The Wray & Nephew Strictly 2K Music Festival, held from Saturday night into Sunday morning at Kingston’s Mas Camp, transformed into a celebration of dancehall legacy as it honored three iconic contributors to the genre. Dancehall superstar Charly Black, pioneering sound system Coppershot, and veteran dancer Mad Michelle received prestigious awards recognizing their profound impact on Jamaican music culture.
Event conceptualizer Ibrahim Konteh emphasized the importance of acknowledging these cultural architects. “We selected them because these three perfectly embody the icons who shaped that period,” Konteh told the Jamaica Observer. He highlighted Charly Black’s global crossover success with hits like ‘Gyal You a Party Animal’ and Billboard-charting collaborations that internationalized dancehall.
Mad Michelle, crowned International Dancehall Queen in 2003, was recognized as one of the originators of the iconic ‘Dutty Wine’ dance. Coppershot Sound received honors for their remarkable longevity and influence since their 1994 founding, having performed across all continents and made history as among the first Jamaican sound systems to perform in the Middle East.
The emotional award presentation drew enthusiastic cheers from attendees, many of whom expressed that the recognition was long overdue. The festival itself served as a musical time capsule, with DJs including ZJ Chrome, Johnny Kool, Coppershot, and DJ Absolute taking patrons on a journey through the biggest dancehall hits of the 2000s and 2010s.
Konteh revealed ambitious expansion plans for the Strictly 2K brand, including potential international stagings beyond Jamaica and a major 10th anniversary celebration in 2026. The promoter noted the event’s growing global appeal, with some patrons traveling from as far as Japan to experience the carefully curated celebration of dancehall’s golden era.