On Sunday, January 28, 2018 on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET, the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place. While all of the nominees for the various categories have been announced, we of course wanted to spotlight the 5 nominees for Best Reggae Album. Lets take a look as we congratulate nominees Common Kings, J Boog, Morgan Heritage, Chronixx and Damian Jr Gong Marley!
The eligibility requirements for the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards include albums that were released between Oct. 1, 2016, and Sept. 30, 2017. Recordings must be commercially released in general distribution in the United States, i.e. sales by label to a branch or recognized independent distributor, via the internet or mail order/retail sales for a nationally marketed product. Recordings must be available for sale from any date within the eligibility period through at least the date of the current year’s voting deadline.
The 2018 Grammy Nominees for Best Reggae Album:
Damian Jr Gong Marley – Stony Hill (Released: 7/21/2017)
Morgan Heritage – Avrakedabra (Released: 5/19/2017)
Chronixx – Chronology (Released (Released: 6/30/2017)
Common Kings – Lost In Paradise (Released: 2/3/2017)
J Boog – Wash House Ting (Released: 11/18/2016)
Something tells me that if a Marley is a nominee, then a Marley will likely take home the Grammy. That doesn’t mean that Damian’s Stony Hill isn’t a worthy nomination — JR Gong has won the category twice, in 2002 and 2006, and Stony Hill is a monster of an album at 18 tracks with his brother, Stephen, guesting on 3 of the songs. Morgan Heritage won their first Grammy in 2016 with Strictly Roots and they return as nominees for Avrakedabra that also features both Ziggy & Stephen Marley.
The rest of the 2018 Nominees would be first time winners. J Boog was nominated last year for his Rose Petals EP from a March 2016 release and is up again with a full length record in Wash House Ting, a record that actually features Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage. This is the first time southern, CA’s Common Kings have been nominated and with a debut album; Lost In Paradise. The wild-card here is Jamaica’s Chronixx who may have just enough momentum to possibly beat out a Marley with his debut record, Chronology.
Ultimately, the winner doesn’t matter, but the discussion and notoriety is what counts. We hope people continue to talk about these albums and through these albums we hope people continue to discover the vast universe that is the reggae-rock community of artists that these nominees are known for collaborating and performing with. This genre continues to be building momentum that is getting more notoriety with the impact its having on the music industry with its culture and quality.
As Kevin Lyman, founder of the Vans Warped Tour, best put it on his Twitter (@KevinLyman): “Of course congratulations to the @GRAMMYAwards nominations, but I wish to recognize the 100’s of bands traveling around the country playing their hearts out each night who hope to make enough gas money to get to the next town!”
— We salute all of you artists and bands out there to another year of commitment to your passion.
Watch: Damian Marley – “Medicataion” (ft. Stephen Marley)
The GRAMMY’s Complete History of Best Reggae Album Winners:
2018: ?
2017: Ziggy Marley – Ziggy Marley
2016: Morgan Heritage – Strictly Roots
2015: Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta
2014: Ziggy Marley – In Concert
2013: Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth
2012: Stephen Marley – Revelation Pt. 1 – The Root of Life
2011: Buju Banton – Before the Dawn
2010: Stephen Marley – Mind Control Acoustic
2009: Burning Spear – Jah Is Real
2008: Stephen Marley – Mind Control
2007: Ziggy Marley – Love Is My Religion
2006: Damian Marley – Welcome to Jamrock
2005: Toots & the Maytals – True Love
2004: Sean Paul – Dutty Rock
2003: Lee Perry – Jamaican E.T.
2002: Damian Marley – Halfway Tree
2001: Beenie Man – Art and Life
2000: Burning Spear – Calling Rastafari
1999: Sly and Robbie – Friends
1998: Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – Fallen Is Babylon
1997: Bunny Wailer – Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary
1996: Shaggy – Boombastic
1995: Bunny Wailer – Crucial! Roots Classics
1994: Inner Circle – Bad Boys
1993: Shabba Ranks – X-tra Naked
1992: Shabba Ranks – As Raw As Ever
1991: Bunny Wailer – Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley
1990: Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – One Bright Day
1989: Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – Conscious Party
1988: Peter Tosh – No Nuclear War
1987: Steel Pulse – Babylon the Bandit
1986: Jimmy Cliff – Cliff Hanger
1985: Black Uhuru – Anthem
Watch: Common Kings – “Mary Wanna”
Related Links:
Official Grammys Website
Grammys Facebook
Damian JR Gong Marley Website
Chronixx Website
Common Kings Website
J Boog Website
Morgan Heritage Website
Article by: Mike Patti
Watch: Chronixx – “Likes”
Watch: J Boog – “Good Cry” (ft. Chaka Demus)
Watch: Morgan Heritage – “Reggae Night” (ft. DreZion)
