Ayetian’s rapid rise has produced another major milestone. Just two months after Billboard named him its Caribbean Up-and-Comer of the Month, the Jamaican-Haitian deejay has won Best New Artist at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards in Trinidad and Tobago, just one year after making his first red-carpet appearance at the ceremony in New York. The victory adds a major trophy to a breakout year that has already seen the 21-year-old earn seven Caribbean Music Awards nominations, score a No. 3 U.S. iTunes Reggae Albums debut with Jampack and set his sights on Grammy and Billboard chart success.
Ayetian, born Malik Legend Tercien, first gained attention through freestyles shared during his teenage years, eventually turning that early buzz into a growing catalogue and an increasingly visible presence in Dancehall. Tracks such as “Lawge”, “Balance”, “Tip” and “Wah Yo Deh Pon” have helped establish his distinctive style, while collaborations with artistes including Kodak Black, Stefflon Don, Ky-Mani Marley and Skillibeng have expanded his reach. His 16-track Jampack mixtape, released earlier this year, became his biggest project to date and reinforced his ambitions of taking Montego Bay’s trap-Dancehall sound to a wider international audience.
The Best New Artist win arrives at a particularly significant point in Ayetian’s career. In July, Billboard spotlighted the rising deejay after he recorded 22.9 million official U.S. on-demand streams in 2025, according to Luminate, while Jampack debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. iTunes Reggae Albums chart. At the Caribbean Music Awards, Ayetian celebrated the breakthrough with a message to his supporters on Instagram: “Tell Dem Seh A Big Man Ball Game.” The win also marks a striking progression from his first appearance at the awards ceremony to returning a year later as a recipient.
Meanwhile, Ayetian remains focused on building beyond the Caribbean. Speaking to Billboard, he said, “I don’t have a set limit, but the primary goal is Grammys and Billboard charts.” He also stressed the importance of his Caribbean identity, adding, “Anywhere the music takes me, I’ll go with it. Even though I’m Haitian and building my foundation in Jamaica, it’s all about the Caribbean.” With Billboard recognition now followed by his first major Caribbean Music Award, Ayetian’s next chapter will be about turning a breakthrough year into sustained international momentum.
View this post on Instagram
