The nominees for the 2012 Soul Train Awards, to be held on 8 November at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, have been unveiled.
For the second year running, the "Best Reggae Artist" category is no longer featured, with reggae/dancehall artists now appearing in the "Best Caribbean Performance" category.
This year the five nominees are Damian Marley, for the album ''Superheavy'' (the supergroup formed with Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart and R. Raman), Jimmy Cliff ("Rebirth"), Matisyahu ("Spark Seeker"), Sean Paul (the very clubby "Tomahawk Technique") and Cover Drive, a band from Barbados, nominated for the album "Bajan Style".
In 2011 the award went to Rihanna with her hit Man Down, ahead of Movado (Delilah) and Vybz Kartel (Summertime), among others. Gyptian in 2010 and then Sean Paul in 2009 had previously been crowned in the "Best Reggae Artist" category.
Note that Usher, with 5 nominations, is the most represented act at the 2012 Soul Train Awards, while R. Kelly, nominated notably in the "Album of the Year" category ("Write me Back"), becomes the most nominated artist in the history of the event.
More info on the official Soul Train Awards website.
The 2012 nominees in the "Best Caribbean Performance" category
Cover Drive - Bajan Style
Damian Marley - SuperHeavy
Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth
Matisyahu - Spark Seeker
Sean Paul - Tomahawk Technique