The music industry is gearing up for its biggest night as the 68th annual Grammy Awards approaches.

Discussions and predictions about potential nominees in the Best Reggae Album category have become water cooler conversations — these days moreso social media commentary — with industry experts and fans alike speculating which albums will grab the attention of members of The Recording Academy this time around.

The Grammy Awards seeks to honour the best recordings, compositions, and artistes from August 31, 2024 to August 30, 2025.

The nominations will be announced on Friday, November 7.

Below are my predictions for the albums that could make it among the final five nominees in the Best Reggae Album category:

Heart & Soul — Vybz Kartel (Greedy Lion/Vybz Kartel Muzik)

Released on August 29, Heart & Soul could give the “World Boss” his second nomination. Last year, he secured a nod with Party With Me.

The 11-track Heart & Soul features the trending hit I Know as well as Bad Bad Bad, featuring dancehall kitten Ishawna.

Truth is, Vybz Kartel has been on a major tear this year, performing at sold-out venues worldwide and his presence has definitely been felt. The newly-crowned king of the dancehall has maintained his status as a bona fide hitmaker with songs including Boom produced by ZJ Chrome and the chart-topping and inspirational God is the Greatest.

Jamaica Love (EP) — Mojo Morgan (Heritage Grown Productions)

Mojo Morgan delivered a nine-track EP Jamaica Love on August 29, and it’s a decent body of work that deserves recognition. Sean “Contractor” Edwards, marketing consultant, and YGF’s Tevin Richards are listed as associate producers of the track Make It (featuring Popcaan, Chronic Law, and Pablo YG), one of the bright sparks on the project.

It doesn’t hurt that Morgan knows a thing or two about campaigning and to secure votes. After all, he is a member of the Grammy Award-winning Morgan Heritage clan, which secured a win in 2016 for Strictly Roots and a nomination in 2018 for Avrakedabra.

No Place Like Home – Jesse Royal (Easy Star Records)

The 10-track No Place Like Home by roots singer Jesse Royal was released without much fanfare.

Jesse Royal enlisted the likes of Grammy-winning Producer Sean Alaric and Andre “Dretegs” Hawthorne as well as the talented Nicholas Groskopf and Llamar “Riff Raff” Brown for a sound that is modern and innovative.

Songs, including Too Late with Billboard-charting singer Melanie Fiona, Blessing featuring Yohan Marley, Hope featuring Romain Virgo, and Jungle Justice with Grammy-winner Kabaka Pyramid make this set a worthy contender for a nomination.

By the way, Jesse Royal was nominated in 2022 for Royal. Easy Star Records secured a nomination in 2017 for Rebelution’s Falling Into Place.

Blood & Fyah — Keznamdi (Keznamdi Music Group)

It would be good to see Keznamdi among the nominees this year. Blood & Fyah is a critically acclaimed piece of work that has largely gone unnoticed by the masses.

This is Keznamdi’s sophomore release and this 13-track set released on August 22 features guests including Marlon Asher and Mavado.

Definitely worth a listen are I Am featuring Keznamdi’s sister, singer Kelissa, Natty Dreadlocks, and Forever Grateful featuring Masicka.

Ghetto Reggae – Mr Vegas (MV Music)

With a career dating back to the late 1990s, Mr Vegas has never been nominated for a Grammy. Through the years he has released several albums, but Ghetto Reggae, an independently released project, sort of hits home. Mr Vegas was very hands-on with this project, and I applaud the fact that several of his musical peers supported his vision.

It was released on August 29.

Khago wrote the track Take My Heart, while singer and producer Ed Robinson, Kirkledove, Andre Gillespie, Dean Fraser, Danny Bassie, and Pastor Mark Brown, all added their talents to the project.

Tracks featured on Ghetto Reggae include Bye Bye Julie, Call Tyrone (featuring Daddy U-Roy), My Enemies (featuring Demelo), Grateful, God Will Deliver Us, One Praise (featuring Greentone), an updating of the classic Fade Away, Land of My Birth and I Miss You.

Having won a MOBO Award and scored multiple Billboard charting hits, Grammy voters could use those accolades to determine Mr Vegas’s fate.

Treasure Self Love – Lila Ike (Wurl Ike Records/In.Digg.Nation Collective/Ineffable Records)

In August, when I spoke to Lila Ike, the singer revealed how important Treasure Self Love was to her. The project highlights her vulnerability, her songwriting prowess, and how relatable musicians can be when selecting material that appeals to a wider cross section of listeners.

Lila Ike deserves a nomination for this alluring project.

Protoje, who himself is a multi-Grammy-nominated artiste, had a hand in Treasure Self Love and US-based label Ineffable Records, I’m sure, will utilise its connections to secure a nod. The label previously secured Best Reggae Album nominated projects, Take it Easy and Cali Roots Riddim 2023, both by Collie Buddz.

Love in a Lovely Way, Sweet, Romantic featuring Masicka, and He Loves Us Both featuring American R&B and Grammy-winning singer H.E.R. make Treasure Self Love worthy of attention.

Your Richness is Life – Black Pearl Livingston (Fifty Fifty Records)

August 22 saw the release of Your Richness is Life, a 10-track debut set by Claudette “Black Pearl” Livingston, the sister of both the late reggae king Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer.

More than six decades in the making, Your Richness is Life is produced by Greg Quail, an Australian television and record producer who is a faithful lover of Jamaican music.

The collection of songs are rooted in reality, romance, and Rastafari. The set includes eight original songs and a cover from each of her brothers’ extensive catalogues — Bob’s Natty Dread and Bunny Wailer’s Rock N Groove.

After several decades of family tragedy and personal struggles, Black Pearl Livingston has finally arrived.

The 68th annual Grammy Awards will take place on February 1, 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Mojo Morgan

Jesse Royal.

Keznambi.

Lila Iké.

Black Pearl Livingston, sister of Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, has delivered Your Richness is Life.

.

.

.

Mr Vegas.