Spice Teary-Eyed But Jubilant After Reggae Grammy Nomination For “10”
In the aftermath of her 10 album’s nomination for the Best Reggae Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, Dancehall diva Spice has hailed her success as the vanquishing of her detractors. In an Instagram Live following the nominations, which were announced today, a jubilant but often teary-eyed Spice pointed out that she had triumphed over her denigrators.
“Yes besties, we did it!” she screamed excitedly, as she sang lines to her album’s lead-out track S.P.I.C.E.
“Grammy-nominated. Don’t worry if mi hair waa comb. Talk to mi proper…Grammy-nominated baby!” she said. “We did it. Besties, we did what they said we couldn’t do. We did what they said was impossible. Grammy-nominated. Oh my god…Mama naffi put on a pot a dumpling fi me today,” she added, pointing out how she would add to the celebrations.
“I said this last year 2020 and I’m a say it again, when man seh no, God seh yes…What I did today, is not nuttn normal. You know why? Cause they said, it would never happen. Because they said it was impossible. I am just the living testimony to you guys out there, that anything is possible. Besties I love you,” she said.
She went on to express her love and appreciation for the album’s executive producer Shaggy, whom she described as her “hero”.
“Even though whole heap a people fight mi, and even though whole heap a people bring mi down, there are so many people out there who love me, who inspire me, who believed in me, and today I’m Grammy-nominated.”
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She then played her song Frenz from the album, and explained how 10 came to be submitted, just one day before the submissions deadline.
“I know I’ve had a lot of friends out there who try fi stop mi an who try fi bring mi down,” she said before introducing Dr. Meda whom she said submitted the album for consideration for nomination, during her trip to the African continent earlier this year.
“She is a member of the Grammy board and she was saying tomorrow is the deadline. I have to submit you… So mi seh ‘cho’ and shi seh ‘no. I’m going to put in een; you never know what can happen,” Spice said.
Spice explained that she had not been contemplating submitting her album as she thought that the odds would be against her copping a nomination, as historically, she was often a victim of bias. However, she said her friend diligently completed the application form which took her about five hours.
“She believed in me from day one. She believed in me even when I was probably listening to society out there that a day like this wouldn’t be possible. Likkle-likkle Gracie,” she said.
“Remember this was not like my fans had the opportunity to vote… Because my fans wasn’t in it, I felt like people would be biased against mi. And I felt that way cause dem always bias gainst mi,” she said as she shed some more tears.
“Because people always fight me so hard, I felt like it was impossible. Yeah, because mi get Suh much fight, inna Dancehall, because di fight always just a come from every angle, like people just get up every day and seh ‘meck mi figure out how mi can tear dung Spice’. So I felt like it was impossible. These tears are just joy. This is just me happy; happy with you guys. And I want to tell you thank you, that I’m really grateful…I am so happy and I’m grateful.”
She also said that at this point, whether or not she won the award, she was already a champion by virtue of her nomination.
“And let me say this: it’s not the matter if I win next year. Even if I don’t win next year, today I’m already a winner, because I did what they said was impossible.”
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Her Live was interrupted by poor audio, so she took to typing congratulations to her fellow nominees. She also hailed VP Records, Michelle, Randy Chin, Chris Chin, Neil Diamond, Richard Lue and others.
During the IG Live, congratulations came in from ZJ Sparks, former Miss Universe Jamaica Davina Bennett, and Jada Kingdom.
Her mentor Shaggy, shared the album cover for 10 and congratulated Spice and the other nominees.
“CONGRATULATIONS!!! To @spiceofficial on her Grammy nomination for the album 10!! Special thanx to the entire team.: @ranchent @vprecords @cherrytreerec @tracymbufferd @shanehoosong @costiofficial @olafblackwood @assailant_alliance @tonycdkelly @tessvibe @duttypaul and all who made it possible ..congratulations to all the other nominees in the reggae/ dancehall category .. see u all at the grammys!” Shaggy wrote.
Singjay Ce’cile, who is a voting member at the Grammys, shared the nominations on her IG page and hailed the St. Catherine High School old girl for her persistence.
‘This blend of nominees is super PERFECT. BIG UP MY FRIENDS @grampsmorgan and @duttypaul. Big up @etanastrongone @jesseroyal1 and @sojalive. BIG UP @spiceofficial. If u know dancehall and support it with your heart soul and pocket and understand the importance of female dancehall and the history of the lack thereof .. you know what this represents,” Ce’cile wrote.
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“Jamaica: Take the moment to congratulate Spice. Regardless of anything if she isn’t a reflection of persistence, hardwork, believing in herself and never giving up then I don’t know what is. #fortheculture… @recordingacademy Got it right!!!!!!, Ce’cile added.
Her longtime friend Cham and Shaniel Muir also congratulated Spice.
Popcaan also sent his congratulations to Spice, as he did to Jesse Royal.
“Congrats muma dat is it!!!” the Numbers Don’t Lie artist wrote.
The other nominees for Best Reggae Album are: Etana (Pamoja), Sean Paul (Live N Livin), Jesse Royal (Royal), Gramps Morgan (Positive Vibration), and Sojo (Beauty in the Silence). The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will take place at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Monday, January 31, 2022.