The Annual Excellence in Music & Entertainment (EME) Awards took place on Thursday, February 4, at the Gardens at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. It's the brainchild of Hot 102's Richard "Richie B" Burress. Below is the complete list of categories and nominees and winners (highlighted in red) for the 2010 EME Awards (period of assessment – October 01, 2008 – September 30, 2009).

Ayeola and Richie B. the man who started it all!

1) DJ OF THE YEAR (MALE)
(for overall impact as a solo vocal performer in the eligibility year)
VYBZ KARTEL
BEENIE MAN
BOUNTY KILLER
ELEPHANT MAN
BUSY SIGNAL
DING DONG
FLIPPA MAFIA
KIPRICH


2) DJ OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)
(for overall impact as a solo vocal performer in the eligibility year)
MACKA DIAMOND
STACIOUS
TIFA
LADY SAW
SPICE
LADY G
PAMPUATTAE
LISA HYPE

Baby Tash and Spice at the 2010 EME Awards

3) VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (MALE)
(for overall impact as a solo vocal performer in the eligibility)
ROMAINE VIRGO
JAH CURE
TARRUS RILEY
RICHIE SPICE
STEVIE FACE
DAVILLE
HEZRON


4) VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)
(for overall impact as a solo vocal performer in the eligibility year)
ETANA
SOPHIA BROWN
CHERINE ANDERSON
ALAINE
TAMI CHYNN
PHYLLISIA
BARBEE

A glowing Cherine Anderson backstage at the 2010 EME awards!

5) PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (DANCE HALL)
(for overall impact as a record producer in this category in the eligibility year)
TARIQ ‘RUSSIAN JOHNSON - CHIMNEY RECORDS
STEPHEN MCGREGOR - BIG SHIP / DI GENIUS
D. & C. HARRINSINGH, C. MARSH - DASECA
LINTON ‘TJ’ WHITE - TJ RECORDS
AINSLEY MORRIS - NOTNICE / ADDIJAHEIM
JASON HENRIQUES / SHAUN ANDERSON & MATTHEW GRAY - COPPER SHOT
ARIF COOPER - FRESH EAR
UNGA & WELCH - NOTICE


6) PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)
(for overall impact as a record producer in this category in the eligibility year)
KEMAR’DJ Flava’ Mc GREGOR – NO DOUBT RECORDS
DELMAR ‘Della’ DRUMMOND – DANGER ZONE
DONOVAN BENNETT – DON CORLEON LABEL
SLY & ROBBIE – TAXI LABEL
DONOVAN GERMAIN – PENTHOUSE RECORDS
LLOYD JAMES JNR. - JAM II LABEL
STEPHEN McGREGOR – BIG SHIP LABEL


7) BEST NEW ARTIST (MALE)
(award to an artist whose overall impact during the eligibility year establishes his public identity as a recording artist)
G WHIZZ
RAS PENCO
WASP
ROMAINE VIRGO
CHASE CROSS
CHEVAUGHN
MERITAL

G-Whizz with his award for Best New Artist (Male)

8) BEST NEW ARTIST (FEMALE)
(award to an artist whose overall impact during the eligibility year establishes her public identity)
STREAM
GAZA INDU
PHYLLISIA
RAINE SEVILLE
SOPHIA SQUIRE
GAZA KIM
LISA HYPE
TIMEKA MARSHALL

Renato Adams, MC Nuffy, and Lisa Hyper with her Best New Artist (Female) Award

9) DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
(for overall impact as a vocal performer by established duos or groups in the eligibility year)
RDX
LUST
TOK
ANDREW & WADA BLOOD
BONAFIDE
VOICEMAIL
SUGAR ROY & CONRAD CRYSTAL
MERITAL

It's Merital Family ( Merital, Keneil, Corey) and thanks for the DROP!!!!!!

10) BIGGEST COMEBACK ARTIST
(award to an artist whose release(s) in the eligilibility year marked his/her ‘return’ to the charts after a long break)
CHUCKLE BERRY
ANTHONY RED ROZE
LLOYD LOVINDEER
RUFFIAN
SPANNER BANNER
MIKEYLOUS


11) SONG OF THE YEAR (DANCE HALL)
(award to the artist and producer who score the biggest charting song in this category during the eligibility year)
COMPLETELY-VYBZ KARTEL
MOCKING BIRD-MAVADO
I AM BLESSED-MR. VEGAS
MIND PON MI MONEY-VYBZ KARTEL
LIFE--G WHIZZ
FROM MAWNING-CHINO
HOLIDAY-DING DONG
GOOD GIRL, GONE BAD-TARRUS RILEY/KONSHENS

It's a holidaaa-yay-yay-yay-yay-he-yay!!!!! Ding-Dong is all smiles after winning two awards at the 2010 EME awards.


