The Caribbean music world is ready to shine on August 28, 2025, as the Third Annual Caribbean Music Awards returns for a night of glitz, glamour, and undeniable beat. Hosted at the iconic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, this year’s show promises to be the biggest and most diverse edition yet.
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What & Where & When
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
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Venue: Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, New York
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Doors open: 6:00 PM, show starts at 8:00 PM
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Host: Majah Hype
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What to Expect
This year’s edition is being billed as “Culture’s Biggest Night”. Fans can expect:
Over 40 award categories across genres such as Reggae, Soca, Dancehall, Kompa, Gospel, R&B, and more.
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More than 150 nominated artists from across the Caribbean and diaspora communities.
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New award categories added in 2025 to reflect the expanding soundscape and influence of Caribbean music.
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Honorees who will receive special awards for lifetime achievement, legacy, and contributions to Caribbean music and culture.
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Nominees at the Top
Several artists lead the field this year in terms of nominations. Some of the standouts include:
Masicka and Shenseea: each with seven nominations.
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Patrice Roberts and Kes: each with six nominations.
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Vybz Kartel, Chronic Law, Nailah Blackman, Kranium follow with significant nods.
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Also drawing attention are Bunji Garlin, Romain Virgo, Lila Iké and others, each recognized for their consistent contributions to Caribbean music.
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To capture the evolving musical currents, seven new categories make their debut this year. They include:
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Reggae – Collaboration of the Year
Reggae Song of the Year
Female – International DJ of the Year
Caribbean Fusion Song of the Year
Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year
Zess-Steam Artist of the Year (celebrating high-energy performers, especially within the “Zesser” movement)
Gospel Song of the Year
These additions expand the scope beyond just performance and genre to embrace collaborations, spiritual music, DJ culture, and fusion sounds.
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Honorees & Special Awards
Alongside competitive categories, several icons will receive honorary recognition:
Bounty Killer — Lifetime Achievement
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Super Blue — Calypso Honors
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Kerwin Du Bois — Producer Honors
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Carimi — Legacy Honors
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Sizzla Youth Foundation — Humanitarian Honors
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Shirleyann Cyril-Mayers — Gospel Honors
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Busta Rhymes — Elite Icon Award
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Voting for various categories opened April 10 and will continue through May 31, 2025. Fans around the world are encouraged to visit CaribMusicAwards.com to cast their votes.
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The Caribbean Music Awards (presented by the Caribbean Elite Group) are fast becoming a vital platform for artists to be seen and heard beyond their home islands. The expanded categories and wide range of nominees reflect the growing influence of Caribbean genres not just regionally, but globally. This year’s awards underscore that Caribbean music is not a niche—it is a driving force in contemporary popular music, infusing global charts, inspiring cross-genre collaborations, and evolving constantly.
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Nominees — A Sample of Categories & Artists
Here are some of the nominees in key categories to watch:
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Category Some Notable Nominees
Male Soca Artist of the Year Bunji Garlin; Kes; Kerwin Du Bois; Mical Teja; Mr. Killa; Problem Child; Skinny Fabulous
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Female Dancehall Artist of the Year Jada Kingdom; Shaneil Muir; Shenseea; Spice; Stalk Ashley; Stefflon Don; Vanessa Bling
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Reggae Song of the Year Been There Before – Romain Virgo feat. Masicka; Thank You Lord – Bugle & Buju Banton & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley; Fry Plantain – Lila Iké & Joey Badass; others
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Soca Song of the Year Anxiety – Patrice Roberts; Best Self – Nailah Blackman & Lyrikal; Carnival Contract – Bunji Garlin; plus others
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Dancehall Song of the Year Big Breeze – Squash; Comet – Vybz Kartel; Happy Birthday – Busy Signal; Hit & Run – Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius; etc.
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Looking Ahead
As the date draws nearer, expect announcements regarding performances, further details on presenters, broadcast or streaming partners, and any surprises. If recent years are any indication, there may also be showstopping collaborations, memorable red carpet moments, and buzz-worthy fashion.
