Last Wednesday evening, as deejay Ce'Cile announced Mavado's nomination in one of four categories in the 27th International Reggae and World Music Awards, she intoned the deejay's signature 'gangster for life'.

It was a cry that was absent from the first Reggae Academy awards, held in late February, leading to an in-depth examination of Mavado's exclusion. In addition, Mavado dismissed the awards at last weekend's 'Magnum Follow The Arrow', held at James Bond Beach, Oracabessa, St Mary. As reported in the Jamaica Star on Tuesday, he said "Mi hear dem going roun' ah gi out dem award. Nutten fi di gangster. Me sey keep oonu b*******t award. If dem wah keep dem award dem no can keep it. Me nah raffle no award."

Mavado's with four (4) nominations is nominated for the Recording Artiste(s)/Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Community Service Award categories.

The 27th IRAWMA ceremony will be held at the Apollo Theatre, New York, USA, on Sunday, May 4. Wednesday's announcement of the nominees took place at the Jonkanoo Lounge, Hilton hotel, New Kingston.

Mavado unfortunately did not cop the most nominations, that distinction going to Tarrus Riley, who has seven (7). These include the Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year, Recording Artiste/Group of the Year, Best Album/CD, Best Male Vocalist, Best Song, Best Album, Best Music Video and Songwriter of the Year.

Some of the other nominees in multiple categories are Buju Banton and Stephen Marley with five, Beenie Man, Shaggy and Mavado with four each and Sean Kingston, Jah Cure, Machel Mantano and Munga Honourable having three apiece.

Ephraim Martin, who heads the organisation which stages the event, said on Wednesday evening that votes are now being accepted at irawma, up to April 20. He explained that over 1,000 music industry experts were polled for the nominations, which were then verified by an accounting firm before the list was officially released.

Only one vote will be allowed per person.

Lifetime Achievement Awards will go to Billy Ocean, Claudelle Clarke, engineer Errol Brown and Winston Francis. There are categories for hip hop, Latin music, Soukous and Reggaeton, among other genres.