12) SONG OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

(award to the artist and producer who score the biggest charting song in this category during the eligibility year)
SO IN LOVE - HEZRON

CALL ON ME – JAH CURE/PHYLLISIA
A THOUSAND MILES AWAY – RAS PENCO
CAAN SLEEP – ROMAINE VIRGO
MAMA YOU ALONE – I-OCTANE
LIONESS ON THE RISE – QUEEN IFRICA
TELL IT LIKE IT IS – STEVIE FACE
ONE MORE NIGHT – BUSY SIGNAL


13) ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(award to artist(s) and producer(s) if different from artist(s) whose album had biggest impact in this category in the eligibility year)
UNIVERSAL CURE - Jah Cure
RASTA GOT SOUL - Buju Banton
MR BROOKS – A BETTER TOMORROW - Mavado
CONTAGIOUS - Tarrus Riley
MONTEGO BAY - Queen Ifrica
2 SIDES OF MY HEART - Gramps Morgan
MADE IN JAMAICA - Courtney "Yogi" John
IMPERIAL BLAZE - Sean Paul

Gramps Morgan who won Album of the Year and Ayeola

14) RECORDING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(award to the artist with the most charting hits in the eligibility year)
VYBZ KARTEL
MAVADO
ELEPHANT MAN
DING DONG
KONSHENS
QUEEN IFRICA
JAH CURE
TARRUS RILEY


15) CULTURAL /POSITIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(award to artist with the best/biggest cultural/positive recording(s) in the eligibility year)
TARRUS RILEY
QUEEN IFRICA
RICHIE SPICE
JAH CURE
I – OCTANE
KONSHENS
LUTAN FYAH


16) BREAKTHRU ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(award to artist whose work attracted local and international attention, and who is seen as poised as a leader for the next generation of reggae/ dance hall stars)
CHINO
CHARLEY BLACK
BLACK RYNO
JAHVINCI
DING DONG
FLEXX
BRAMMA
TYRICAL

Chino and Ja'Vinci who tied for Breakthru Artist of the Year!

17) SONG WRITER/ LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
(award to artist whose writing skills on all ‘charting’ songs were of a consistently high standard )
VYBZ KARTEL
BUSY SIGNAL
MAVADO
KONSHENS
ASSASSIN
QUEEN IFRICA
WAYNE MARSHALL
DEMARCO

18) SINGJAY OF THE YEAR (MALE)
(award to the artist with the biggest overall impact in this category in the eligilibility year)
NESBETH
MAVADO
MR VEGAS
CHARLEY BLACK
I – OCTANE
CHINO
SERANI
KONSHENS


19) SINGJAY OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)
(award to the artist with the biggest overall impact in this category in the eligibility year)
CE'CILE
D’ANGEL
QUEEN IFRICA
TANYA STEVENS
BLACK QUEEN
RUFFIAN
ISHAWNA


20) COLLABO OF THE YEAR (DANCE HALL)
(for a collaborative vocal performance by artists who do not normally perform together)
COMPLETELY – VYBZ KARTEL & INDU
THINK BOUT MI – MACKA & UNICORN
UGLY SO – KIPRICH & BLACKER
GOOD GIRL, GONE BAD – TARRUS RILEY & KONSHENS
DIP AGAIN – ELEPHANT MAN & DING DONG
HOLIDAY - DING DONG & CHEVAUGHN
VERSITILITY – VYBZ KARTEL & INDU
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY – VOICEMAIL & BUSY SIGNAL


21) COLLABO OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)
(for a collaborative vocal performance by artists who do not normally perform together)
CALL ON ME – JAH CURE Feat PHYLLISIA
DUMPLING SHOP – LLOYD LOVINDEER & MAMA TIA
PRESSURING THE POOR – SPRING-1 & RAS SHILOH
YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING – NODDY VIRTUE & JODIAN PANTRY
KING AND QUEEN – RICHIE SPICE & ALISON HINDS
FOREVERMORE – TARRUS RILEY/ ALAINE
TRY JAH LOVE – JOSIE MEL & SMOKEY BENZ
JAH JAH SEE DEM A COME – SUGAR ROY & CONRAD CRYSTAL


