Boi-1da
Boi-1da gets JUNO honour
Multi-award- winning and multi-platinum-selling producer Boi-1da will be honoured at next weekend’s JUNO Awards in Canada.
The JUNO Awards, Canada’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards, will recognise the Jamaican-born producer with the International Achievement Award, an honour which was previously given to chart-topping acts such as Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain and Drake.
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“The JUNO award is a huge honour for me. It’s a recognition of the hard work and passion I’ve put into my music and the culture. It reminds me of how far I’ve come, but it also pushes me to keep evolving and leading the way for Canadian musicians on the global stage,” Boi-1da told the Jamaica Observer in an interview earlier this week.
The JUNO International Achievement Award recognises Canadian artistes who have attained exemplary success on the world stage. The award looks to honour Canadian talent, who have not only topped charts, but who have raised the profile of Canadian music around the world.
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Boi-1da — who was born in Westmoreland and raised in Portmore, St Catherine until moving to Canada aged 4 — has won many awards throughout his career. He shared which major achievement has resonated with him the most.
“Every milestone has been special, but if I had to pick one it would definitely be winning my first Grammy trophy. It was a surreal moment and felt like all the hard work had finally paid off. To be recognised like that, especially with the music I made with Drake, was a huge validation,” said the artistes.
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Boi-1da has produced songs that have been featured on some of the biggest albums and for the most prominent artistes in the hip hop and R&B scene including Drake, Rihanna, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Birdman, Rick Ross, Flo Rida, Soulja Boy, Keri Hilson, DJ Khaled, Chris Brown, Jay-Z, Partynextdoor, Kanye West, among countless others. To date, he has garnered 60+ platinum singles, three Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified Diamond records and three Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (work by Rihanna, Not Afraid by Eminem and God’s Plan by Drake).
Boi-1da says his dream project would be releasing his very own album.
“Honestly, the dream project for me is my own album. I’ve been working on it for a minute, just collaborating with some of my friends who are artistes. It’s about blending different sounds and worlds into one project. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, and it’s long overdue. When it drops, it’s going to be something special,” he assured.
It was 19 years ago, at the age of 19, that Boi-1da produced his first song, Drake’s Do What You Do. He told the Observer how he got involved in music.
“Growing up in Jamaica, music was everywhere. I started out just playing around with sounds on my computer and it quickly turned into a passion. I was always into creating something new and expressing myself through music,” Boi-1da recalled.
Although he didn’t study music formally, it has been his love and passion for creating that has kept him going all these years.
“I learned a lot through trial and error, working with different artistes and figuring out how to refine my craft. Most of my education has come from being in the studio and collaborating with people who I can learn from… There are times when the grind is tough, but the joy of making music and seeing it connect with people keeps me motivated. I also have a great team around me and the support of my family,” said Boi-1da.
He recalls his mother buying him a Casio keyboard at the age of eight and being introduced to FL studio at the age of 15. From there on he contributed myriad hours making beats, setting his sound in motion to what would be considered today as a fine-tuned balance of hip hop, pop, reggae, and dancehall.
The producer, when asked which reggae or dancehall artistes he would like to work with, said, “Shenseea, Skillibeng, Skeng, Masicka, and of course Chronixx.”
Boi-1da has taken his expertise even further, debuting a programme with Bacardí designed to champion underrepresented voices in the music industry. He has established an undoubtedly extensive and impressive record of projects to his name, and his intention to maintain a fine balance of excellence and consistency has manifested as one of the most impressive discographies in hip hop and R&B producer history.
The JUNO Awards will be handed out on March 30 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The nominees in the Reggae Recording of the Year category are: Born to be Free by Exco Levi, Fallback by King Cruff and Runkus, Destiny by Lee Scratch Perry and Bob Riddim , Sky’s the Limit by Skystar, and Rise by Tonya P.
