Jamaican music history will be celebrated in grand style as iconic production duo Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson and Cleveland “Clevie” Browne prepare to be honoured for their outstanding contributions to more than 14 Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated albums at the 2025 Grammy Certificate Ceremony. Known for pioneering digital dancehall and reshaping reggae production, Steely & Clevie’s work has influenced generations of artists and propelled Jamaican music onto the global stage. Their innovative fusion of traditional reggae rhythms with cutting-edge electronic techniques continues to define the sound of modern dancehall.
Among the celebrated projects, the duo’s 1994 production of Dawn Penn’s timeless hit You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) stands out as a career-defining achievement. The single, certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry in 2022 for selling over 400,000 copies in the UK, exemplifies their ability to bridge eras, revitalising rocksteady-inflected reggae for a worldwide audience. Beyond this milestone, their fingerprints can be found on seminal albums including Sean Paul’s Dutty Rock (2004), Beenie Man’s Art and Life (2001), and Shabba Ranks’ X-tra Naked (1993) and As Raw As Ever (1992), all of which received Grammy recognition.
Cleveland “Clevie” Browne, reflecting on the honour, said, “This recognition is truly a testament to the decades of work Steely and I dedicated to the music. To be honoured alongside other unsung heroes who have helped build this industry is incredibly meaningful. For me, the event is poised to be a bittersweet moment, as I wish my musical partner, Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson, was here to share in this celebration. His genius and vision are a part of every riddim we created. This honour is also for him, as well as all the artists, engineers, and musicians who trusted our sound to take reggae and dancehall to the world.”
Clevie’s individual contributions further underscore the duo’s monumental influence, including work with legends such as Buju Banton (Upside Down 2020, Friends for Life), Jimmy Cliff (Black Magic, Breakout), Wayne Wonder (No Holding Back), and Barrington Levy (Acousticalevy), all of which earned Grammy nominations. Their early beginnings at Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Black Ark Studios and later at King Jammy’s established the duo as house musicians who reshaped studio production in Jamaica, laying the groundwork for decades of innovation.
The Grammy Certificate Ceremony 2025, set for Saturday, September 13 at Kingston’s Audi Showroom and livestreamed worldwide via On Stage TV, is officially endorsed by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport and supported by sponsors including ATL Automotive Jamaica, Tastee Jamaica Ltd., and Castle Black Rum. Organised by Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd., the event seeks to finally give long-overdue recognition to the unsung architects of reggae and dancehall, cementing Steely & Clevie’s legendary status as the visionaries behind some of Jamaica’s most influential music.
Along with the Gold Disc, both Steely & Clevie will also receive multiple Grammy Certificates, recognising their key contributions to:
- Sean Paul – Dutty Rock (2004) — Grammy Winner
- Beenie Man – Art and Life (2001) — Grammy Winner
- Wayne Wonder – No Holding Back (2004) — Grammy Nominee
- Shabba Ranks – As Raw As Ever (1992) — Grammy Winner
- Shabba Ranks – X-tra Naked (1993) — Grammy Winner
Clevie’s individual recognitions will include contributions to:
- Buju Banton — Upside Down 2020 (2021) — Nominee
- Barrington Levy — Acousticalevy (2016) — Nominee
- Jimmy Cliff — Black Magic (2005) — Nominee
- Buju Banton — Friends for Life (2004) — Nominee
- Wayne Wonder — No Holding Back (2004) — Nominee
- Beenie Man — The Doctor (2000) — Nominee
- Yellowman — Freedom of Speech (1998) — Nominee
- Jimmy Cliff — Breakout (1993) — Nominee
- Judy Mowatt — Working Wonders (1986) — Nominee
