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Awards

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

Founded in 2021 by actors Stephan James and Shamier Anderson, the Legacy Awards celebrate emerging and established Black Canadian talent — though Anderson says the future of the event is uncertain, as a broadcasting partnership with CBC expires.

PartyNextDoor photographed on February 13, 2024 in Los Angeles.

PartyNextDoor photographed on February 13, 2024 in Los Angeles.

Erica Hernández

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.

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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."

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Sam Fender on stage accepting the Mercury Music Prize for the album 'People Watching' at the "Mercury Music Awards 2025" at the Utilita Arena on October 16, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
JMEnternational/Getty Images

Sam Fender on stage accepting the Mercury Music Prize for the album 'People Watching' at the "Mercury Music Awards 2025" at the Utilita Arena on October 16, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Awards

Sam Fender Triumphs in Hometown 2025 Mercury Prize Ceremony

Fender saw off competition from FKA Twigs, Fontaines D.C., CMAT & more

Sam Fender‘s People Watching won the Mercury Prize on Thursday (Oct. 16) in a ceremony held in his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Launched in 1992, The Mercury Prize is an esteemed annual prize that celebrates the best of British and Irish music across a range of music genres. For the first time in its history, this year the ceremony was held outside of London, taking place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne.

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