Shabba Ranks, Gyptian Receive Heritage Awards
Reggae/Dancehall artists Gyptian and Shabba Ranks were among 12 recipients of the Consulate General of Jamaica’s Heritage Awards held in New York last Friday.
Launched in 2013, the Consul General Heritage Awards aim to recognize the outstanding service of individuals whose efforts and sacrifices have helped to better the lives of Jamaican nationals, and contributed to the development of the nation through various fields and careers.
This year, the awards, which were held at the consulate in Manhattan, featured a new category recognizing the work of the Jamaican Reggae musicians.
Gyptian, who was present for the ceremony, told DancehallMag that his award came as a surprise.
“When I do anything, it’s never for recognition. Just the love that I have for my people. So, it’s not something I expected,” he said. “I am grateful for the recognition for all I’ve done for the less fortunate in my country.”
Gyptian, whose real name is Windel Edwards, got his breakthrough after he scored two hits, Is There A Place on the Seasons Riddim and Serious Times. He’s best known for tracks like All On Me, Wine Slow, Nah Let Go, and his biggest hit Hold Yuh, which peaked at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is now certified Gold in the United States and platinum in the United Kingdom.
Shabba Ranks, who was also a Heritage Award recipient this year, is one of the most successful Dancehall stars having won the Best Reggae Album Grammy award back to back for his 1992 album As Raw As Ever, and his 1993 project X-Tra Naked. His hits “Mr. Loverman” and “Ting-A-Ling”, are globally recognized signature songs. A tribute song titled “Shabba” with A$AP Ferg and A$AP Rocky’s went double platinum recently.
In a release, Consul General from Jamaica to New York Alsion Wilson said the winners were especially inspiring this year.
“Our awardees have distinguished themselves as beacons of hope during some of our most difficult times, including the ongoing pandemic,” she said.
Wilson highlighted moments from the ceremony in an Instagram post over the weekend. “Celebrating our Jamaican Nationals, doing extraordinary things! A monumental step to highlight our nationals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty,” she wrote.
The other 10 recipients this year were:
- Gopal Burgher (partner, Burgher LLP)
- Shawn French (owner of Golden Krust)
- Dennis Hawthorne (CEO of Dennis Shipping)
- Harry Bhoorasingh (senior country manager, Jamaica National Building Society)
- Dominic McKenzie (reporter, Spectrum News)
- Devon John (chief of renal transplantation, Westchester Medical Centre)
- Phillip Feurtado (CEO of Feurtado Shipping)
- Hezedean Smith (fire chief, Charlottesville Fire Department)
- Oswald Reid (brand manager, Iberia Foods Corporation)
- Christopher Roberts (co-owner, The Door)