22) RHYTHM OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)
(award to the producer of the reggae rhythm with the biggest impact in the eligibility year)
CHANGES – DON CORLEON RECORDS
AUTOMATIC – PENTHOUSE RECORDS
SWEETNESS - MAC D RECORDS
GOOD LOVE – JAM 2 RECORDS
SWEET RIDDIM – NO DOUBT RECORDS
KARMA - ARROWS RECORDING


23) RHYTHM OF THE YEAR (DANCE HALL)
(award to the producer/ label of the dance hall rhythm with the biggest impact in the eligibility year)
SET ME FREE - HEART OF LOVE PRODUCTION
MOVIE STAR - CHIMNEY RECORDS
STREET TEAM - FIRE LINKS MUSIC
GOOD LIFE - LIV UP RECORDS
NATIONAL PRIDE - FRESH EAR PRODUCTIONS
TRIPLE BOUNCE - CR0203 RECORDS
FITNESS - DI GENIUS MUSIC
GO GO CLUB – CHIMNEY RECORDS


24) REGGAE // DANCE HALL COMPILATION OF THE YEAR – VARIOUS ARTISTES
(award to the distributor // licensor of the reggae/ dance hall compilation with the biggest impact in the eligibility year)
THE HIT LIST – VARIOUS ARTISTES/ TADS
REGGAE GOLD 2009 – VARIOUS ARTISTES/ VP
THE ULTIMATE REGGAE/DANCEHALL X-PERIENCE – VARIOUS ARTISTES/ TADS
NATIONAL PRIDE – VARIOUS ARTISTES/ TADS
GOOD LIFE RIDDIM – VARIOUS ARTISTES/ LIV UP
GREATEST REGGAE ONE DROP ANTHEMS (2009) –VARIOUS ARTISTES/ GREENSLEEVES
STRICTLY THE BEST VOL. 40/ 41- VARIOUS ARTISTES/ VP


25) MOST IMPROVED ARTIST
(award to a ‘next generation’ artist whose career improves most dramatically in all areas over the eligibility year)
CHINO
BLACK RYNO
JAHVINCHI
WASP
TIFA
ROMAINE VIRGO
KHAGO
FLEXX
Tifa looked great at the 2010 EME Awards. Here she is with her award for Most Improved Artist.

Flexx tied with Tifa for Most Improved Artist.

26) GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(award to the gospel artist with the biggest impact in this category in the eligibility year)
GODDY GODDY
PRODIGAL SON
DJ NICHOLAS
OMARI
JUDITH GAYLE
RYAN MARK
CARLENE DAVIS
CHEVELLE FRANKLYN


27) INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
(award to the artist scoring the biggest charting International Hit during the eligibility year)
SEAN KINGSTON - (hit song) - FIRE BURNING
MAVADO - (hit song) I’M SO SPECIAL
SEAN PAUL - (hit song) SO FINE
SERANI - (hit song) NO GAMES
VYBZ KARTEL/ SPICE - (hit song) ROMPING SHOP
CHERINE ANDERSON - (hit song) SAY HEY (I LOVE YOU) with Michael Franti & Spearhead


28) BEST ROOTS PLAY
(award to the theatrical production with the biggest impact in the eligibility year)
BASHMENT GRANNY
BASHMENT GRANNY 2
DIANA
THE XTORTIONISTZ
ME AND MI CHUPSIE



PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

29) VIDEO OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)
"Feels So Good"- Barbee
Dirs. Ras Tingle and Rupert Campbell

Barbee and her mother Rose!

30) VIDEO OF THE YEAR (DANCEHALL)
"Dance The Night Away"-Voicemail and Busy Signal
Dirs. Jeremy Whittaker
Prods. Melissa Llewellyn and Conroy Forte

Voicemail in the building. They are posing with their Video of The Year Award

31) PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Bounty Killer at Reggae Sumfest 2009


32) BEST DRESSED ARTIST – Male/ Female
Ce'Cile

Love Ce'cile...always a stunning beauty. Makeup was on point. She's very friendly too.

