JAH CURE DISQUALIFIED FROM MOBO AWARDS

International Reggae star  Siccature "Jah Cure" Alcock, nominated in the Best Reggae Act Category at the MOBO Awards was disqualified due to his rape conviction.

Via JamaicaStar

Reggae singer Jah Cure has reportedly been removed from this year's MOBO Awards 'Best Reggae Act' category.

According to www.thesun.co.uk, Jah Cure was removed from this year's MOBO awards nominations because he was previously convicted and spent time in prison. According to the website, "organisers said they acted after being told about the conviction and 'severity of the crime". This would have marked the artiste's first time getting nominated for a MOBO award.

In 1999, Jah Cure, real name Siccature Alcock, was prosecuted at 19 years old for gun possession, rape and robbery. After serving time, he was released in 2007. Since his release, Jah Cure has topped the music charts with three number-one singles. It started with Call On Me, featuring his label mate Phyllisia, followed with You'll Never Find, and Unconditional Love.

Checks made by The Star to the awards website, www.mobo.com, showed that only Alborosie, Khago, Mavado, Damian Marley featuring Nas were voting options in the 'Best Reggae Act' category. Efforts to reach Jah Cure, who is currently off the island, proved futile. A representative from his team said that they have no comment on the matter adding, "right now we're just working, promoting and producing good music and focused on his tours coming up".

Last year, Gyptian won in the reggae category at the awards against acts such as Damian Marley, Mavado, Vybz Kartel and Gappy Ranks. This year, the awards will be held on October 5 at the SECC Glasgow in Scotland.

Launched in 1996 by founder and CEO Kanya King MBE, the MOBO Awards were the first awards show in Europe to celebrate urban music. The awards attract the largest prime-time multicultural audience in Europe, due in no small part to the fact that MOBO has played host to the music industry's finest. Over the years, artistes have included Janet Jackson, Diddy, Mark Ronson, Dionne Warwick, Tina Turner, Jay- Z, LL Cool J, Amy Winehouse, Usher and John Legend, to name a few.

This is not the first controversial MOBO nomination in the reggae category. Reggae acts Vybz Kartel and Elephant Man were both axed in 2004 in a row over homophobic lyrics.

Last month, the singer made headlines when he wed girlfriend Kamila McDonald in a small wedding ceremony at the Tryall Club, close to where the singer was born. He is currently working on the release of his next album.