“And the Grammy for the ‘Best Reggae Album’ goes to… SOJA!”, the American reggae band for their album entitled ‘Beauty In The Silence’ the group’s ninth studio album. The band created a big upset at the 64th Awards by eclipsing the five Jamaican nominees one of whom was expected to clinch the golden gramophone.

SOJA, the eight-member American reggae group was formed in 1997 in Arlington, Virginia.  The Soldiers Of Jah Army are an Oscar-nominated group and are under the production of the record label, ATO Records. A year after the band’s formation, they released their first studio album entitled Creeping In and have since released eight others including last year’s body of work, Beauty In The Silence.  Released last year on September 24th, the album peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart after populating said chart for three weeks.

With this being the group’s third Grammy nomination, it seems that the saying is indeed right: Third time’s a charm!

Other nominees in this category for the most coveted award in Reggae are:

• Spice (Grace Hamilton) – the first hardcore female Dancehall act to be nominated for the Award.  The album ‘10’ earned a spot on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart, peaking at No. 6;
• Sean Paul with one Grammy award already under his belt was nominated for his 2nd golden gramophone with  Live N’ Livin. The album spent one week on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart at No. 9.
• Etana with her album ‘Pajoma’  became the first female musician to be nominated twice in the Best Reggae Album category.
• Jesse Royal for his sophomore album ‘Royal’ that contains Reggae, Dancehall, Afrobeats, Soul, and Traphall music representing a new movement in the genre.
• Gramps Morgan nominated for his third Grammy Award (the previous two with the band Morgan Heritage) for his album ‘Positive Vibration’ which blends Reggae and Country together with songs that takes one back to the islands.

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