Ebuzz News
Trinidadian Mentor of Nipsey Hussle Set to Release Nipsey NFTs.
Dexter Browne, the Trinidadian mentor of martyred Hip Hop legend Nipsey Hussle, has announced the release of a special NFT offering called ‘Nipsey Hussle: the Early Years.’ The NFT’s are set to be dropped at the end of May 2024.
The announcement came on Easter Sunday- on the 5th anniversary of Nipsey’s March 31st murder in Los Angeles in 2019. There will be 3 tiers of NFTs- numbering 10, 10, and 100- in descending order of price. The NFTs are a Tribute to the progressive values Nipsey stood for and are also a mentor’s salute to the idea that all youths can be redeemed. The NFTs are created in collaboration with Digital Artist Jean ‘Normal Normal’ Benoit and Multi-media Artist/ Cultural Activist, Rubadiri Victor.
NFTs have become unique and creative holders of value in the Digital Age. NFTs- or non-fungible tokens- are unique digital objects that are recorded digitally on a blockchain and are used to certify ownership and authenticity. They cannot be copied, substituted, or subdivided. Although the market for NFTs is going through a cool period following the bubble of 2021 to 2023, NFTs have fetched prices as high as US$93 million. NFTs are unique digital artefacts in this online Age and take all kinds of shapes- from paintings to cartoons to stunning animation .
The premium Nipsey NFT- which will be offered first to certain collectors and museums- will consist of a series of never seen before photographs of Nipsey in the 5 years under Browne’s tutelage after the young Ermias Joseph Asghedom was kicked out of school and was working on the streets. It will also include a short documentary about the period that Nipsey and a cohort of young people- including boys from the Rolling 60s gang- spent under Dexter and his wife Lisa’s tutelage- and as part of their Buttervision multi-media Movement. The NFTs also include a series of other rare collectibles.
Dexter’s personal collection contains hundreds of photographs of Nipsey as he grew from boy to man and creative powerhouse. The collection also contains music, interviews, and videos created by and with Nipsey from this fertile period. Most of Nipsey’s first recorded music is in this collection. This itself is a small fraction of Browne’s larger portfolio of tens of thousands of photographs that he took of young Black Hollywood and Hip Hop as he recorded their lives and created their professional dossiers. During this period- when Dexter had ‘adopted the boys from the Crips, and others from inside and outside the neighborhood- he was also working with movie and TV stars, super models, musicians, porn and sports stars, and politicians. These range from Gabrielle Union to Kat Williams, from Vanessa Williams to Rick James. All of this context is in the premium Nipsey NFT.
A media statement issued further explains that Dexter had gifted Nipsey and the boys with a fully outfitted multi-media studio that they had 24 hours access to- once they left gang beef at the door. They also had to listen to Dexter’s Pan-African consciousness, which he had imbibed as a civil engineer student at Howard University. Nipsey benefitted from being around the celebrity and the progressive ideas of Buttervision. Buttervision itself was a multi-media collective that saw itself as using the new digital technology of the late 1990s and early 2000s to try and create an alternative to Hollywood and mainstream media, which marginalizes and stereotypes black and brown people. Dexter’s ideas of Digital Defiance, Undisturbed Culture, and more, would find their most willing student in Nipsey Hussle.
The ‘Nipsey Hussle: the Early Years’ NFTs will be available at the Open Sea NFT site at the end of May. Details of the offering will be announced on the site, at the Undisturbed Culture Facebook page, and at Buttervision.com.
Caribbean Buzz
Trinidad and Tobago, First to Host Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, This September.
After three celebrated years at Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre, the Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) expands beyond the awards stage with the launch of the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, a destination celebration taking place September 18-20, 2026, in Trinidad & Tobago.
This year’s celebration unfolds under the theme, Sounds of the Caribbean, honoring the rhythms, voices, and cultural traditions that have shaped generations and continue to influence music around the world.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
The Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, marking a milestone moment as the celebration expands into the Caribbean region for the first time.
The Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience will transform CMA from a single-night awards ceremony into a multi-day celebration bringing together artists, fans, industry professionals, creators, tastemakers, media, and cultural leaders from across the Caribbean and around the world.
What’s In Store
The Elite Weekend Experience will feature a series of events celebrating music, culture, and community throughout the destination. Festivities will include an exclusive Welcome Reception, pre-show experiences, the Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards, the official after-party, a special steelpan concert presented by Stars and Steel, and additional programming designed to celebrate Trinidad & Tobago’s cultural influence. Additional programming, partnerships, performers, presenters, and special announcements will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The move to Trinidad & Tobago marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Caribbean Music Awards, while honoring the city where it all began. New York was the ideal birthplace for the Awards, home to one of the world’s largest and most influential Caribbean diaspora communities. It was there that the Caribbean Music Awards established its identity, built its audience, and proved there was a global appetite for a world-class celebration dedicated solely to Caribbean music and culture.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
Over the past three years, Brooklyn’s iconic Kings Theatre became more than just the home of the Caribbean Music Awards. It became the launchpad for a movement that united artists, industry leaders, fans, and cultures from across the Caribbean and beyond, under one roof. The energy, ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, and relentless hustle that define New York City helped shape the DNA of the Caribbean Music Awards, and that spirit will remain embedded in the brand no matter where it travels.
