I WAS HEADING to the Notting Hill Carnival after a crazy weekend touring the UK when I got the call: “I hope your case is packed as you’re going to New York on Wednesday to present an award at the Caribbean Music Awards.” 

A few rums later it kinda sunk in that summer wasn’t quite over for me, as I was going to the Big Apple and it was also their Labor Day weekend, which meant another carnival but this time in Brooklyn on the eastern parkway. 

The Brooklyn that I returned to was not the same place I last saw over 15 years ago. Dare I say it, Brooklyn looked like Manhattan with the new skyline of skyscrapers. 

But I wasn’t here for sightseeing, I was here to see wha gwan for the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards that on paper looked like the start of something special. I’m not one to get to excited over events like this as I am usually left a little disappointed, and this was the general feeling from the few I had spoken with. 

Hosted by Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, with a stellar lineup of performers and presenters at The Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, this promised a whole heap and I have to be honest it truly delivered, albeit with lots to learn from. 

Arriving for the red carpet entrance, I knew this wasn’t “someone trying a ting” as I saw Wyclef and his carnival dancers giving a red carpet treatment that the media assembled probably have never witnessed before. 

This was truly a Caribbean experience with stars in attendance including Kes, Morgan Heritage, Spice and Kranium. 

Many had criticised the awards for poor promotion as few people had an idea that a ceremony like this was happening to celebrate the achievements of artists from across the diaspora. But you would have never believed this when I entered the grand Kings Theatre. It seemed liked they had sold out the venue and there was an energy attached to this. 

The audience responded with huge cheers when they saw some of their favourite artists like Machel Montano and the queen of the dancehall taking her seat. Dressed in her trademark blue, it felt different to see her get this adoration from her community in these settings. 

Dressed like a gentleman, I was ready for a great evening, but it didn’t seem like it wanted to get going. 

This was the main issue for me! As grand as the production looked, you could tell the organisation was lacking. 

It felt like the show was littered with big gaps, but the host Wyclef kept us entertained while admitting this is how we are in our community, which was met with a round of honest laughs. 

The show was filled with very special moments, and the opening set the tone. 

A soca medley of hits performed by Alison Hinds, Rupee, JW performing Palance and Skinny Fabulous bringing it home and this was just the first five minutes. I think we needed a gap to recover. 

Something else that we will never see on any other awards show was the Elite Icon Award that was received by Beres Hammond. But before he was able to get his hand on it we had to sit through some of his classics performed by Romain Virgo, Kranium and Dexta Daps… like really!!! 

But it was former Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh that surprised all from that quartet with her phenomenal vocals. 

Machel Montano, who was in attendance with his wife and children, also received a long overdue award for 30 years of service he has given to soca and Caribbean music. 

Even though Machel won an award for service to the music, it felt like everyone in attendance won an award for service to the music as this ceremony felt like the first grand award show for the music from the Caribbean. 

To hear Dexta Daps say “this is the first awards I’m receiving” is absolutely wild to me, but I guess nobody is gonna do for us other than us, so that’s why I congratulate the organisers for even attempting to pull this off. 

BTW the Labor Day parade was nice, but it ain’t no Notting Hill… hahahahahha!

DJ Seani B wants to see Caribbean music elevate and he has some ideas on how