Vincentian soca sensation Skinny Fabulous has received the most nominations of a soca artiste in the 2024 Caribbean Music Awards, slated for Aug. 29 in New York.
The artiste, who is known for his strong lyrics and aggressive delivery style, received six nominations, second only to Jamaican dancehall and reggae performer, Dexta Daps, who got eight nods.
“Last year I had one nomination, I think. … So jumping from having one nomination to having six nominations, great feeling,” Skinny told iWitness News on Wednesday.
“And this is also coming on the heels of being in the first box ballot of the Grammy nominations, too. My album was in consideration for a Grammy nomination earlier on in the year. So this, coming on the heels of that, is just really, really encouraging.”
The artiste, whose given name is Gamal Doyle, has been nominated for:
- Song of the Year (Soca) (“Come Home” — Nailah Blackman & Skinny Fabulous)
- People’s Choice (Fans Favourite)
- Performer of the Year (Soca)
- Artiste of the Year Male (Soca)
- Collaboration of the Year (Soca) (along with Mr. Killa and Asa Bantan)
- Video of the Year (Soca) (“Come Home” — Nailah Blackman & Skinny Fabulous)
Vincentian artiste Problem Child has also been nominated as Performer of the Year (Soca) and the category includes other big names, such as Trinidadians Machel Montano, Kes, and Patrice Roberts.
In the Artist of the Year Male (Soca) category, Skinny is also competing with Problem Child, Machel, and, among others, Bunji Garlin.
Caribbean Music Awards describes itself as a platform to “recognise, honour and celebrate Caribbean talent who have made significant contributions to the enhancement of our music and the development of our rich and diverse culture”.
Skinny told iWitness News that for most, if not all artistes, the primary, or the first set of rewards they look to get is being able to please an audience.
“Putting out music, and having an audience be very happy with your product. That’s the first reward you could hope for, and that’s amazing.”
The second reward, he said, is the financial reward “when you get to make back on your investment after you spend on producing this product or whatever.
“Then the third, and the most meaningful of rewards, in my opinion, is when you get recognition for your hard work,” Skinny said.
He noted that he has been working hard for a decade and a half.
“And, maintaining relevance in this industry is not an easy task. Maintaining and maintaining it at a high level where you are regarded as a top-five artistes or even in the A-listers of soca music, to maintain that status for over a decade is not an easy task.”
He said it is an amazing feeling when entities such as Caribbean Music Awards acknowledge the efforts of artistes.
“And then to be nominated for six awards. That was an amazing feeling, too, but even more amazing is the fact that I have the most nominations for all the soca artistes,” Skinny said.
“And not that it’s a competitive thing, but it’s still a very encouraging thing for me to see that my hard work is paying off in so many different ways.
“And further to that, you have an establishment like the Billboards recognising this award and taking the time to mention, the fact that I have the second most nominations in the award show.”
Meanwhile, Brunch and Soca, an organisation created by Vincentian Jonell Goodluck, has been nominated in the Music Event of the Year category of the awards.
The public has until June 30 to vote in the awards.
It’s time Vincy people start to sing other types of songs beside soca and calypso.
Congrats Sir hard work is paying off