Keznamdi says his Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category for his début album Blxxd & Fyah is a big victory.

Citing being an independent artiste with a small team and no major distribution, the accolade, he shared in an interview with the Jamaica Observer on the weekend, is reward for hard work.

“It’s a big win for me and my team. The people ‘roun mi that been sacrificing dem time and energy, is the whole a wi get this win, you know, because it’s not like a Grammy mek you more money, or make you more bigger. In reality, is just people recognising the work that you and your team have put in. And I think even more importantly, you have to understand that this, for me, this is a grass roots thing, you know, like when you look at all the other people that submitting their albums — the 73 reggae albums — this is a huge win for independent grass roots artistes. Like I jus’ start music from Skyline Levels an’ wi jus have a dream and a vision over all these years and wi now a get recognised by one of the most prestigious awards there is for music, you know?… Is just like, that, to me, is the biggest victory. Is just a good look for reggae music out of Jamaica overall, and especially ‘cause most of us nominated are young people,” Keznamdi told the Observer.

The artiste, who is presently in California, said he was getting his children ready for school, when the nominations were announced last Friday.

“[M]y family was gathered together right here at home. By the time we waited to hear the reggae category it got late and we couldn’t even send them to school. But, yeah, when we put it up on the TV, and we were seeing it live, my mother heard my name and she hug me up and start cry. I neva think mi would a get emotional, but mi nah tell nuh lie, it was a likkle overwhelming. Is a win for our family, you know?” said Keznamdi.

Blxxd & Fyah, released via Keznamdi Music Group on August 22, has 13 tracks. The album carries a strong message rooted in struggle, resilience, and transformation, blending roots reggae with modern influences.

There are some bright moments, including the collaborative efforts Forever Grateful (featuring Masicka), Bun Di Ganja (roots version) featuring Mavado and Marlon Asher, and I Am featuring his sister, singer Kelissa.

Other worthy tracks include Colonial Bondage, Identity Crisis, Pressure, and Natty Dread Locks.

“This album, this is one of dem albums, if anyone listen to it, you can definitely hear the time that we put in the music. It wasn’t just a hurry-come-up ting or rhythm dat wi jus voice over. No, this is music made over a time, with songs that come through certain real experience. Some quicker than others, but wi travel all round the world, recorded with some of the most renowned musicians, but most importantly, it was recorded very organically,” he shared.

The artist was free flowing with praise for the team members with whom her worked.

“And one of the main, main producers that we worked with is called Off Grid. I have to big him up and give him a lot of the credit for how the album turned out. He contributed in every single way, every song, in his way, an’ den also with legendary producers like ‘Major Seven’, then also Vas Productions, and ‘Bizzness Boi’, and also myself, yuh know.”

Asked what he believes the nomination can do for his career, Keznamdi said: “Well, naturally, this is the most prestigious award within the music fraternity. So, I think a lot of people who never heard or knew about Keznamdi, dem probably a go check mi as a kinda surprise wonder boy, because, like I seh, is such a grass roots journey we tek yuh know. Is not like I’m on nuh big label, I’m not big, like, most these other nominees working with independent record labels. These companies spend a lot of money in reggae yearly, yuh know. Is jus’ likkle we a do all the different levels…. So for people who are watching the Grammys, this will mek dem ask, who is this Kez and then dem will be able to go back to the work and see what what we been putting out and contributing to. So definitely this is a big big ting for we ‘cause it ago open up a lot of new ears and eyes. But, at the end of the day, it not really gonna change the work that has to be done… But we know that we open up to a wider audience, and that’s always the goal when we put out these works — to get the music and the culture and reggae and Rastafari recognised on a global level.”

The 68 Grammy Awards will be held on February 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Heart & Soul by Vybz Kartel, Treasure Self Love by Lila Ike, From Within by Mortimer, and No Place Like Home by Jesse Royal are the other nominees in the Best Reggae Album category.

Keznamdi