The Caribbean music scene is gearing up for a landmark night this September, as the annual Caribbean Music Awards (CMAs) breaks new ground by hosting its first ever ceremony on Caribbean soil. After three consecutive years of staging the event in Brooklyn, New York, the 4th iteration of the awards will open its doors on Saturday, 19 September at Port of Spain’s National Academy for the Performing Arts in Trinidad, drawing hundreds of the region’s most talented musical acts to compete for top honors.
With more than 250 nominees vying for awards across 40+ categories, the 2025 CMAs have a strong showing from Grenada’s vibrant soca community, boasting both veteran hitmakers and rising breakout stars among the list of contenders. Leading the Grenadian contingent is beloved soca artist V’ghn, who has secured seven nominations overall — a count that ties him for the second-most nominations of any artist attending this year’s awards. Only Trinidad and Tobago’s Lady Lava outpaces him, having earned nine nods ahead of the ceremony.
Grenada’s outsized influence is particularly visible in the CMAs’ newly launched Jab music categories, where six Grenadian acts have earned nominations for Jab Artist of the Year: V’ghn, Tallpree, Dred Lion, Muddy, Khalifah and Lil Kerry. The Jab Song of the Year shortlist is also dominated by Grenadian talent, with six regional fan favorites making the cut: Lil Kerry’s “Bury All,” Tallpree and Smokie’s “Do for Do,” Dred Lion’s “Grease It,” V’ghn and Terra D Governor’s “Jab Decisions,” Muddy’s “Payroll Xpert,” and Khalifah, MC Straker and Greg Boss’ “Same Boat.”
Beyond the Jab categories, Grenadian soca holds its own across competitive soca lineups. Renowned performer Mr Killa has earned a nod for Soca Performer of the Year, while breakout star Lil Kerry enters the awards with two total nominations, capping off a standout year that saw him claim third place in the Spicemas Power Soca Monarch competition and secure the 2026 Grenada Road March title for his hit track “Mayhem.”
V’ghn’s seven nominations span multiple high-profile soca categories in addition to his Jab nods, including Male Soca Artist of the Year, Soca Performer of the Year, Soca Collaboration of the Year and the Soca Impact Award. His collaborative hit “Jab Decisions,” recorded with Terra D Governor, has earned three separate nominations across Jab and soca categories. Beyond earning spots on the nominee list, V’ghn, Lil Kerry and Muddy will also take the stage during the awards ceremony, bringing the distinct sound of Grenadian soca directly to the regional audience.
Industry observers note that the widespread representation of Grenadian artists across categories highlights the depth and diversity of the island’s soca scene, bringing both established household names and emerging new talent to the forefront of one of the Caribbean’s most high-profile music industry events.
Disclaimer: This content is adapted from original reporting by Roxanne Thompson for NOW Grenada. NOW Grenada holds no responsibility for contributor opinions and third-party content.