PartyNextDoor, Kardinal Offishall Honoured At The Black Academy's 2024 Legacy Awards

Two of Canada's best-loved musicians were honoured at the third annual Legacy Awards, presented by The Black Academy.

PartyNextDoor was named Artist of the Year at the awards, which celebrate emerging and established Black Canadian talent, while Kardinal Offishall was presented with the Icon Award.

Party was unable to attend in person but sent in a video message expressing his gratitude. The R&B artist, songwriter and producer has certainly had a banner year, releasing his fourth solo album, PARTYNEXTDOOR4, performing a homecoming show at Budweiser Stage, and minting sixteen new RIAA certifications. He was just named the top artist-songwriter for the second quarter of 2024 thanks to that last achievement, which saw the Party-penned "Work" by Rihanna hit diamond status.

Kardinal Offishall received his Icon Award at the event, which took place Sunday, September 29 at Toronto's History club. Jully Black — who received the Billboard Canada Women in Music Impact Award just last month — was on hand to present Kardinal with the honour, recognizing his legacy as both an artist and an industry figure helping to bring Canadian hip-hop to the global stage.

Others honoured at the event include the Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey and Soulpepper Theatre artistic director Weyni Mengesha, and rappers SadBoi and Smiley performed.

Actors Stephan James and Shamier Anderson founded the Legacy Awards in 2021, though Alex Nino Gheciu at the Canadian Press reports that the event's future isn't clear-cut. This edition marked the end of a three-year deal with CBC to broadcast the awards.

"We're hoping that CBC continues to do this because in our community, virtue signaling is a real thing," Anderson told CP. "People come in when it's topical and I think the community is hoping and making sure that the powers that be really keep this going and really put the gas behind it."