Bounty Killer received a Lifetime Achievement Award Honor and Busta Rhymes received an Elite Icon Award at the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards, which were presented on Aug. 28 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, N.Y. The third annual ceremony, hosted by comedian Majah Hype, aired on BET on Sept. 12.
A giant in the dancehall space, Bounty Killer has earned three entries on the Billboard Hot 100: 1997’s “Hip-Hopera” (No. 81, with The Fugees), 1998’s “Deadly Zone” (No. 79, with Mobb Deep and Rappin’ Noyd) and 2001’s “Hey Baby” (No. 5, with No Doubt). The Kingston-bred artist’s lifetime achievement honor arrived nearly two months after he headlined Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for his first U.S. performance in 15 years.
Busta Rhymes, who recently received the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, has spent his career supporting Caribbean talent as one of hip-hop’s most visible Jamaican-Americans. The Billboard 200 chart-topper has collaborated with the likes of Vybz Kartel, Spice, Sean Paul, Skillibeng, YG Marley, Ding Dong and Popeye Caution.
Shenseea and Masicka entered the night as the most nominated artists (seven apiece), and both took home several trophies. Shenseea nearly swept the ceremony with five wins, including dancehall album of the year for Never Gets Late Here, which also earned the pop-dancehall princess her first solo Grammy nomination earlier this year. Masicka, who took home three awards with Shenseea thanks to their smash “Hit & Run” single, won a fourth trophy for reggae song of the year thanks to his featured turn on Romain Virgo’s “Been There Before.” Several other artists scored multiple victories, including Kartel (three), Virgo (three), Di Genius (three), Patrice Roberts (two) and Kes (two).
Other winners in competitive categories included Lila Iké, Lady Lava, Buju Banton, and Armanii, who recently performed at Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Live (Sept. 6). Lady Lava took home the inaugural zess-steam artist of the year award, and Dexta Daps took home the first-ever Caribbean R&B artist of the year honor.
The Caribbean Music Awards recognize artists, producers, and industry professionals who have significantly contributed to the Caribbean music landscape. This year’s nominations list included more than 40 categories spanning a diverse range of genres, including reggae, soca and dancehall.
The awards are presented by the Caribbean Elite Group, which also produces Caribbean Elite Magazine – a print and digital publication which highlights Caribbean entertainers, artists, producers, promoters, cuisine, travel, fashion and entrepreneurs.
Here’s a complete list of winners in both competitive (fan-voted) and honorary categories.
Competitive Categories
2025 Impact Award (Dancehall): Armanii
2025 Impact Award (Reggae): YG Marley
2025 Impact Award (Soca): Yung Bredda
Album of the Year (Reggae): Romain Virgo, The Gentle Man
Album of the Year (Dancehall): Shenseea, Never Gets Late Here
Artist of the Year (Bouyon): Mr. Ridge
Artist of the Year (French Caribbean): Joé Dwèt Filé
Artist of the Year (Latin Caribbean): Bad Bunny
Artist/Band of the Year (Konpa): Rutshelle Guillaume
Caribbean R&B Artist of the Year: Dexta Daps
Caribbean Fusion Artist of the Year: Naïka
Zess-Steam Artist of the Year: Lady Lava
Artist of the Year — Female (Dancehall): Shenseea
Artist of the Year — Female (Reggae): Lila Iké
Artist of the Year — Female (Soca): Patrice Roberts
Artist of the Year — Male (Dancehall): Vybz Kartel
Artist of the Year — Male (Reggae): Romain Virgo
Artist of the Year — Male (Soca): Kes
Best New Artist (Dancehall): Malie Donn
Best New Artist (Reggae): Sevana
Best New Artist (Soca): Blaka Dan
Collaboration of the Year (Soca): Trilla G, Lil Boy & Quan, “Someone Else”
Collaboration of the Year (Reggae): Bugle, Buju Banton & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, “Thank You Lord”
Collaboration of the Year (Dancehall): Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius, “Hit & Run”
Cruise Event of the Year: UberSoca
Music Event of the Year: Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street
Male International DJ of the Year: DJ Private Ryan
Female International DJ of the Year: DJ Ana
People’s Choice: Vybz Kartel
Performer of the Year (Dancehall): Spice
Performer of the Year (Soca): Kes
Song of the Year (Dancehall): Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius, “Hit & Run”
Song of the Year (Soca): Mical Teja, “DNA”
Song of the Year (Reggae): Romain Virgo feat. Masicka, “Been There Before”
Video of the Year (Reggae/Dancehall): Shenseea, Masicka & Di Genius, “Hit & Run”
Video of the Year (Soca): Patrice Roberts, “Anxiety”
Honorary Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award: Bounty Killer
Elite Icon Award: Busta Rhymes
Legacy Award: Carimi
Humanitarian Award: Sizzla
Producer Award Honor: Kerwin Du Bois
Gospel Award Honor: Shirley Ann Cyril-Mayers
Calypso Award Honor: Austin “Super Blue” Lyons
