Despite his physical absence at the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) last Thursday held at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, dancehall star Masicka continues to bask in recognition for his album “438.”Â
This triumph saw him prevailing over tough competitors such as Vybz Kartel (True Religion), Kranium (In Too Deep), Sean Paul (Scorcha), Skeng (Beast of the Era) and Spice (Emancipation) to secure the esteemed title of “Album of the Year – Dancehall.”
The award presentation was a moment of camaraderie, courtesy of fellow entertainer and Calabar High alumnus Cham commending the “Tyrant” deejay for his admirable musical contributions.
The CMAs, orchestrated by the Caribbean Elite Group, proved to be a resounding success, honouring excellence across diverse musical genres, including Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Kompa, and Zouk. The event celebrated the achievements of a plethora of remarkable artists, acknowledging their excellence in coveted categories such as “Album of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” “Producer of the Year,” “Lifetime Achievement,” “Video of the Year,” “People’s Choice,” and “Caribbean Music Event of the Year.“
Masicka, who recently signed with Def Jam Recordings, has carved an impressive path in his career. His debut album, “438,” recently attained a significant milestone by securing the record for the longest-standing dancehall album on the Apple Music Jamaica Daily Chart. Remarkably, it maintained a position in the Top 10 for an unprecedented 85 weeks, only slipping once to No. 11 on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, since its release on December 3, 2021. In the United States, “438” garnered 32,600 equivalent album units within a year, including 1,200 pure album sales and an impressive total of 48.8 million on-demand streams, combining audio and video data.
This 16-track album made waves on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, debuting at No. 2 in December 2021, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Seekers Album list, and sustaining a Top 10 position for seven consecutive weeks. Acknowledging Masicka’s impressive feat, the esteemed American music platform presented him with two plaques in recognition of these achievements.
Fresh from a noteworthy performance at Barbados’ 2023 Summa Fest last Saturday, Masicka is poised to captivate the National Stadium car park this weekend. The hitmaker and Dragon Stout brand ambassador is set to shine as the headliner of the Streetz Festival this Saturday, September 2. His return to the stage in Kingston marks a momentous occasion, as Masicka had not graced a concert platform in the city for the past five years, with his last performance at Mega Vibes in 2019.
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