nicki-minaj
Rapper Nicki Minaj performs with dancers during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

—By NAN ET Editor—

Don’t look for any reggae category or reggae artists among this year’s Billboard Music Awards nominees. There are none!

Despite the fact that there is a Reggae Billboard chart and a tremendous crossover success of the music form being incorproated by mainstream artists like Ed Sheeran, the genre is MIA from this year’s nominations.

There is, however, a Top Latin Album category and Caribbean music fans will just have to settle for the four Caribbean and few Caribbean roots singers among this year’s top nomination.

Rihanna
Rihanna

 

Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, both Caribbean-born artists, have made the list this year as have Puerto Rico’s Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and Cardi B and Bruno Mars.

Mars, who roots extend to Puerto Rico, is among the leaders with 15 BBMA nominations while Cardi B, whose roots extend to Trinidad and the Dominican Republic, has 8 nominations including for Top New Artist.

Rihanna is up for Top Female Artist and Top R&B Song for her collaboration with DJ Khaled & Bryson Tiller on “Wild Thoughts.” while Minaj is up for Top Female Rap Artist.

Fonsi and Daddy Yankee have 7 nominations apiece.

The 2018 Billboard Music Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20 on NBC.

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