Will Shenseea or Vybz Kartel End ‘Best Reggae Album’ Grammy Award Drought for Dancehall Artistes?
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Following their nominations on Friday for Best Reggae Album for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Shenseea and Vybz Kartel have reacted to their first time entering the running for the coveted award.
The Grammy’s Best Reggae Album award recognises albums of excellence in the Jamaican-created genres of Reggae, Ska, and Dancehall. While Dancehall’s prominence in Jamaica over Reggae is undeniable, its practitioners, especially over the past few years, have had a hard time competing against Reggae worldwide.
Jubilant about the international recognition of their work, Kartel, who was nominated for his album Party With Me, and Shenseea, who was nominated for Never Gets Late Here, shared their reactions on social media. Kartel took to his Instagram Stories, declaring it a “Vybz Kartel domination,” and thanked the people who assisted him in the album’s creation.
“Gaza nation, rememba wi have reason fi celebrate because a Grammy nomination, and rememba it’s a Vybz Kartel domination. Fuss ting wi afi big up fada God. God is the Greatest. Den mi afi big up Din Din Hemton because mii link him and seh ‘Din Din send mi some riddim’ and a deh suh everyting begin,” Kartel stated.
Shenseea, who has previously received Grammy recognition for her contribution to rapper Ye’s album Donda, was overwhelmed with emotion during her reaction video.
“Thank you to everyone who listened to the project, who streamed the project, play it over and over. To everyone who helped me to curate the project,” Shenseea said.
She went on to make a celebratory post this morning.
Like many Dancehall artiste’s before them, Shenseea and Kartel will be vying for the award against a strong Reggae presence. Collie Buddz, the soundtrack for Bob Marley: One Love, and The Wailers have also been nominated.
The Grammy’s Best Reggae Album award in particular has been a difficult honour for many Dancehall artiste’s to secure, with Reggae artistes dominating the nominations as well as the wins. Over the past five years, only four solely Dancehall artistes have been nominated for Best Reggae Album.
In 2020, no Dancehall artiste was nominated, with Reggae singer Koffee walking away with her first Grammy, for Rapture. 2021 also saw no Dancehall entertainers nominated, with legendary Ska and Reggae group Toots and the Maytals securing the win. Dancehall veteran Sean Paul and Queen of the Dancehall Spice received nominations in 2022.
However, American Reggae band SOJA would walk away as the victors in what was considered a controversial win in Jamaica. Sean Paul’s Scorcha and Shaggy Com Fly Wid Mi received nominations in 2023, but Kabaka Pyramid’s The Kalling was crowned the Best Reggae Album.
At the 66th Annual Grammy’s Award show, which was staged earlier this year, veteran Beenie Man was the sole Dancehall nominee and was beaten by Julian Marley & Antaeus for Best Reggae Album. A Dancehall artiste has not walked away with a Best Reggae Album Grammy since 2019, when Shaggy alongside Sting secured the award for their joint album 44/876.
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