Jamaica: Tensions emerge After SOJA wins Best Reggae Album Award at Grammy 2022

There have been a number of accusations against the Recording College — including those of racism and xenophobia - after the US band SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) promoted Jamaican Spice artists, Jesse Royal, Sean Paul, Gramps Morgan, and Etana, to win the Grammy Best Reggae Album Award for their album Beauty In The Silence.

But there is one major reason for Sunday night's results, and it could be the same reason why Dancehall albums continue to be ignored during nominations and why the Bob Marley family holds 13 of 37 Reggae Grammys awards since 1985.
On Sunday night, following the announcement of the Virginia band's victory, there were words of disappointment and outrage at some Jamaican musicians, among them Shenseea, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and producer Foota Hype. "Why you dweet ???" was a question asked by Shenseea in The Shade Room where a photo of SOJA was shared, with Beenie Man writing: "Smh"
Bounty Killer wrote in an Instagram post, "What a big piece a sell out gwaan of so white folks winning best reggae album over Jamaicans wtf🤔."

"The Jamaican government is committed to fighting for our cultural music and even our language but still uses it to promote our campaigns. That's why Billboard and Grammy feel they can style di thing folks," The Warlord added in another post, accompanied by a song clip that not released by Sizzla called How Dem Fi Fight Reggae Music.

The most important question that, interestingly, has not been asked, is whether enough Jamaican artists, producers and engineers - numbering in the thousands - have made a concerted effort to register as voting members of the Recording College.

Grammys, considered one of the most prestigious of all, by a fellow musician of the genre, have been nominated by the College of Records, the American Academy of "Musicians, Producers, Recording Engineers and Other Music Professionals" which recognizes achievements in the music industry. . and music that is popular all over the world.

According to the rules of the Recording College, membership is open to creative or technical music professionals, such as singers, composers, producers, art directors and engineers. Voting members must be producers, actors, or engineers of six or more commercially released albums or 12 or more digital songs, a requirement that most Jamaican music professionals of all ages can easily satisfy. Prospective members are also required to submit two proposals from their peers and must pay a $ 100 annual membership fee.

However, more recently in December 2020, the famous Dancehall actor Shaggy was forced to reiterate his call for qualified performers to become members of the Recording College so that their votes could be counted, this being after the cries of Dancehall artists about what they see as continuing to ignore the genre. Grammy Awards.

In 2020, Popcaan criticized the Recording College for not considering his FIXTAPE album nomination for the Best Reggae Album nominees for the year 2021. Popcaan had mocked the Grammys for ignoring Dancehall and accused the organization of corruption.

But Shaggy maintained that the Recording College should not be blamed and that the artists themselves should fulfill their role by registering with the organization in order to vote.

"Every year when Grammys come out people hate this and this is no different. That's the way it is. I always tell people if you want to make a change, sign up and get involved and be a part of it," Shaggy explained."You can stay on one side and see Grammy as dis and Grammy do it. If you are not registered then you are not part of it. Come in if you want a different result," said the Diamond-plus selling artiste.

In February this year, Grammy-nominated music producer and executive producer Cristy Barber criticized the fact that Jamaica had a history of small numbers of voters, noting that in 2009, there was only one registered voter in Jamaica.