Caribbean Music Awards 2025 is shaping up to be more than just a night of awards — it’s a reaffirmation of identity, creativity, and the power of music to unite diaspora communities across continents. Whether you’re a fan in the Caribbean, North America, Europe or beyond, this is one night you won’t want to miss.
Mark August 28, 2025 in your calendar. Let the beat carry you.
Full list of nominees by category for the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards.
Event Name: Caribbean Music Awards 2025
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Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
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Venue: Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, New York
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Nominees: Over 150 artists nominated across more than 40 categories
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New Categories in 2025:
Reggae – Collaboration of the Year
Reggae Song of the Year
Female – International DJ of the Year
Caribbean Fusion Song of the Year
Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year
Zess-Steam Artist of the Year
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Gospel Song of the Year
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Full Nominees by Category
Below are the nominees in most of the major categories. (Some smaller or genre-specific categories may have additional nominees not listed here.)
Category Nominees
People’s Choice Joé Dwèt Filé; Kes; Lady Lava; Shenseea; Skeng; Skillibeng; Vybz Kartel; Yung Bredda
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Dancehall – Album Of The Year Dexta Daps ‒ Trilogy; Govana ‒ Legacy; Shenseea ‒ Never Gets Late Here; Spice ‒ Mirror 25; Vybz Kartel ‒ First Week Out
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Male Dancehall – Artist Of The Year Busy Signal; Chronic Law; Dexta Daps; Kranium; Masicka; Sean Paul; Valiant; Vybz Kartel
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Female Dancehall – Artist Of The Year Jada Kingdom; Shaneil Muir; Shenseea; Spice; Stalk Ashley; Stefflon Don; Vanessa Bling
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Dancehall Song Of The Year Big Breeze ‒ Squash; Comet ‒ Vybz Kartel; HAAD (Fiesta) ‒ Armanii; Happy Birthday ‒ Busy Signal; Higher Life ‒ Kranium & Chronic Law; Hit & Run ‒ Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius; What’s Up (Big Buddy) ‒ Jada Kingdom; Whites ‒ Masicka
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Dancehall – Best New Artist Armanii; Daan Chorus; Kman 6ixx; Kraff Gad; Lady Lava; Malie Donn; Monéa; Rajah Wild
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Dancehall – Performer Of The Year Dexta Daps; Ding Dong; Elephant Man; Masicka; Shenseea; Skeng; Spice; Tommy Lee Sparta
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Dancehall – Impact Award Nigy Boy; Armanii; Daan Chorus; D’yani; Malie Donn; Moyann; Rajah Wild; Stalk Ashley
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Dancehall – Collaboration Of The Year Shenseea, Masicka, Di Genius ‒ Hit & Run; 450, Valiant ‒ Faith; Ding Dong, Kraff Gad ‒ Benz Key; Govana x Jada Kingdom ‒ Pull Over; Kranium & Chronic Law ‒ Higher Life; Popcaan & Chronic Law ‒ St Thomas Native; Stalk Ashley & Skillibeng ‒ Really Like U
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Reggae – Album Of The Year Bugle ‒ Apex; Etana ‒ Nectar of the Gods; Mortimer ‒ From Within; Romain Virgo ‒ The Gentle Man; UB40 ‒ UB45; Various Artists — Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired by the Film
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Reggae Song Of The Year Been There Before ‒ Romain Virgo feat. Masicka; Thank You Lord ‒ Bugle & Buju Banton & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley; Fry Plantain ‒ Lila Iké & Joey Bada$$; Haunted ‒ Pressure; Legend Legend ‒ Protoje; Never See Us Fall ‒ Marlon Asher & Sizzla; Pile Up ‒ Alaine; Praise Jah In The Moonlight ‒ YG Marley
