When he got to the podium at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California, to accept the Grammy award for Best Reggae Album (Blxxd and Fyah), during the pre-telecast event of the 68th Grammys on Sunday, reggae artiste Keznamdi could hardly contain his emotions.

Visibly excited and overwhelmed, the singer accepted the award and went straight into his acceptance speech.

“Yeah, reggae music has always been a music weh defend truths and rights and African liberation and black man redemption, yuh naw mean?” said Keznamdi while heaping praises on his family, members of his team, and supporters.

“Yow, we a represent Jamaican culture, dancehall and reggae. Jah Rastafari!” Keznamdi said before exiting the stage.

Blxxd and Fyah was named winner in a keenly contested category, which also featured the likes of Vybz Kartel’s Heart and Soul, Lila Ike’s Treasure Self Love, Mortimer’s From Within, and Jesse Royal’s No Place Like Home.

This was Vybz Kartel’s second nomination; so too Jesse Royal; and the first for Mortimer, Keznamdi, and Lila Ike.

Released last August, Blxxd and Fyah features 13 tracks.

In a previous interview with the Jamaica Observer, Keznamdi shared what the Grammy nomination signified.

“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.

Blxxd & Fyah, released via Keznamdi Music Group 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 artiste was free flowing with praise for the team members with whom he 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,” he said.

LOS ANGELES, California — Fellow nominee Lila Iké performs onstage during the 68th Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony at Peacock Theater on February 1, 2026. (Photo: AFP)