Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr., aka Snoop Lion, is among the nominees for next February Reggae Grammy Awards, The Recording Academy revealed Friday night, Dec. 6th.
The artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg, who released his first reggae album, Reincarnated, this year, made the nominations list along with veterans – Beres Hammond for ‘One Love, One Life,’ Ziggy Marley’s ‘Ziggy Marley in Concert,’ Sizzla’s ‘The Messiah,’ and Sly and Robbie and The Jam Masters’ ‘Reggae Connection.’
To even call what Broadus, 40, has released “reggae” seems like an insult to institutional experts like Hammond, who has been singing reggae music since the 1970s, but Snoop has dominated the Billboard Reggae Charts since he released his album on April 23rd. Unlike many of the other so called veterans!
He’s been at the number one spot for 32 weeks, including this week and only once did he slip to number two. In fact, apart from Snoop, the charts has been mostly dominated by non-Jamaican singers, including Jewish singer Matisyahu, Hawaii-based group The Green and Bermuda singer, Mishka.
Undoubtedly, that may have helped Snoop secure the nomination since to be nominated for the annual GRAMMY Awards, albums must be released between Oct. 1, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2013 and recordings must be in general distribution in the United States, that is, sales by label to a branch or recognized independent distributor, via the Internet, or mail order/retail sales for a nationally marketed product.
The reactions were swift and not all positive. Dwayne, writing on the Jamaica Observer site as it announced the awards noted: “Not sure how they could put Snoop on the list to get a Grammy for reggae. Its not like he was doing reggae songs for a long period of time like the other entertainers on the list. (But) I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave it to him.”
While Tyrone Osborne added: “No disrespect to Snoop Lion, but it would be funny if someone who hardly sings Reggae wins a Grammy for ”Best Reggae Album,” would it not?”
The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on January 26, 2014, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, also securing nominations on Friday night, were Rihanna with two nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album, while ‘One Love/People Get Ready,’ the Photek Remix of Bob Marley And The Wailers, was also nominated under the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category.
FULL GRAMMY NOMINATIONS 2014