32) SHOW OF THE YEAR
Shaggy and Friends

Kingy accepts the award for Show of the Year on behalf of Shaggy and Friends

33) DANCHALL TRENDSETTER OF THE YEAR

34) BEST ORIGINAL DANCE MOVE OF THE YEAR ???
Skip To Ma Lue- Ding Dong and Ravers Clavers

Ding Dong and Ravers Clavers at the 2010 EME Awards

HONOR AWARDS


35) ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR AWARDEES:
(Jamaican Artist (s) of International Acclaim who’s led his/her life by example and have brought their offspring into the world of Reggae)

TOOTS HIBBERT

DENROY MORGAN

Dennroy Morgan (awesome speech) and Toots Hibbert (still an amazing voice)

36) INTERNATIONAL FRIEND OF REGGAE AWARDEE(S)
( International. Super Star(s) will receive this Awards for his/her support of Reggae Music)
INDIA ARIE

India Arie sang I am Ready for Love (Cherine I saw you singing along ) ..AAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhmmmmmazinggggggg performance. Love you girl, and your mama too she's so sweet:-)

If you want to see more pics (Richie Spice on stage, Nicky B, Chris Martin, Jenny Jenny and more) you will have to join The Lime's Facebook page....k.

Aight well lata and till the next event...

Oh and EME's ya'll were so wrong for giving that lady a BMW----brochure...it was so wrong but oh so funny.

OOOO Lisa Hype you picked the wrong itch to fuck wid. Spice totally killed her- lyrically speaking of course. Spice released a statement in response to Lisa Hype's "Sting Aftermath" diss song on which she along with other female Dancehall artists are mentioned,

Spice says:

"Lisa Hype, I mean Lisa Swipe is in no position to utter the words she did from her mouth, but I honestly feel very sorry for her. She's going through a shameful time in her life right now and is obviously lookingfor a dark hole to stick her head in. Lisa Swipe is calling names to keep her name out there; but my name? She ah play wid fire. She know say she nuh bad like mi likkle fingah. Di time she tek ah pick pon difemale artiste dem, she need fi go clean off di discharge offah harstomach. She ah gwaan like ah me tek har pictuh an sen' it out. And it's such a pity. Outta every female artiste name whe she call, she ahdi crawniest one. She feavah Geico lizard. I've been in the business for 10 years and I've never stooped so low, just to get highlighted.But Lisa doesn't know when to stop stooping and get up off her knees.It's tragic. Let me not bother to go there because she is not in my world. Lisa, as a woman-to-woman, I have never been as humiliated asyou are in my life, so I have no idea what you are going through. I canonly imagine. So I wish you a speedy recovery,"

Speaking of her non-performance at Sting, she adds:

"Nuffy sabotaged my thing. After Pamputae performed, he knew it should have been me, but he called up General B instead. When did he expect meto perform after that? During the clash with him and KipRich. It was unprofessional and it was done purposely because before that he was following the lineup and list. I just want to apologise to my fans fornot performing. I didn't get the chance to and I had a real end of year performance in store."

Yow this chune is bad!

According to one876 entertainment Lisa Hyper just laughed in response:

"Spice can stay de gwaan talk, tell her say mi have her file."

Well Lisa Hype have to come real good to beat that and she have to have a hefty file cabinet!!!!

Come on ladies, let's play nice in the new year...

The third staging of Best of The Best seemed on most accounts to be a success, though the rain did put a damper on press access to the stage. Organizers did apologize for that stating citing safety precautions. I can understand that, would not want to be electrocuted in the middle of the hottest Memorial Day weekend jam in Miami.

From the official press release:

The artist rundown was a secret for fans, and the show kicked off with Miami-based hip-hop artists Shifta, Camar and Atiba, before the advertised roster took effect with Ras Penco and Christopher Martin serenading the afternoon crowd. Dancehall diva Spice brought her hit "Romping Shop" and killed the BOTB stage, the first time performing for such a massive audience. Then The Stones featuring Ricky Blaze with their hits from the New York corridor added some flare with their funky clothing and electro-dancehall sound. Kip Rich and Flippa Mafia rounded things out before the reggae segment. Cocoa Tea took the reigns first, singing his hit "Barack Obama," as the skies opened up over the park. Then Capleton brought the fire, literally shaking the stage with his high-flying antics that left the crowd and rappers watching backstage in awe.

