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JR. GONG DOMINATES WORLD MUSIC AWARDS: Damian Marley’s ‘Jamrock’ album and single take top honors.
*Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley's hit single "Welcome to Jamrock" and the Ghetto Youth/Tuff Gong/Universal album of the same name won top honors at the 25th Annual International Reggae & World Music Awards, held Saturday at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Damian, the youngest son of Bob Marley, earned awards for music video and recording artist of the year, as well as entertainer of the year. He and his older brother Stephen shared the songwriter of the year award for co-writing "Welcome to Jamrock," which featured lyrics about the violent side of Jamaica.
Other winners included Hasidic reggae star Matisyahu for best new entertainer, Marcia Griffiths for best female vocalist, Jah Cure for best male vocalist, Daddy Yankee for best reggaeton entertainer and Gyptian for most promising entertainer.
Rocksteady star Alton Ellis and reggae vet Eddy Grant were given hall of fame honors, while Africa Unite, the concert held in Ethiopia last year marking what would have been Bob Marley's 60th birthday, was named best concert.
Rapper Nas, who guests on Damian’s album, joined the singer onstage during his performance of "Road to Zion" and "Welcome to Jamrock." Marley later welcomed all of the artists back onstage for a finale of "One Love."
