegal
20. Most Outstanding Stage Personality-
– Beenie Man
– Buju Banton
– Capleton
– Elephant Man
– Machel Montano
21. Best Music Video– Sponsored by…
– Church Heathen-Shaggy
– The Days-Busy Signal
– Traffic Jam-Steven and Damian Marley
– “She’s Royal”-Tarrus Riley
– “Roll It Gyal” – Allison Hinds
22. Best Poet– Sponsored by Uptown Juice Bar/Café’ Veg in Harlem
– DYCR
– Mutabaruka
– Ras Mykal-Bermuda
– Malachi Smith
-Steppa
23. Most Cultural/Educational Entertainer- Sponsored by
– Buju Banton
– Mutabaruka
– Luciano
– Morgan Heritage
– Queen Ifrika
24. Most Outstanding Show Band/Group– Sponsored by Irie Jam Media
– Steel Pulse
– Morgan Heritage
– TOK
– Voice Mail
– Third World
25. Most Consistent Entertainer– Sponsored by Baba Roots
– Horace Andy
– Freddie McGregor
– Toots Hibbert
– Marcia Griffiths
– Beres Hammond
26. Most Promising Entertainer– Sponsored by Trans- Continental Express Shippers
– Gyptian
– Kymani Marley
– Brick and Lace
– Wayne Wonder
– Pressure
27. Most Improved Entertainer– Sponsored by the Eye Collection Clothing
– Junior Reid
– Richie Stephens
– Kymani Marley
– Perfect
– Collie Buddz
28. Best Instrumentalist– Sponsored by Bennett/World Class Limo
– Monty Alexander
– Sly Dunbar & Robbie
– Tony Greene
– Dean Fraser
– Dwight Pinkney
29. Best Backing Band– Sponsored by Atlas Vacations
– Live Wyya
– C- Sharp
– Riddim- 2000 Band
– Rough Stuff
– New Kingston
30. Most Popular Sound System/Selector– Sponsored by…
– Black Kat
– Bass Odyssey
– Sound Trooper
– Mighty Crown
– Stone Love
31. Concert of the Year– Sponsored by
– Reggae Sumfest-Jamaica
– Summerjam-Germany
– Irie Jam-New York City
– Bob Marley Fest-Miami
– Best of the Best-Miami
32. Promoter of the Year– Sponsored by Street Hype Newspaper
– Rocker’s Island
– Linkup Media
– Raggamuffin Production
– Sumfest Promotions
– Irie Jam media
33. Producer of the Year– Sponsored by Liberty Star Newspaper
– Big Yard (Sting, Robert Livingston)
– Arif Cooper
– Donovon “Don Corleon” Bennett
– Dean Fraser
– Stephen “Genius” MacGregor
34. Songwriter of the Year- Sponsored by
– Tarrus Riley
– Stephen Marley
– Sean Kingston
– Pressure
– Mavado
35. Emperor Haile Selassie I Award for “Spiritual Service through Music” – Sponsored
– Lutan Fyah
– Morgan Heritage
– Luciano
– Tony Rebel
– Damian Marley
36. Community Service Award- Sponsored by
– Movado-Connect Jamaica/Flow Jamaica
– Capleton
– Live Up Campaign-Caribbean Broadcast Media
– Richie Stephens-
– Upliftment Jamaica Foundation & Gary Foster
37. SPECIAL: Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award-
– Ziggy Marley-Urge
– Jay-Z
38. SPECIAL: International Reggae & World Music Hall of Fame/Lifetime Inductees-
– Billy Ocean
– Claudelle Clarke
– Errol Brown- Engineer
– Winston Francis
39. SPECIAL: Martin’s International & Associates Award of Honor- …
– To be announced later
40. SPECIAL: Producer’s “Respect” Award– Sponsored by…
– Kymani Marley
41. SPECIAL Awards of Appreciation for Contribution to the Music Industry- Sponsored
– Herman Hall- Everybody magazine
– Winsome Benjamin
– Carib News- Karl Rodney
