Grammy watch on!
Kabaka Pyramid pleased with career boost from last
Today, the 66th Grammy Awards takes place in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena.
Last year, Kabaka Pyramid attended the event at that venue and copped the Best Reggae Album award for The Kalling.
The roots singjay told the Jamaica Observer last week that winning music’s biggest award has “changed my life completely”, with his stocks soaring since the 2023 Grammys.
“Everything is up, everything has changed for all sectors of my career,” he said. “I’ve been getting more shows, better billing, better placements, music streaming is up.”
Co-produced by Damian “Junior Gong” Marley and Sean Diederick, The Kalling was released last September by Kabaka Pyramid’s Bebble Rock Music label and Ghetto Youth International, owned by the Marley family.
It contains collaborations with Buju Banton, Protoje and Jesse Royal.
One year later, the roots artiste is still promoting the 15-song set which has a deluxe edition in the works. He disclosed that there is a remix of Energy (with Sean Paul) scheduled for release soon. The Kalling’s version of that track featured Jemere Morgan.
Artistes have said they experience little traction after winning the Best Reggae Album Grammy, which has been in existence since 1985 (then known as Best Reggae Recording).
That has changed somewhat in recent years with social media-savvy acts like Koffee, who became the first female to win the category in 2020 with Rapture. She has appeared in hip publications such as Nylon magazine and performed at high-profile events such as Coachella Music and Art Festival in California.
Black Uhuru won the first reggae Grammy award for Anthem, produced by Sly and Robbie.
Buju Banton with Born For Greatness, Beenie Man (Simma), Collie Buddz (Cali Roots Riddim 2023), Burning Spear (No Destroyer) and Julian Marley & Antaeus with Colors Of Royal, are nominees for the 2024 Best Reggae Album Grammy.
Burning Spear, Buju Banton, and Beenie Man are previous winners.