分类： entertainment

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has revealed the contenders for Reggae Recording of the Year at the upcoming 2026 JUNO Awards, Canada’s premier music celebration. The announcement, made on Monday, spotlights a dynamic mix of established performers and emerging talents within the genre.

This year’s nominations feature five distinct works: Naomi Cowan’s debut album ‘Welcome to Paradise’; the collaborative track ‘Dagga Riddim Cypher’ by Jojo You Made That, Yung 2nuff, Erin B, Topman Meeko, One Don and Enzooo; ‘More Reggae/Funk it Up’ by Samora and Ammoye; ‘Deh Ya’ by Kirk Diamond; and ‘Ready For You’ by Exco Levi and Kheilstone.

Naomi Cowan celebrated her inaugural nomination with gratitude, posting on Instagram: “First album, first JUNO nomination in Canada. God really surprised me yesterday with this one.” She acknowledged radio DJs and supporters who have championed her career.

Veteran artist Kirk Diamond, born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, received his seventh nomination. Expressing appreciation on social media, he stated: “Big love for all the support. Thank you @thejunoawards for another nomination,” while congratulating his collaborators and fellow nominees.

Exco Levi, a Manchester-born artist with an impressive record of six previous wins, earned his 13th nomination. In a powerful statement, he reflected on reggae’s enduring legacy: “We carry the legacy of our founders Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and many others… It is the heartbeat of the people. And we will continue to fight for our rightful place.”

Ammoye, originally from Clarendon, Jamaica, received her eighth nomination though she has yet to secure a win. She expressed excitement about her collaborative nomination with Samora, thanking their teams and supporters.

The 55th JUNO Awards ceremony will take place on March 29 at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum, hosted by comedian and singer Mae Martin. The event will also honor Joni Mitchell with a Lifetime Achievement Award and induct Nelly Furtado into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The Reggae Recording category has been part of the JUNOs since 1985, undergoing several name changes before becoming Reggae Recording of the Year in 2003. Exco Levi is the current title holder, having won the 2025 award for ‘Born to Be Free.’

South Florida is set to launch its annual Reggae Month celebration on February 7th, dedicating this year’s festivities to commemorating the monumental legacies of two recently departed icons: Jimmy Cliff and Cat Coore. The month of events will officially commence with the Reggae Genealogy Outdoor Music Festival in Plantation, establishing a tone of reverence and musical tribute.

Ian Lewis, a key organizer for the festivities and member of the renowned band Inner Circle, has issued a public appeal to all media outlets, urging them to honor the legends by featuring their music extensively throughout February. “We will be honoring Jimmy Cliff and Cat Coore, two legends of reggae music gone too soon. We will be asking all local radio stations to play their music in recognition of their immense contributions,” Lewis stated in an interview.

The tribute will extend beyond airwaves, with performing artists at major events like the Reggae Genealogy Festival and Rastafari Day on February 15th scheduled to deliver live renditions of the classics popularized by Cliff and Coore. The connection is profoundly personal for Lewis; his band, Inner Circle, shared deep historical ties with both musicians.

Jimmy Cliff, who achieved global stardom through his starring role in the seminal 1972 film ‘The Harder They Come,’ passed away last November at 81. Celebrated for timeless hits like ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ and ‘Wonderful World, Beautiful People,’ Cliff was actively recording his final album at Circle House, Inner Circle’s studio in North Florida, at the time of his passing.

Cat Coore, the acclaimed guitarist and founding member of the legendary band Third World, died in January at 69. His musical journey was deeply intertwined with Inner Circle, as he was an original member of the band formed by Ian and Roger Lewis in 1968. Coore later co-founded Third World in 1973 with keyboardist Ibo Cooper, creating a catalog of iconic tracks including ’96 Degrees In The Shade,’ ‘Now That We Found Love,’ and ‘Try Jah Love.’

