Dancehall artiste Charly Black, as well as Coppershot Sound, and veteran dancer Mad Michelle were recognised for their contributions to dancehall at the Wray & Nephew Strictly 2K Music Festival that ran between Saturday night into Sunday morning at Mas Camp in Kingston.

According to conceptualiser Ibrahim Konteh, it was important for him and his team, as well as Boom Energy Drink, to pay dues where applicable to nurture Jamaican culture.

“We selected them because these three perfectly embody the icons who shaped that period. Charly Black delivered massive crossover hits like Gyal You a Party Animal, along with Billboard-charting success and collaborations that took dancehall global. Mad Michelle, crowned International Dancehall Queen in 2003 and is one of the originators of the iconic Dutty Wine dance,” Konteh told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday.

“Coppershot Sound was chosen specifically because of their incredible achievements and longevity. Founded in 1994, they’ve been a cornerstone of Jamaican music for over three decades, influencing dancehall events worldwide, touring all continents, and making history as one of the first Jamaican sound systems to perform in the Middle East (Qatar and Bahrain in 2008),” he continued.

The sea of patrons cheered on as the plaques were distributed to the honorees. Many were surprised at the gesture, but believed they were well deserved.

Charly Black’s reeled off hits like Bike Back, Whine & Kotch (originally featuring J Capri), and
Tan Tuddy.

For the majority of the festival, disc jockeys took turn taking attendees down memory lane with the best hits of the 2000s and 2010s. The line-up included ZJ Chrome, Johnny Kool, Coppershot, and DJ Absolute.

Adding that he was very pleased with the staging, Konteh said he and his team members were intentional about not only curating the right party atmosphere, but acknowledging those who have helped to pave the way.

“This year we leaned even more into the tribute aspect, making the honours a central highlight rather than just performances to celebrate the trailblazers of the era,” he said.

For the last decade Konteh has remained committed to serving up memorable experiences in the entertainment industry. He noted that he takes patronage seriously, adding that some travelled from as far as Japan to be a part of the festival.

There are big plans in the pipeline for a massive celebration of the Strictly 2K brand come next year.

“We’re definitely looking at ways to make things bigger and better, especially as we approach our 10th anniversary in 2026. We’re exploring at least three stagings next year and exploring hosting Strictly 2K in other cities outside of Jamaica to grow the brand internationally, building on our past editions in places like Miami, Atlanta and New York,” the promoter continued.

— Kediesha Perry

ZJ Johnny Kool (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

The flames were raised in tribute. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Tashaline Shaw is happy with the vibes. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

The crowd sings along with a fave. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Charly Black (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

ZJ Johnny Kool, ZJ Chrome, and DJ Ramsey (Photo: Karl Mclarty)