CHRONIXX, front-runner of the roots-reggae revival, leads the nominees for the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) set for Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on October 4.
The conscious singer, who is known for songs such as Who Knows, Behind Curtain and Smile Jamaica, has received six nominations. He is up for the Bob Marley Entertainer of the Year, Best Male Vocalist, Best Song — Who Knows, Best Album — Dread and Terrible, Best Music Video — Who Knows and Most Cutural/ Educational Entertainer.
His contemporary Protoje is also in the running with four nods for Best Male Vocalist, Most Promising, Best Song — Who Knows, and Best Music Video, also for Who Knows.
Singer Etana also has been nominated for four IRAWMA trophies — Bob Marley Entertainer of the Year, Best Female Vocalist, Best Song — I Rise as well as the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award.
Newcomer Dexta Daps earns three nominations. His hugely popular track, 7/11, has been nominated for Best Song. He is also nominated for Best New Entertainer where he is up against Gully Bop, Kabaka Pyramid and Jesse Royal. His third nod comes in the category, Most Promising, where he competes with Omi, Protoje and Romain Virgo.
Trophies are up for graps in 41 categories covering reggae, soca and other genres from the Caribbean and Africa.
In the Best Dancehall Artiste (male), nominees are Demarco, Popcaan, Stylo G and Vybz Kartel.
On the female side, nominees are Ishawna, Lady Saw, Spice and Tifa.
The Best Male Vocalist category sees Chris Martin, Romain Virgo and Tarrus Riley up against Protoje and Chronixx.
The nominees for Best Female Vocalist are Alaine, Etana, Ikaya and Tessanne Chin.
In addition to Chronixx’s Dread and Terrible, those in the running for Best Album are: Strictly Roots from Morgan Heritage, Where We Come From by Popcaan, The Reggae Power from Sly and Robbie and Strictly the Best 50, the compilation from VP Records.
Inner Circle, No-Maddz, Raging Fyah, Steel Pulse and Third World are nominated for Most Outstanding Show Band/Group.
In the Most Consistent Entertainer category, nominees are Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffiths, Richie Stephens, Sanchez and Yellow Man.
This year, three Jamaican artistes — AJ Brown, Ed Robinson and Pluto Shervington — will be inducted into the IRAWMA Hall of Fame.