The Reggae Month calendar is packed with significant events, including Rhythms By The River in Fort Lauderdale on February 22nd and the Praise On The Green Gospel Extravaganza in Miramar on February 27th. Inner Circle, themselves Grammy Award winners for Best Reggae Album in 1994 and globally recognized for anthems like ‘Bad Boys’ and ‘Sweat,’ will help guide a month that promises to be both a celebration of reggae’s vibrant culture and a heartfelt memorial to its lost giants.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The search for Jamaica’s next top male modeling talent reaches its climax as six exceptional finalists prepare to compete for the coveted Manhunt Jamaica Supermodel crown this Saturday. The winner will earn the prestigious opportunity to represent the Caribbean nation at the global Manhunt International Supermodel competition in Sri Lanka this May.

Selected from a competitive pool of professional and aspiring models across Jamaica and its diaspora communities in the United States and Canada, these finalists emerged through rigorous private casting sessions held late last year. The competition continues Jamaica’s strong tradition in the international modeling arena, following Rhyeme Wright’s third-place finish in the 2025 Manhunt International competition.

Manhunt International, established in 1993 as the world’s pioneering and longest-running international male modeling contest, maintains a reputation for excellence in discovering global modeling talent. The competition evaluates participants across multiple categories including commercial modeling prowess, catwalk technique, runway presence, physical conditioning, continental representation, and formal wear presentation.

The distinguished finalists represent diverse professional backgrounds: 20-year-old delivery assistant Daekon Burnett; 27-year-old business entrepreneur Kenroy Reid; 29-year-old assistant warehouse manager Omario Wright; 22-year-old medical assistant Javon Powell; 20-year-old culinary student Kile Lewin; and 25-year-old digital marketing strategist Dario Lopez.

Beyond the title, the ultimate prize includes a comprehensive one-year modeling contract with Manhunt International and its global affiliate partners for the top five international finalists. The competition format emphasizes masculine appeal through outdoor activities, thrilling events, and public presentations, distinguishing it from conventional modeling contests.

LOS ANGELES — The music industry’s most prestigious honors, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, are set to take place this Sunday in Los Angeles, with the Recording Academy revealing a diverse slate of contenders across major categories. Rap visionary Kendrick Lamar dominates this year’s nominations with an impressive nine recognitions, establishing him as the frontrunner for music’s highest accolades.

Following closely behind is pop icon Lady Gaga with seven nominations, while three artists—global sensation Bad Bunny, pop phenomenon Sabrina Carpenter, and R&B virtuoso Leon Thomas—are tied with six nominations each, demonstrating the breadth of musical excellence recognized this year.

The coveted Album of the Year category features an eclectic mix of works, including Bad Bunny’s ‘Debi Tirar Mas Fotos,’ Justin Bieber’s ‘Swag,’ Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Man’s Best Friend,’ the collaborative effort ‘Let God Sort Em Out’ by Clipse (Pusha T & Malice), Lady Gaga’s ‘Mayhem,’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX,’ Leon Thomas’s ‘Mutt,’ and Tyler, The Creator’s ‘Chromakopia.’

In the Record of the Year category, which honors overall performance on a track, contenders span from Bad Bunny’s ‘DtMF’ to Billie Eilish’s ‘Wildflower,’ Lady Gaga’s ‘Abracadabra,’ and the collaborative ‘luther’ by Kendrick Lamar with SZA.

The Song of the Year award, recognizing outstanding songwriting, features compositions from Lady Gaga’s ‘Abracadabra’ (written with Henry Walter & Andrew Watt) to the complex collaborative effort behind Rose and Bruno Mars’s ‘APT.,’ which involved nine songwriters including Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, and Bruno Mars himself.

The Best New Artist category showcases emerging talent including Olivia Dean, global girl group KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.

Additional notable categories include Best Pop Solo Performance featuring Justin Bieber’s ‘Daisies’ and Lady Gaga’s ‘Disease,’ Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande’s ‘Defying Gravity,’ and Best Rap Album contenders including GloRilla’s ‘Glorious’ and JID’s ‘God Does Like Ugly.’

The international music scene receives recognition in the Best Global Music Album category, featuring works from Siddhant Bhatia’s ‘Sounds Of Kumbha’ to Burna Boy’s ‘No Sign of Weakness’ and Youssou N’Dour’s ‘Eclairer le monde – Light the World.’