Kartel, Mavado lead EME Awards nominations

Deejays Vybz Katel and Mavado lead the list of nominees for this year's Excellence in Music and Entertaiment (EME) Awards. Both artistes lead the pack with six nominations each.

The awards which will be handed out on the East Lawns of Devon House in Kingston on March 12, sees high-riding deejay, Vybz Kartel being nominated for trophies for Deejay of the Year, Song of the Year (dancehall) in which he has two nods for Clarks and Dumper Truck, Album of the Year for Pon di Gaza 2.0, Collaboration of the Year for Clarks which also features Popcaan and Gaza Slim, and International Artiste of the Year.

Mavado has two nominations for Song of the Year — Stulla and Mad Over, and has also been nominated for Singjay of the Year, Collaboration of the Year for Come into My Roon with Stacious and My Heart with Wayne Marshall and International Artiste of the Year.

Other artistes with multiple nominations include Jah Cure, Lady Saw, I-Octane, Tarrus Riley, Bounty Killer, Etana and Gyptian.

This year sees the introduction of a new category at the EMEs -- Artiste of the Decade (2001-2010). According to founder of the awards, broadcaster Richie B, the award will be given to the artiste who had the biggest impact as a hit maker, performer and touring act.

The public will be able to cast their vote for their favourite nominee at the awards' website www.emeawards.com. Already Richie B has announced that rappers Eve and Trina will be attending this year's show, which will be co-hoted by US-based comedian Raymond 'Rayzor' Davis.

The full list of nominees:

DJ OF THE YEAR (MALE)

Beenie Man, Aidonia, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Busy Signal, Assassin

DJ OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

Stacious, Lady Saw, Ce'Cile, D'Angel, Timberlee, Spice

VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (MALE)

Hezron, Stevie Face, Jah Cure, Christopher Martin, Romain Virgo, Tarrus Riley, Richie Stephens

VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

Tami Chynn, Queen Ifrica, Etana, Alaine, Cherine Anderson, Phyllisia

PRODUCER/LABEL OF THE YEAR (DANCEHALL)

Sankofa Records — Sankofa Crew, Equinoxx Productions — Gavin Blair, Chimney Records — Jordan Mc Lure, Big Ship — Stephen Mcgregor, Seanizzle Records — Sean Reid, Notnice Productions — Ainsley Morris, Cash Flow Records — DJ Neil, DJ X & Fada P, CR203 Records — ZJ Chrome, Head Concussion Records — Tariq Johnson

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

Kemar 'DJ Flava' Mc Gregor — No Doubt Records, Donovan Bennett — Don Corleon Label, Sly & Robbie — Taxi Label, Donovan Germain — Penthouse Records, Jeremy Harding — 2hard Music, DJ Neil, DJ X & Fada P — Cash Flow, DJ Frass — Frass Productions

BEST NEW ARTISTE (MALE)

Vybrant, Richie Loop, Popcaan, Versatile, Protojé, DJ Liquid, T'nez

BEST NEW ARTISTE (FEMALE)

Toya, Gaza Slim, Misteree, Ikaya, Sheba, Denyque, DJ Sunshine, Keida

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR

RDX, Andrew & Wada Blood, TOK, Voicemail, Roots Revealers, Twin of Twins, Nomaddz

BIGGEST COMEBACK ARTISTE

Ras Charmer, Warrior King, Junior X, Mr G, Future Fambo, Andy Livingston, Mr Lexx

SONG OF THE YEAR (DANCEHALL)

Clarks — Vybz Kartel, Popcaan & Gaza Slim, Stulla — Mavado, Hold You — Gyptian, Rum & Red Bull — Beenie Man and Future Fambo, Mad Over — Mavado, Dumper Truck — Vybz Kartel, This is how we do it — Elephant Man and Bounty Killer, Nah sell out mi fren dem — Khago, My Cupp — Richie Loop, Jim Screechie — Spice

SONG OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

We shall find a way — Hezron, Unconditional Love — Jah Cure/ Phyllisha, Wildfire — Tarrus Riley, Free — Etana, My Life — I-Octane, Life — Shawn Storm, Night Shift — Busy Signal, Lose a Friend — I-Octane

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Pon di Gaza 2.0 — Vybz Kartel, Romain Virgo — Romain Virgo, Distant Relatives — Junior Gong & Nas, Infallible — Tanya Stephens, Hold You — Gyptian, My Way — Lady Saw, Before the Dawn — Buju Banton, Black Gold — Duane Stephenson

CULTURAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, Richie Spice, Jah Cure, I-Octane, Etana, Chuck Fender

BREAKTHROUGH ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Tony Anthony, D'Major, Khago, I-Octane, Tiana, The Jolly Boys, Shawn Storm, G Whizz

SINGJAY OF THE YEAR (MALE)

Mavado, Mr Vegas, I-Octane, Chino, Konshens, Gyptian, Wayne Marshall

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR (LOCAL)

Clarks - Vybz Kartel, Popcaan & Gaza Slim, Come Into My Room -- mavado & stacious, How We Do It -- Elephant Man & Bounty Killer, Unconditional Love -- Jah Cure & Phyllisia, Drinking Rum & Red Bull -- Beenie Man & Fambo, For Ur Eyes Only -- Shaggy & Alaine, My Heart -- Wayne Marshall & Mavado, Stronger -- Cham, Mykal Rose & Bounty Killer, Certified Diva -- Tami & Tifa

RIDDIM OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

Big Stage -- Penthouse, Classic -- No Doubt, Minor -- Don Corleon, City Life -- 2hard Music, Pleasure -- Cash Flow, Cardio Bass -- CR203, Feel So Good -- Romeich Records

RIDDIM OF THE YEAR (DANCEHALL)

Mad Collabo -- CR203, Bank Inna Mi Pocket -- Romeich, 12 Furlong -- Ballaz/Sankofa, Cosa Nostra -- Ward 2, Bad People -- Stephen McGregor, One Day -- Seanizzle, Smokin -- CR203

MOST IMPROVED ARTISTE

Nicky B, Chi Ching Ching, David M, Delus, Danielle aka DI, Zamunda, G Warren

GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Goddy Goddy, Jabez, Prodigal Son, DJ Nicholas, Jermaine Edwards, Omari Edwards, Junior Tucker, Judith Gayle, Carlene Davis, Kevin Downswell

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Gyptian, Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, Laza Morgan, Shaggy, Mavado, Sean Paul, Vybz Kartel, Cherine Anderson

BEST THEATRICAL PRODUCTION

The Pummer, Puppy Love, Passa Passa Daily, House Arrest, Ghettout, What Is Fi Yuh

BEST INSTRUMENTAL GROUP WITH VOCALS (BAND)

Raging Fire, Dubtonic Kru, C-Sharp, Live Wyya, Rootz Underground, Public Secret

ARTISTE OF THE DECADE (2001-2010)

Capleton, Elephant Man, Sean Paul, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Bounty Killer, Luciano, Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Junior Gong, Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, Wayne Wonder

Source: Jamaica-Observer