Veteran MC Andrew “MC Nuffy” Nelson has come under heavy criticism online following an emotional outburst after dancehall icon Vybz Kartel lost out on the Best Reggae Album award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
Last Sunday, singer Keznamdi took home the award for the Best Reggae Album. His winning album, Blxxd and Fyah, is a 13-track project that bested Vybz Kartel’s Heart and Soul album, Lila Ike’s Treasure Self Love, Mortimer’s From Within, and Jesse Royal’s No Place Like Home project.
Following the announcement of the winners, MC Nuffy released a video in which he lashed out at the Grammy organisers, fellow artists, and members of the public. In the video, he accused the Grammy committee of bias, questioning why Kartel was nominated if there was no intention for him to win a Grammy. The Grammy nomination marked Vybz Kartel’s second.
According to MC Nuffy, Kartel’s influence in music far outweighs that of Keznamdi. He argued that Kartel remains one of the most impactful figures in the genre, continuing to sell out shows and shape dancehall culture.
MC Nuffy also dismissed claims circulating online that dancehall artiste Masicka should be considered a Grammy winner because he contributed to the winning album. He insisted that only the individual whose name is officially called during the Grammy presentation is regarded as a winner, not contributors or featured artists.
Masicka’s fans were reportedly calling him a winner by default amid the tensions between him and Vybz Kartel. The two are believed to be on poor terms following lyrical jabs made by Masicka last year, which Kartel never publicly responded to.
In his rant, MC Nuffy also criticised the relevance of recent Grammy winners in reggae, claiming that several past recipients failed to make any meaningful impact after winning. He suggested that artistes such as Luciano, Sizzla, and other established figures were more deserving based on their contributions to the genre.
After the video went viral, Vybz Kartel moved to distance himself from Nuffy’s statements. The artiste released an official notice on Instagram clarifying that MC Nuffy is not authorised to speak on his behalf.
In the statement, Kartel listed the only individuals permitted to represent him publicly as himself, his manager Linton “TJ” White, and his legal counsel Jason Mitchell. He acknowledged MC Nuffy as his brother and an official emcee, but made it clear that his opinions do not reflect the views of the artiste or the Vybz Kartel brand.
“Any statement made outside of this context is not official,” the notice read.
