The Caribbean’s influence on pop culture went far beyond music in 2015. In a way that was broader and more tangible than in any other recent year, island culture made its presence felt in the realm of books, art, sports, media and politics.

A Jamaican author won one of literature’s most prestigious prizes. The New York Times noted the emerging “New Caribbean Food Movement.” Rihanna made sure all of her fans, and just about everybody else in the world, got a taste of Barbados during Crop Over. And seemingly the whole world booked tickets to Cuba and Jamaica, as two of the region’s largest nations welcomed major new developments sure to boost travel arrivals for years to come.

Here’s 15 ways the Caribbean infiltrated pop culture in 2015.

15. Jamaican Music Made A Cameo on The Year’s Biggest Rap Album

Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore LP To Pimp A Butterfly was one of the year’s defining albums, inspiring endless amounts of praise, and debate throughout 2015. Ultimately, it earned the Los Angeles rapper 11 Grammy nominations, the most of any artist this year. To Pimp A Butterfly was notably influenced by jazz, funk and vintage L.A. gangster rap. But, not unlike Kanye West’s Yeezus two years back, an unexpected Caribbean thread ran through it as well. The very first sounds on the album are a sample from “Every Nigger Is a Star,” a track from a little-known 1974 album by Jamaican bassist and singer Boris Gardiner. And, in a more widely noticed overture to Caribbean sounds, there was the appearance of Assassin (aka Agent Sasco), who brought an intense, dancehall perspective to TPAB‘s “The Blacker The Berry.” The provocative single was one of the most memorable tracks on To Pimp A Butterfly, and in hip-hop in general this year, boosting the international profile of an artist we’ve long known to be one of Jamaican music’s best kept secrets.—Jesse Serwer

14. Caribbean Cuisine Expanded its Reach

Curry Goat and Plantain Gnocchi at Compère Lapin. Photo: Lemar Arceneaux.

This year saw the Caribbean make significant inroads into the broader culinary world, on a number of fronts. Among the factors catapulting island food to greater recognition in 2015 were the growing trend towards agri-tourism in the Caribbean (such as the opening of Bellemont Farm in St. Kitts), and the emergence of artisanal food curators and food festivals specializing in Caribbean flavors, in the region and abroad in the U.S  and Europe. And there was a major boom in Caribbean casual dining, as noted in the “New Caribbean Food Movement” feature published in the New York Times, with chefs of Caribbean descent bringing new attention to the Caribbean restaurant experience. Among them were Nina Compton of Top Chef fame, named Chef of the Year in New Orleans by Eater, for her newly-opened restaurant there, Compère Lapin. (See her curry goat and plantain gnocchi above). Another Top Chef regular, Marcus Samuelsson — who, though not Caribbean himself has been very vocal about his admiration of West Indian flavors recently – opened the Caribbean-accented Marcus’ at the Hamilton Princess hotel in Bermuda.

Across the Atlantic in London, Levi Roots (known for his Reggae Sauce, sold in English supermarkets) opened the Levi Roots Caribbean Smokehouse in Westfield’s Stratford City Mall, one of Europe’s largest urban shopping centers. We also saw chefs of island descent getting their share of airtime on some of the most popular cooking channels and programs. We certainly do not see this pace slowing down in 2016, but Caribbean cuisine becoming more celebrated for years to come. —Nneka Nurse

13. Popcaan Was On Everybody’s Summer Playlist

Since rocking “Clarks” five years ago with Vybz Kartel, Popcaan has become one of dancehall’s biggest stars internationally. His increased exposure of late is at least partly a result of his interacting with mainstream artists from Europe and North America, specifically his good friend Drake. Popcaan shows up several times on the Toronto rapper’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, one of the year’s most successful hip-hop releases, lending his intro from Where We Come From‘s “Ghetto (Tired of Crying)” to IYRTITL‘s “Know Yourself,” while “No Tellin” pulls from the Unruly Boss’ dialogue in 6 in the 876, a mini-doc shot by members of Drake’s crew during a visit to Jamaica. Meanwhile, a variety of Caribbean elements were present on British producer Jamie XX’s 2015 release In Colour, from the steel pan pulse of “Obvs” to the brightly blended summer hit “I Know (There’s Gonna Be Good Times).” Poppy brought a strong island vibe to the latter, pairing his melodious vocals with Young Thug’s idiosyncratic rap style on the popular summer anthem. This year, the Jamaican dancehall star proved to be three things: eminent, versatile and always Tr888. — Ola Mazzuca

12. P.K. Subban Brought Island Swagger to the NHL

The son of parents from Jamaica and Montserrat, Toronto-born Pernell Karl “P.K.” Subban is becoming one of the National Hockey League’s greatest attractions. It’s not just his skills that demand attention. More so, it is the exuberant way he plays the game. With his showy skating and boisterous post-goal celebrations, Subban is the type of player that brings new fans into the sport, while irritating the hell out of old purists. He’s brought a new level of flash and boldness to hockey, like Jordan with his tongue wagging, or Bolt in track and field, and he’s easily the league’s funniest comedian. Hockey fans have known this all a while (and Subban’s 2014-2015 season was not necessarily a better campaign than his previous one), but this was the year where his renown grew beyond the sport. A number of players with island roots have made an impact in the NHL, but it’s not a stretch to say that Subban is the league’s first Caribbean superstar. —Jesse Serwer

11. Justin Bieber Had a Huge Hit On A Dancehall Riddim

Technically, the instrumental produced by Skrillex and BLOOD for Justin Bieber‘s “Sorry” is not a dancehall riddim. It wasn’t released by the producers with vocals from scores of different artists competing for top placement. But since it dropped two months ago, ahead of Bieber’s now-platinum Purpose album, it’s been effectively turned into one, as Caribbean acts including Konshens and Kranium have recognized the bashment vibes at the heart of this winter’s second biggest single, adding their own vocals to the mix. And, if that didn’t make things clear enough, there’s all the videos from dancehall choreographers (including our own Blacka Di Danca) that have turned up on YouTube.

Bieber, fortunately, doesn’t affect any fake patois on “Sorry” (which has sat at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a month, trailing  Adele’s “Hello” the entire time) but he didn’t need to. With a sound that recalls JA Productions’ crisp, radio-friendly spin on dancehall, the beat did all the talking, ensuring that “Sorry” will get spins in dancehall sessions for months, if not years, to come. —Jesse Serwer

10. The Reggae Revival Made It to Vogue

The growing buzz around Jamaica’s often-called “Reggae Revival” reached a new level this year when many of the scene’s leading names were covered in a massive, online digital feature on Jamaica by Vogue. (What’s next, Anna Wintour rocking red, green and gold?) While Vogue and reggae are an uncommon pair, seeing the likes of Chronixx, Protoje, Jah9, Kabaka Pyramid and Kelissa featured in a high-profile fashion magazine just shows how much the music — and style — of this new class of reggae stars has made an impact beyond the shores of Jamaica. — Saxon Baird

9. Major Lazer Blew the F*** Up

Major Lazer have been on a steady climb since 2009, when its original Diplo and Switch incarnation released their debut, Guns Don’t Kill People, Lazers Do to minimal acclaim. (In fact, the album was considered something of a flop at the time.) Things started to change after “Pon De Floor” became a hit in 2010, and by the time Free the Universe landed in 2013, the group — now consisting of Trinidad’s Jillionaire and Jamaica-born Walshy Fire, alongside Diplo — had really taken flight. Their blend of EDM and island vibes has arguably been the single biggest influence on Caribbean music of all shapes in the last few years, while their insane live show has made them one the most popular acts on the international festival circuit.

But this was this year that they reached world-domination level, attaining global ubiquity with “Lean On,” a track that even your mom probably knows, and which is now the most streamed song ever on Spotify. They also managed to release another album, too, in Peace is the Mission, featuring Tarrus Riley on the follow-up single “Powerful.”  The dancehall influence was less apparent on tracks like the genre-less “Lean On,” but, listen closely, and it’s in there.

For a play-by-play of Major Lazer’s epic year, see Jillionaire’s countdown of his Top 15 moments of 2015. —Jesse Serwer

8. R City Put the Virgin Islands On The Pop Music Map

St. Thomas-raised brothers brothers Timothy and Theron Thomas have a long history of making hits as songwriters for the likes of Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus. This year, the duo formerly known as Rock City stepped into the forefront with their massive single “Locked Away” featuring Adam Levine. The track reached No. 6 on the Hot 100, topped Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, and remains in rotation at radio as we head into the New Year. It also set the stage for R City to finally release their debut major-label album, What Dreams Are Made Of, our second-favorite Caribbean LP of 2015. It would be one thing if these were just artists from the Virgin Islands who made it big, but what stands out about their product is how fully, even amid the major-label system, they represent their islands in their music. “I think the Virgin Islands got something to say, and we here,” Theron told us recently. “I think it’s time for people to embrace it.”  — Jesse Serwer

7. Drake Did the Log On in “Hotline Bling,” The Year’s Most Meme-worthy Music Video

Drake inspired one of the year’s biggest memes this fall with his freestyle grandpa dancing in the video for “Hotline Bling.” When Drake starts to bubble with his “Hotline Bling” dance partner, Jamaican-Canadian choreographer Tanisha Scott, against Director X’s minimalist backdrop, he was actually paying homage to some classic dancehall steps. As Scott joins Drake towards the end of the video, we see the pair doing the Log On dance created by Mr. Bogle and popularized by Elephant Man. In fact, it’s the same move that Scott, who has brought dancehall steps to a flowing list of music videos, and Director X did together over a decade earlier, in Sean Paul’s groundbreaking “Gimme The Light” video, a clip Drake cited as inspiration for “Hotline Bling.” (In an interview with the Fader, Scott cited John Travolta and Uma Thurman’s exchange in Pulp Fiction and “the way we move in Toronto” among the elements that inspired her take.

For more ways Drake has been influenced by dancehall, see LargeUp’s countdown of Drake’s “Most Dancehall Moments.” — Ola Mazzuca

6. OMI’s “Cheerleader” Had the Whole World Shaking Their Pom-poms

Clarendon, Jamaica’s OMI had a phenomenal year, with the Felix Jaehn remix of his single “Cheerleader” yielding double platinum, platinum and gold certifications all over the globe and charting at No. 1 in 20 countries. One of the summer’s most summer’s most ubiquitous party anthems, the track has led to performances all around the world, including an appearance on Taylor Swift’s 1989 tour. What not many people who have been listening to “Cheerleader” know is that it was actually penned circa 2008, and released in a reggae-inflected island pop version in 2012. Music heavyweights Clifton “Specialist” Dillon, Sly and Robbie, Dean Fraser all played a huge part in piecing it together, and the track was subsequently released independently before Ultra Music snapped it up. It was the EDM remix by Felix Jaehn that really caught the world’s attention, though we knew this song was a hit back in 2013 when OMI appeared in LargeUp’s annual Artists to Watch list, right behind Chronixx.  — Nadine White

5. Rihanna Took the Whole World to Carnival at Crop Over

From her social media presence to her videos, it’s clear that Rihanna doesn’t need any excuse to shake it. So, of course this proud Bajan beauty was present and accounted for at this year’s Crop Over. She heads home to Barbados for the summer carnival almost every year, but on this visit she really seemed to capture the whole world’s attention with her bejeweled costume, and very spicy wuk-up, leaving male onlookers (at home, and abroad on social media) hot under the collar. In pictures that were seemingly posted on every online news and gossip site worldwide, she was also seen enjoying the good life and the company of family and friends such as BFF Melissa Forde. It was a great advertisement for Barbados, one that is sure to cause a surge in travel for next summer’s Crop Over.

Rihanna wasn’t the only pop star to bring a bit of Carnival to di world this summer. During her opening performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, Nicki Minaj gave a charged, albeit condensed, performance of The Pinkprint track ‘Trini Dem Girls.’ Donning a red and gold Carnival costume, it was a monumental nod to her native island, fittingly done just one day before Trinidad & Tobago’s 53rd Independence, Sweet, really, if unsurprising. Of course, Nicki has never been one to stray too far from her roots; she often reps the Caribbean in her music.—Nadine White

4. Jamaican Author Marlon James Became the Toast of the Literary World

2015 was a truly a breakthrough year for the Kingston-born author Marlon James. His 2014 novel A Brief History of Seven Killings, revolving around the attempted assassination of Bob Marley, drug posses and garrison politics, continued to garner rave reviews throughout the year. Then the book was optioned to HBO for a possible television series. And to add to the achievements, it won the  Man Booker Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the literary world.

But beyond the success of the book, James himself has become a new, refreshingly forthright, voice in the literary landscape, espousing his views on the lack of diversity in the literature world to the deeply personal experience of being a gay, Jamaican living abroad. James has not only brought the turbulent past of modern Jamaica’s history to a wider audience through his fiery fiction, but perhaps made a profoundly inspirational and enlightening impression on Jamaicans as well. — Saxon Baird

3. Jamaica Reminded Everyone It’s The World’s Coolest Country When Obama Came to Visit

President Obama has made dozens, if not hundreds, of diplomatic trips during his two administrations but few, if any, will be as lovingly remembered as his first official visit to Jamaica in April. For his first stop after arriving in Kingston, he paid a visit to the home of Bob Marley quipping things like, “I still have all the albums.” He also found time to strike a pose with Usain Bolt, and, speaking at a town hall meeting at the University of the West Indies-Mona, he opened his speech by addressing his audience, “Greetings massive…. Waah gwaan, Jamaica.” Collectively, these gestures had Jamaica trending worldwide during the president’s stay in Jamaica, providing a great advertisement for Jamaican tourism, and reminding the rest of the world that Jamaica is still the coolest place in the world. —Jesse Serwer

2. Jamaica Joined the Legalization Wave

While it may come as a surprise to non-Jamaicans, selling and using ganja has actually been against the law for the past 67 years in Jamaica. Until this year, being caught with ganja could land you in jail for up to five years and a $1500 fine. But now that has all begun to change. On February 6th – Bob’s Marley’s Earthstrong – the government passed a landmark amendment to Jamaica’s Dangerous Drugs Act that makes any possession of ganja under two ounces only a ticketed offense. It also now will reportedly allow any Rastafarian person to grow ganja on designated lands.

With an estimated over 37,000 acres of ganja growing on the island, this amendment is welcome news for the country, and comes with the potential of great economic benefits. Already moves are being made to take advantage of this amendment, and the world is taking note. Last month, we covered the first edition of High Times‘ Cannabis Cup to take place in Jamaica. And the Marley Estate has linked up with a private equity group to mass produce exclusive strains under the Marley Natural brand name. Of course, there’s still a lot of questions that remain around just how these changes will be regulated on the island and how far Jamaica will go towards full legalization. Regardless, it’s a big first step towards a new era in Jamaica that could benefit the island in more ways that one. —Saxon Baird

1. Cuba Opened Its Doors Again

In what was likely the single biggest development to occur in the region this decade, Cuba and the U.S.A. resumed diplomatic relations this year, setting the stage for an anticipated avalanche of changes to the largest, and least modernized, Caribbean island. The shift was felt immediately, as land speculators, media and tourists descended on Havana in numbers not seen since before the Revolution in 1959. Within months Rihanna had posed nude in a Havana hotel for a cover story in Vanity Fair, Conan O’Brien had taped TV specials there, and Mick Jagger was seen in town, allegedly scouting venues for a Rolling Stones concert. An October article on Havana in the Associated Press painted a picture of a city “filled with celebrities coming to party and hedge-fund managers sizing up their chances to make millions in one of the last bastions of communism.”

The question now is, how much will Cuba be able to retain its identity — and its distinctive, celebrated and highly romanticized culture — in the face of impending modernization and foreign influence? –Jesse Serwer