64th Reggae Grammy Nominee

December 22, 2021

The 64th annual Grammy Awards comprises of 86 categories this year. The awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on April 3, 2022 and will broadcast live on CBS.

Best Reggae Album Grammy Nominees:

Pamoja –Etana (2^nd Grammy nomination, first female to be nominated twice).

Positive Vibration – Gramps Morgan (3^rd solo album and first solo Grammy nomination; won in 2016 with Morgan Heritage).

Live N Livin – Sean Paul (7^th Grammy nomination, won Grammy in 2004).

Royal – Jesse Royal (2^nd studio Album and 1^st Grammy nomination)

Beauty In The Silence – Soja (3^rd Grammy nomination)               

 10 – Spice (1^st studio album and first Grammy nomination)

History was created over the 36 years of the Best Reggae Album Award; it’s the first time two women have been nominated simultaneously and the first time a female was nominated a second time. Over the years, five females have been nominated in the category; Koffee who won in 2020 with her “Rapture” EP; Etana for “Reggae Forever” in 2018; Sister Carol for “Lyrically Potent” in 1996; Rita Marley for “We Must Carry On” in 1991 and Judy Mowatt for “Working Wonders” in 1985. Lady Saw was also nominated and won but for a different category in 2004, making her the first dancehall female artist to win a Grammy (w/ No Doubt). Reggae gained Grammy status in 1984 when the category was known as Best Reggae Recording. Black Uhuru won the first rendition with “Anthem” the following year. Toots And The Maytals won the last Grammy for “Got to be Tough”.

“Pamoja” gives Etana her second Grammy nomination and the first for a reggae female artist.

Gramps Morgan is riding high as his hit single “A place for people like you” is one of the most loved songs for 2021. He’s a member of the group Morgan Heritage which won the Best Reggae Album Grammy in 2016 for “Strictly Roots” and was also nominated in 2018 for “Avrekadabra”. “Positive Vibrations” is Gramps third solo album and his first solo nomination. It was released via Halo Entertainment and features 15 tracks.

“Live N Livin” is Sean Paul sixth nomination. He won in 2004 for the multi-platinum album “Dutty Rock” while his previous nominations were for “The Trinity” (2006), “Imperial Blaze” (2010), “Tomahawk Technique” (2013) and “Full Frequency” (2015). “Live N Livin” peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart.

“Beauty in the Silence” is the third nomination for reggae band SOJA (soldiers of Jah army), one of the top-selling reggae group in North America. Previous albums were for “Live in Virginia” in 2017 and “Amid the Noise And The Haste” in 2015. The Grammy album was released by ATO Records, peaking at number two on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart.

“Royal” by Jesse Royal is the singer’s second album and first nomination. The 14 track set was released by New York-based Easy Star Records and features collaborations with Vybz Kartel, Protoje, Stonebwoy and others.

“10” is the first full-length album for Spice. The album was released by VP Records and peaked at number six on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart. Led by the single “Go Down Deh” featuring Shaggy and Sean Paul, Spice was introduced to a mainstream audience after making the rounds on highly rated television shows including Good Morning America and Wendy Williams. The project was executive-produced by Shaggy, who also contributed as a producer along with Stephen McGregor, Tony Kelly and others.

SHENSEEA GETS 4 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS WITH COLLABORATIONS

Not to be outdone, Dancehall diva Shenseea is riding high with four nominations courtesy of her collaborative work with Kanye West. Due to new rulings, Kanye was added to other categories which includes Grammy “Album of the Year” Though it’s not an individual effort, the trending sensation is grateful for the blessings. She’s recovering from a slight illness and will be working on her debut album in the near future.