Grammy Certificate Ceremony 2025 to Celebrate Reggae and Dancehall’s Unsung Heroes in Kingston
- dancehallleaguejm
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Kingston, Jamaica — A historic celebration is set to unfold on September 13, 2025, as Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd. stages the second annual Grammy Certificate Ceremony at the Audi Showroom in Kingston. The red-carpet event will pay tribute to the unsung producers, engineers, musicians, and vocalists whose behind-the-scenes brilliance helped power some of reggae and Dancehall’s most iconic Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated works.
The 2025 edition is especially meaningful, marking two major milestones in music history:
40 years since the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album was introduced in 1985, officially cementing reggae’s place on the global stage.
40 years of Steely & Clevie Productions, the legendary production duo whose sonic innovations revolutionized Dancehall and influenced Reggaeton and beyond.
“Behind every iconic reggae and Dancehall Grammy win is a team of creative geniuses whose names the world rarely hears,” said Kennedy Mensah, CEO of Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd. “This ceremony ensures those who built the sound of generations are finally seen and celebrated.”
This year’s event is produced in collaboration with The Royalty Network Inc. and Steely & Clevie Productions. The Royalty Network, a powerhouse in independent music publishing, has long supported Caribbean creators. Steely & Clevie Productions, founded by the late Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson and Cleveland "Clevie" Browne, are themselves being honored for their trailblazing impact over the past four decades.
“This overdue recognition is not just about awards and nominations, it’s a celebration of legacy, culture, and the soul of reggae,” noted Frank Liwall, President of The Royalty Network Inc. “We’re proud to stand beside our longtime partners at Back 2 Da Future and spotlight the genius of reggae’s creators.”
The Grammy Certificate Ceremony promises a night of elegance and reverence, with a red carpet media experience, cocktail reception, and a global livestream. Over 250 prominent figures in Jamaica’s music industry — including top-tier artists, producers, arrangers, and executives — are expected to attend.
2025 Honourees Include:
Steely & Clevie
Chevelle Franklyn
Dean Fraser
Romain Virgo
Tony Rebel
Ansel Collins
Lloyd ‘Gitsy’ Willis
Robert Livingston
T.O.K.
These creatives, among others, have helped define the sound of reggae and Dancehall for decades, often without the spotlight. The event builds on the success of the 2024 staging, which received international acclaim for finally awarding Grammy recognition to artists like Dean Fraser and Chevelle Franklyn for their pivotal roles in genre-defining albums.
About Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd.
A London-based independent music publishing and rights administration company, Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd. manages a catalogue of over 30,000 copyrights from more than 200 creators worldwide. The company champions Caribbean genres, particularly reggae and Dancehall, advocating for the proper credit, royalties, and global recognition of its clients.
About the Grammy Certificate Ceremony
Created to correct decades of oversight, the Grammy Certificate Ceremony honours those who contributed to Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning albums — especially within reggae and Dancehall — but have historically gone unrecognized. The 2025 ceremony will fuse glamour with gratitude, as the architects of reggae’s international influence finally receive the accolades they deserve.