The much-anticipated hip-hop segment soared as the sporadic rain showers cleared up, with "We the Best" DJ Khaled and T-Pain first hitting the stage. It was a flawless track-set that saw a steady flow of artists every five minutes. Joining Khaled and Pain were Rick Ross, his new dancehall artist Magazeen, Ace Hood, and in the biggest surprise of the night, Sean "Diddy" Combs joined Ross on stage, taking off his white Kangol bucket hat and pointing at the crowd, receiving the biggest forward of the night then departing just as suddenly as he appeared. It was not the end of the segment however, as #1 Billboard artist Flo Rida also made a surprise appearance, joined by his Poe Boy label mate Brisco. Then rap star Jeezy delivered his hits including the chart-topper, "My President's Black," to wrap the smash segment. "I'm glad to be here, I love reggae," stated Jeezy. "The vibe is right, with the roots and culture. One day I'll get into the sound because it's a strong sound...very interesting."

The momentum of the night continued with the slamming soca sounds of Trinidad songstress Destra Garcia, the only soca act but all that was needed to get the crowd on their feet and rags in the air. Then the self-proclaimed "King of the Dancehall" Beenie Man stormed the stage and mashed it up with his live-band set. The "Energy God" Elephant Man followed him for an abbreviated set as Beenie's Ruff Kut band had to make way for the Alliance's Anger Management band, which closed the show. Following Ele was Tony Matterhorn on tracks for the quick band change, then Serani, followed by Mavado and Bounty Killer, as all three dancehall megastars shared the stage to close Best of the Best 2009.

Off-stage highlights included Beenie Man on stage watching the hip-hop segment as the rappers greeted him on stage, the hip-hop stars including Rick Ross who went over to hail Capleton, Busta Rhymes who hung out back stage eating and chatting with his new collaborator Beenie, Flo Rida who walked into the park with his Poe Boy entourage and found his own way backstage, Bounty who wanted to storm the stage while Beenie was on (Beenie was scheduled to close the show but came on early so that he would have enough time to perform his entire set), and Elephant Man who showed up on his own and slipped his way backstage undetected in his pirate costume, complete with hook on hand and parrot on shoulder. But perhaps the biggest stars were the cars backstage. T-Pain arrived in a red Rolls-Royce Phantom, Khaled in a powder blue Rolls, Ross in a navy blue Masserrati, Diddy in a larger-than-life tour bus, while Busta and Wayne Wonder kept it cool in black Escalades.

Here are some pics from the event!

Capleton caught in mid-air
-Photo by Brittany Somerset-

Coco Tea salutes backstage
-Photo by Brittany Somerset-

Jabba emeecing the show and dancehall diva Spice
-Photo by Brittany Somerset-

Sean "Diddy" Combs vibes with Rick Ross on stage
-Photo byWayne Lawrence-

Fan favorite Beenie Man enjoys himself.
-Photo by Wayne Lawrence-

Ele does some press
-Photo by Roy Sweetland-

Ace Hood, DJ Khaled & T-Pain storm the stage
-Photo by Roy Sweetland-

Mavado ends the night on a high note
-Photo by Roy Sweetland-




Bounty Killa closes the show
-Photo by Roy Sweetland-



T-Pain joins Rick Ross to perform his hit "The Boss"
-Photo by Roy Sweetland-

Ramping Shop' by Vybz Kartel and Spice infringes the copyright in 'Miss Independent' (Smith/Hermansen/Eriksen). Clearance of this use of 'Miss Independent' has not been sought or obtained and I am informed that clearance will not be forthcoming. Accordingly 'Ramping Shop' cannot be released or exploited in any way. Please confirm your acknowledgment and acceptance of this, and that you will arrange that (i) all recordings of the infringing track will be re-called and destroyed and that no further copies will be issued, and (ii) that the audio and/or video will be taken down immediately from all Internet sites."

That is what a letter to the DJ states. So its back to the drawing board. I'm sure he will find a great track for the song. But to make that type of error at this stage in the game, I don't get it. Vybz Kartel is not some novice artist starting in the industry. He needs to either educate himself on copyright or put his knowledge into practice. Ne-yo don't play!

Vybz Kartel and female dancehall DJ Spice, recently teamed up for the photo shoot to promote their collaboration on the song “Rampin Shop" on the Miss Independent Riddim.
Now I see strategically placed Daggering Condoms and Vybez brand rum so I dont know how many things he is promoting at once. What I do know for sure is what I like and don't like and I am so not feeling these photos. It just yells "WE'RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET!!!!!!!!!"
(And exhale) I'm feeling her make up though. but that's about it. Lose the motel bed, lose the boring bedspread, eat a food Vybez Kartel, and maybe we could work with this....

For those of you who can't get enough of this interesting pair, check out this video below: