Julian Marley will make another bid to join his siblings as winners of the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award next year. He and Greek artiste/producer Antaeus are among the five nominees for that category which will be decided on February 4 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Their Colors of Royal, Burning Spear’s No Destroyer, Simma by Beenie Man, Born For Greatness by Buju Banton, and Cali Roots Riddim by Collie Buddz are the nominees. They were announced November 10 by the Recording Academy.
The eight-song Colors of Marley was released in March. It hears Marley teaming with Alexx Antaeus whose credits include projects with The Rolling Stones and Earth, Wind And Fire.
This is Julian Marley’s third Grammy nomination, following Awake in 2010 and As I Am in 2020.
“This album is all about artistic freedom and exploration. We wanted to create something that was both true to reggae music and also pushed the envelope, and I think we’ve achieved that with Colors of Royal. It’s a journey through sound and color, and we can’t wait for people to experience it,” he said shortly after Colors of Royal’s release.
Burning Spear, 78, hunts his third Grammy, having won in 2000 with Calling Rastafari and 2009 for Jah is Real. It is his 13th nomination of “No Destroyer”
It is the fourth Best Reggae Album nod for Beenie Man, who turned 50 this year. On Simma, he collaborates with Shaggy, Sean Paul, Dexta Daps and Shenseea.
Buju Banton earns his seventh nomination for “Born for Greatness”
After years of knocking at the door, reggae finally gained Grammy status in 1985, with the inaugural award going to Black Uhuru and the Sly and Robbie-produced Anthem. The 2023 award went to Kabaka Pyramid for The Kalling.
The category has been dominated by the Marleys, with Julian’s older brothers Ziggy and Stephen coming away multiple winners as solo acts or with Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers.
By Howard Campbell
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