Senator Stavisky Presents Empire Award to VP Records, Queens Cultural Icon – The New York State Senate (.gov)

Senator Julia Stavisky honored VP Records with a New York State Senate Empire Award, recognizing the Queens-based label as a cultural icon. The distinction acknowledges VP Records’ decades-long impact on reggae, dancehall, and Caribbean music distribution in North America — from bringing roots reggae to the masses in the ’80s to breaking dancehall artists globally.

The Empire Award places VP Records alongside other legendary institutions shaping New York’s cultural landscape. For the Caribbean music community, this is validation from mainstream institutions: VP’s role in championing reggae and dancehall isn’t just commercial — it’s been foundational to how these genres reached international audiences and sustained their commercial viability.

This recognition matters. While reggae and dancehall have deep roots in Jamaica, labels like VP have been critical infrastructure, giving artists the platform and resources to compete on global stages. The state Senate’s nod confirms what the culture has always known.