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Female Reggae – Artist Of The Year Alaine; Etana; Lila Iké; Marcia Griffiths; Naomi Cowan; Queen Omega; Tanya Stephens
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Reggae – Best New Artist Haile; Blvk H3ro; Jayden; Joby Jay; Kxng Izem; Royal Blue; Sevana
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Male Reggae – Artist Of The Year Anthony B; Buju Banton; Gramps Morgan; Pressure; Romain Virgo; Sizzla; Tarrus Riley; YG Marley
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Reggae – Collaboration Of The Year Bugle & Buju Banton & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley ‒ Thank You Lord; Imeru Tafari x Queen Ifrica ‒ I Love Rastafari; Lila Iké Ft. Joey Bada$$ ‒ Fry Plantain; Mortimer Ft. Kabaka Pyramid & Lila Iké ‒ Bruises; Romain Virgo feat. Masicka ‒ Been There Before
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Reggae – Impact Award Anthony B; Imeru Tafari; Jah9; Naomi Cowan; Ras-I; Sevana; YG Marley
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Reggae/Dancehall – Video Of The Year Bugle & Buju Banton & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley ‒ Thank You Lord; Ding Dong ‒ Old Skool New Skool; Kranium ft. Chronic Law ‒ Higher Life; Masicka ‒ 20 Matic; Shenseea ‒ Hit & Run ft. Masicka, Di Genius; Shenseea & Wizkid ‒ Work Me Out; Valiant ‒ Muhammad; Wisin, Anitta, Shaggy, Maffio ‒ Peligrosa
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Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year Amanda Reifer; Dexta Daps; D’yani; Kranium; Monéa; Tosh Alexander
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Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year 5 Two; Kalash; Kanis; Michael Robinson; Naïka; Stefflon Don
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Konpa Artist of the Year Joé Dwèt Filé; Kai; Klass; Nu Look; Oswald; Rutshelle Guillaume; T-Vice; Vayb
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Soca Song of the Year Anxiety ‒ Patrice Roberts; Best Self ‒ Nailah Blackman & Lyrikal; Blessing ‒ Blaka Dan; Carnival Contract ‒ Bunji Garlin; Carnival Jumbie ‒ Problem Child; DNA ‒ Mical Teja; In the Center ‒ GBM Nutron & Farmer Nappy; Someone Else ‒ Trilla G, Lil’teboy, & Quan
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Male Soca ‒ Artist Of The Year Bunji Garlin; GBM Nutron; Kerwin Dubuis; Kes; Mical Teja; Mr. Killa; Problem Child; Skinny Fabulous
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Female Soca ‒ Artist Of The Year Anika Berry; Destra Garcia; Fay-Ann Lyons; Jadel; Nadia Batson; Nailah Blackman; Nessa Preppy; Patrice Roberts
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Soca – Best New Artist Blaka Dan; Coutain; Hunter; Imani Ray; Mela Caribe; Star Martin; Th3rd; Trinidad Killa
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Soca – Performer Of The Year Bunji Garlin; Kes; Machel Montano; Mr. Killa; Nadia Batson; Nailah Blackman; Patrice Roberts; Pumpa
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Soca – Collaboration Of The Year Dat-C DQ & Skinny Fabulous ‒ Start; GBM Nutron & Farmer Nappy ‒ In the Center; Kes x Tano ‒ Miracle; Nailah Blackman & Lyrikal ‒ Best Self; Shal Marshal & Kerwin Du Bois ‒ Document Me; Skinny Fabulous & Lyrikal ‒ Hurricane; Trilla G, Lil’teboy, & Quan ‒ Someone Else; Voice & V’ghn ‒ Trinidad Sweet
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Soca – Video Of The Year Alison Hinds ‒ Born With It; Bunji Garlin ‒ Carnival Contract; Kes ‒ Banga; Nadia Batson ‒ Best in a While; Nailah Blackman & Lyrikal ‒ Best Self; Patrice Roberts ‒ Anxiety; Voice x V’ghn ‒ Trinidad Sweet
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Soca – Impact Award Anika Berry; Faith Callender; Jadel; Mical Teja; Rae; Trinidad Killa; V’ghn; Yung Bredda
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Shenseea: reportedly the biggest winner of the night, taking home five awards including Female.
