Music producer Ainsley “Notnice” Morris was the recipient of the Dancehall Icon Award at the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) Super Finals held at the National Stadium in Kingston, on Friday.

Hundreds of spectators, who turned out to see the Cavalier FC and Mount Pleasant FA clash, were treated to a front row display, as the renowned producer shared the spotlight with the local football heavyweights, receiving his plaque from chief executive officer of Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), Owen Hill.

“The recognition means a lot to me, especially one of this magnitude. To be recognised by Wray & Nephew and the National Premier League is truly an honour. Knowing that I’ve been doing music for years and that my hard work is not going unnoticed makes it all the more meaningful,” Notnice told the Jamaica Observer after the recognition.

The spectacle saw Notnice himself at the turntables during half-time where he spun iconic instrumentals from his catalogue like the Street Vybz Riddim. Dancehall artistes Jah Vinci, Chi Ching Ching, Armanii and Jahshii—who have all worked with the producer—performed a mash up of songs to pay homage.

Noting that the award was totally unexpected, Notnice said his secret to success is in a simple, yet impactful formula.

“I attribute my longevity in dancehall to my consistency, producing quality music, staying relevant, and collaborating with great talents,” he said.

Over the years, he has been proud of racking up other accolades, as he looks to continue in music for the foreseeable future.

“A Grammy Award is considered one of music’s pinnacle achievements, so I’m proud to have produced the song Robbed on Alexx and Julian Marley’s Grammy-winning album to now be labelled as a Grammy-winning producer. In terms of commercial success, one of my notable achievements is Spice’s song So Mi Like It, which has gone gold in Canada, silver in the UK, and is now eligible for gold in the US. Additionally, my debut album Kyng Midas peaked at number nine on the Reggae Billboard chart is also worth a mention,” Notnice added, also taking an opportunity to encourage emerging producers to believe in themselves and remain loyal to their roots.

Originally from St Mary, Notnice’s love for music was fuelled during his high school years, when he would often beat the desk at school to create rhythms.

He later played around with the drum machine and, when he relocated to Waterford in St Catherine, he met Vybz Kartel, who took him under his wings and he began producing music for the Portmore Empire.