“We Built It From the Ground Up”: Keznamdi, Vybz Kartel, Lila Iké, Mortimer, and Jesse Royal React to Their Grammy Nominations

It’s a clean sweep for Jamaica at the 2026 Grammy Awards — and the island’s artists are letting the world know just how much it means. When the Recording Academy unveiled the nominees for Best Reggae Album on Friday (Nov. 7), all five contenders hailed from Jamaica: Keznamdi (Blxxd & Fyah), Vybz Kartel (Heart & Soul), Lila Iké (Treasure Self Love), Mortimer (From Within), and Jesse Royal (No Place Like Home). For each artist, the moment carried deeply personal weight — and their reactions revealed as much fire as their music.

For Keznamdi, the recognition marked a defining moment in his independent journey. “This Grammy nomination is a mega win not just for me and my music but for my whole independent label team,” he told Billboard. “We built Blxxd & Fyah from the ground up — no label, no big machine, just pure faith, vision, and fire music from the heart.” Calling the all-Jamaican lineup “a new tidal wave for reggae,” Keznamdi added that the nod proves “roots reggae still has a global front-row seat.”

Dancehall powerhouse Vybz Kartel, fresh off a triumphant year of freedom and creative resurgence, expressed deep gratitude for his second consecutive nomination. “It’s exactly 464 days ago to the day I achieved a significant milestone with my freedom, and within this time span, I have been nominated twice,” he said. “I am genuinely thankful that my artistic contributions have once again garnered such esteemed attention from the Recording Academy.” His nominated project Heart & Soul stands as the only dancehall entry among the reggae-heavy lineup.

Lila Iké, whose debut album Treasure Self Love has been celebrated for its emotional depth and cultural authenticity, described her nomination as “a mixture of pride, shock, and joy.” She shared, “I feel blessed and proud of my team — Protoje, Lorna Bennett, and everyone who worked so hard to get this album out. This year’s lineup is a beautiful representation of reggae music.”

Mortimer, nominated for From Within, called the honour “one of the highest recognitions an artist could receive.” Speaking from Grenada, he reflected, “I wish my mom was around to share this with her, but I’ll go to her grave and tell her we’ve come this far.” His heartfelt words echoed the deeply spiritual and soulful tone that defines his music.

Meanwhile, Jesse Royal’s reaction was one of gratitude and perspective. “This entire project has been a blessing,” he said of No Place Like Home. “A little over a week before we released it, I almost lost my life — that experience reminded me how brief life is and how intentional we must be. Even as we celebrate, we must acknowledge what’s happening in Jamaica and how much help is needed to rebuild.”

As Jamaica recovers from Hurricane Melissa’s historic impact, these five Grammy-nominated voices have given the island something to celebrate — a testament that no matter the hardship, reggae and dancehall continue to rise, resonate, and redefine global music culture.