Spice: named Dancehall Performer of the Year
Lila Iké: won Female Reggae Artist of the Year
Full list of the winners.
Caribbean Music Awards 2025 — Winners
Category Winner
People’s Choice [Winner]
Dancehall – Album Of The Year [Winner]
Male Dancehall – Artist Of The Year [Winner]
Female Dancehall – Artist Of The Year [Winner] (likely Shenseea, but needs confirmation)
Dancehall Song Of The Year [Winner]
Dancehall – Best New Artist [Winner]
Dancehall – Performer Of The Year [Winner] (Spice)
Dancehall – Impact Award [Winner]
Dancehall – Collaboration Of The Year [Winner]
Reggae – Album Of The Year [Winner]
Reggae Song Of The Year [Winner]
Female Reggae – Artist Of The Year [Winner] (Lila Iké)
Male Reggae – Artist Of The Year [Winner]
Reggae – Best New Artist [Winner]
Reggae – Collaboration Of The Year [Winner]
Reggae – Impact Award [Winner]
Reggae/Dancehall – Video Of The Year [Winner]
Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year [Winner]
Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year [Winner]
Konpa Artist of the Year [Winner]
Soca Song of the Year [Winner]
Male Soca ‒ Artist Of The Year [Winner]
Female Soca ‒ Artist Of The Year [Winner]
Soca – Best New Artist [Winner]
Soca – Performer Of The Year [Winner]
Soca – Collaboration Of The Year [Winner]
Soca – Video Of The Year [Winner]
Soca – Impact Award [Winner]
[Other categories] [Winner]
Shenseea emerged as the biggest winner of the night, taking home five awards including Female Dancehall Artist of the Year and Dancehall Album of the Year.
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Spice won Dancehall Performer of the Year.
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Lila Iké was named Female Reggae Artist of the Year.
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Full Winners List — Caribbean Music Awards 2025
Category Winner
Bouyon Artist of the Year Mr. Ridge
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Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year Naïka
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Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year Dexta Daps
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Dancehall Best New Artist Malie Donn
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Dancehall Album of the Year Shenseea — Never Gets Late Here
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Dancehall Collaboration of the Year “Hit & Run” — Shenseea × Masicka × Di Genius
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Dancehall Impact Award Armanii
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Dancehall Performer of the Year Spice
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Dancehall Song of the Year “Hit & Run” — Shenseea × Masicka × Di Genius
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Female Dancehall Artist of the Year Shenseea
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Female International DJ of the Year DJ Ana
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Female Reggae Artist of the Year Lila Iké
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Female Soca Artist of the Year Patrice Roberts
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French Caribbean Artist of the Year Joé Dwèt Filé
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Konpa Artist/Band of the Year Rutshelle Guillaume
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Latin Caribbean Artist of the Year Bad Bunny
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Male Dancehall Artist of the Year Vybz Kartel
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Male International DJ of the Year DJ Private Ryan
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Male Reggae Artist of the Year Romain Virgo
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Male Soca Artist of the Year Kes
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Music Cruise of the Year UberSoca
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Music Event of the Year Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street
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People’s Choice Vybz Kartel
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Reggae Album of the Year Romain Virgo — The Gentle Man
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Reggae Best New Artist Sevana
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Reggae Collaboration of the Year Bugle & Buju Banton & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley
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Reggae Impact Award YG Marley
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Reggae Song of the Year “Been There Before” — Romain Virgo feat. Masicka
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Reggae-Dancehall Video of the Year “Hit & Run” — Shenseea × Masicka × Di Genius
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Soca Best New Artist Blaka Dan
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Soca Collaboration of the Year Someone Else — Trilla G × Lil’teboy × Quan
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Soca Impact Award Yung Bredda
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Soca Performer of the Year Kes
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Soca Video of the Year Anxiety — Patrice Roberts
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Soca Song of the Year DNA — Mical Teja
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Zess-Steam Artist of the Year Lady Lava
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