“It’s Beyond Time For The Grammys To Split The Reggae & Dancehall Category” Billboard Reports

Billboard has made a compelling case that the Recording Academy should finally separate its Best Reggae Album category into two distinct awards: Best Reggae Album and Best Dancehall Album. “It’s beyond time for the Grammys to split this category,” the magazine wrote in its 2025 predictions feature, noting that both genres have evolved into globally recognized, yet distinctly different art forms.

The outlet analyzed this year’s submissions and pointed out that Vybz Kartel, who earned his first Grammy nomination last year, returns with Heart & Soul — an album Billboard says “lacks both a standout hit single and the immediate glow of his release from prison.” Still, they noted, “it’s hard to deny the magnitude of Kartel’s name,” given that Party With Me, which brought him his first nod, also had no major hit but benefited from his enduring influence.

Among the dancehall contenders, Billboard highlighted Prove Them Wrong (Valiant), International (Skillibeng), Pool Party (Konshens), Time Is Now (Likkle Addi), From Ding Dong to the World Ding (Ding Dong), Hate Being Famous (Squash), Pieces of Me (450), and Ups & Downs (DJ Mac). According to the magazine, Valiant and Skillibeng “probably have the best shots at Grammy recognition,” citing Valiant’s inclusion on Billboard’s mid-year Best Albums of 2025 list and Skillibeng’s RCA Records backing along with the viral momentum of “Shake It to the Max.”

This year there are no Marley submissions in the Reggae or World Music categories but Stephen Marley has submitted his Neil Young cover for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for the single “Old Man”from ‘Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young’

On the reggae front, leading contenders include Treasure Self Love (Lila Iké), Jamaica Love (Mojo Morgan), and Blxxd & Fyah (Keznamdi). Billboard emphasized that all three are aiming for their first solo Grammy nods, even though Mojo Morgan previously won as part of Morgan Heritage. Iké’s Protoje co-sign and long-lasting acclaim for The ExPerience EP give her an edge, while Morgan’s project features “generation-bridging collaborations,” and Keznamdi’s album carries strong grassroots support.

The publication also pointed to notable entries from Aston Barrett Jr. (Reggae Music Never Dies, featuring Israel Vibration), Hector Roots Lewis & Johnny Cosmic (Cosmic Love), and reggae legends King Jammy (King Jammy Unites the Nation with Dub) and Niney the Observer (Niney the Observer), both of whom could land their first Grammy nominations.

A surprising twist in this year’s field is Adrian Donsome Hanson’s Dem Can’t Stop My Joy (Rastafari Forever), an album partially assisted by AI through a collaboration with the “Forever Rootz Band.” Hanson told the Jamaica Gleaner, “I do about 90% of the work myself — building the riddim, writing the lyrics, shaping the melodies, and even recording demo vocals. … Then, I use AI for maybe 10% of the process — mostly to experiment with sound textures or to adjust how a vocal feels. It’s not a fully AI-driven album; it’s human-led from start to finish, with AI only supporting my vision. I control the process, and that human direction is what gives the album its soul.”

Other reggae projects in contention include Spain Root (Royal Blu), Nirvana (Jahmiel), Find Me Here (Sherwin Gardner), No Place Like Home (Jesse Royal), Sherlock (Cham), and Island Waves Vol. 2 (Loud City & ZJ Sparks).

Billboard’s “Fearless Forecast”

“We’re counting on: Jamaica Love (Mojo Morgan); No Place Like Home (Jesse Royal); Treasure Self Love (Lila Iké); Heart & Soul (Vybz Kartel); and Blxxd & Fyah (Keznamdi).”