Now, with a strong foundation established, the Caribbean Music Awards begins the next phase of its evolution by bringing the celebration directly to the Caribbean. As the inaugural host destination for the Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, Trinidad & Tobago sets the stage for a long-term vision that will see the Awards partner with tourism boards and host destinations to spotlight a different Caribbean nation in future years. By rotating throughout the region, the Caribbean Music Awards aims to celebrate each destination’s unique culture, support tourism, create economic impact, and further strengthen the Caribbean’s creative economy while continuing to unite the global diaspora through music.
Majah Hype Returns, This Time With Nailah.
Bringing even more excitement to this year’s celebration, internationally celebrated Caribbean artiste, Nailah Blackman and acclaimed comedian, entertainer, and cultural personality Majah Hype will host the Fourth Annual Caribbean Music Awards, bringing their unique energy, charisma, and deep connection to Caribbean culture to the stage.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
For Majah Hype, the 2026 ceremony marks his fourth consecutive year hosting the Caribbean Music Awards, making him one of the longest-standing personalities connected to the celebration. Having witnessed the Awards grow from its early years at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre into a global platform for Caribbean excellence, Majah continues to bring the humor, passion, and cultural pride that have made him one of the Caribbean diaspora’s most beloved entertainers.
“Four years hosting the Caribbean Music Awards? Mi feel like dem haffi give me my own seat at this point!” said Majah Hype. “But seriously, being part of this journey from day one has been a blessing. I’ve watched this celebration grow, seen the incredible talent come through, and witnessed how much this moment means to our people. To see it expand from Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre to Trinidad & Tobago is something special. Caribbean culture is powerful, the talent is endless, and mi ready fi celebrate everybody who continues to carry our music and our culture to the world.”
For Nailah Blackman, this year’s ceremony represents a new chapter in her relationship with the Caribbean Music Awards. Having experienced the event as an attendee, performer, nominee, and winner, Nailah now steps into the role of host while continuing to be recognized as one of the leading voices in Caribbean music.
Photo Credit: Nikita Small
“The Caribbean Music Awards has been a special part of my journey,” said Nailah Blackman. “I’ve experienced this celebration as a fan, as a performer, as a nominee, and as a winner, and now being able to step into the role of host is truly an honor. To do it in Trinidad, surrounded by our people and our culture, makes this moment even more meaningful. I’m excited to celebrate the incredible artists who continue to push Caribbean music forward.”
Since launching in 2023, the Caribbean Music Awards has grown into one of the premier platforms celebrating Caribbean musical excellence, honoring artists across Dancehall, Reggae, Soca, Konpa, Chutney Soca, Zess, Dennery, Gospel, and emerging Caribbean genres. Last year’s ceremony marked a historic milestone with its BET broadcast debut, further expanding the Awards’ reach and strengthening its position as a leading global celebration of Caribbean music.
Following the announcement of more than 250 nominees across more than 40 categories earlier this year, anticipation continues to build toward what promises to be one of the biggest Caribbean Music Awards celebrations yet. This September, the Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience will bring together the sounds, stories, and cultures that have defined generations of Caribbean creativity, inviting audiences from around the world to experience this year’s theme, Sounds of the Caribbean, from the heart of one of the region’s most influential cultural destinations.
Caribbean Buzz
Terri Lyons Expands. Artiste Shows Immense Creativity on New RC Mas Monday Wear.
There’s no box to be held in. Terri Lyons is proving that as she moves into the Monday Wear market, partnering with RC Mas ahead of Carnival 2027.
The reigning Calypso Monarch Queen of Trinidad and Tobago and multiple time Queen of Queens, on Thursday, revealed her creative ability in the mas making sector, sharing her design, ‘Purple Paradise’ – a carefully created design that’s all hers.
The entertainer told Ebuzztt she had the idea and went to the masterful, Kinaji Couture, admitting that Kinaji is a force in the market. “She does a lot of bathing suits and prototypes for bands locally, regionally and further abroad. I knew she could do it and she did execute it perfectly. I just added the flowers,” said Lyons.
In 2027, RC Mas will bring Mystical Garden to life and with the band’s theme considered, Lyons’ floral embellishment makes it abundantly clear that her creativity is disciplined and mindful. She shared her process exclusively with Ebuzztt, highlighting the time taken to design with pen and paper before sharing with Kinaji who brought it all together seamlessly. “This was a lot of work. I sat and drew it all out and I stuck every flower and the diamond studs myself,” said Terri, before adding, “I ain’t doing that again,” with a laugh. The artiste said she’ll have extra hands on board to assist in future.