Wyclef Jean set to host the first Caribbean Music Awards in Brooklyn

Haitian musician Wyclef Jean is preparing to host the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards, a celebration of diverse Caribbean music genres slated for August 31 at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn.  Jean shared his enthusiasm for the groundbreaking event during a recent interview on NBC’s Today Show.  He highlighted the immense success of the Verzuz episode from May 2020, which showcased Caribbean artistes Bounty Killer and Beenie Man.  He attributed this episode as an indicator of the significant potential the awards show can have. “It reminded us how much we love the Caribbean,” he said. “For me, what’s exciting is Caribbean culture is shared, whether it’s fashion or .”

Wyclef Jean: From Grammy-winning artiste to celebrated host

Jean, experienced with hosting award shows, led the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards in Stockholm. He marked the event with a grand entry on an elephant, and he expressed a similar desire for an equally dramatic introduction at the Caribbean Music Awards. The 53-year-old renowned rapper and musician, a recipient of three Grammy awards, is no stranger to musical acclaim.  His accolades include two Grammy awards for his contribution to the Fugees’ 1996 album The Score, and another as a co-producer of Santana’s Supernatural, which seized the 1999 Album of the Year award.  Jean also earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2005 for co-writing the song “Million Voices” for the film Hotel Rwanda. The Caribbean Music Awards boasts a broad spectrum of 26 categories, covering a variety of music genres such as reggae, dancehall, soca, kompa, and zouk.   

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The event will also honor Trinidadian soca singer, record producer, and songwriter Machel Montano,48, with a lifetime achievement award.  Montano climbed to the top of Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart in 2019 with his album G.O.A.T.