Chronixx, Etana, Gramps Morgan Support SOJA’s Reggae Grammy Win
Reggae stars Chronixx, Etana, and Gramps Morgan have declared their support and offered their congratulations to Virginia-based Reggae band SOJA on their 2022 Grammy win for the Best Reggae Album.
Short for Soldiers of Jah Army, the American band’s Beauty In The Silence album upstaged projects from Jamaican artists Spice, Jesse Royal, Sean Paul, Gramps Morgan, and Etana, to win the Reggae Award at the 64th Grammy Awards on Sunday. However, their win has sparked outrage and disappointment among several Jamaican artists and many Jamaican Reggae and Dancehall fans.
In an Instagram story post on Monday, the 29-year-old Skankin’ Sweet singer said that SOJA’s eight members are honorable and should be shown respect.
“Soja been one of the best bands in America for years. Overall one of the top reggae bands in the world for years. So you shouldn’t have to be a fan to show respect,” he began. “Don’t mention me on some post trying to discredit honorable people who doing what they love. Dem man ya been blessing us and sharing their platforms for with us for years … consistently. Bring nuff a wi on the road before we got opportunities open for any of the native Jamaican music legends. Wah wrong wid some men?” the singer continued.
Chronixx, whose Grammy-nominated Chronology album lost to Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Stony Hill in 2016, further saluted the band and several other non-Jamaican Reggae artists and groups. “Big up Jacob and the crew! @sojagram,” as well as other international Reggae artists and bands who are doing it large for the music culture,” he said.
“Big up @rebelutionmusic @stickfiguremusic @dirtyheads @thegreen8o8 @theexpanders @hiriemusic @jboogmusic @realcolliebuddz big up to the god @alborosieofficial who fi get 10000 more awards. The god gentleman…all my global roots music massive. They can’t stop the consciousness,” he added.
Etana
One of this year’s Reggae Album Grammy nominees Etana has bowed gracefully and showed her support of the band’s win. Etana was among the first to toast SOJA, “Congratulations 🎉,” she said in an Instagram post. SOJA also responded, “Thank you @etanastrongone !!! It was such an honor to be nominated alongside you! Hope we get to do more shows together in the future! Much love and respect!”
“I’m always happy to see others win,” she later told the Jamaica Gleaner. She added that it remains an honour to have her work considered for the prestigious award, “and to be nominated is always exciting”.
Etana was nominated this year for her album, Pamoja. At the 61st Awards in 2018, she was nominated for her album, Reggae Forever.
Since Sunday’s announcement, other Jamaican musicians including Shenseea, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and popular producer Foota Hype have also publicly expressed their disapproval at SOJA’s win.
However, Etana is instead focusing her attention to the active support, or lack thereof that Jamaicans, including disc jockeys, actually show to Reggae singles and albums.
“Jamaicans, show support! Buy the albums! Stream the music! Show the world you from Jamaica love your own culture and support your own. Radio DJs play the good reggae music all the way to the end not the pull up version. Treat the music with love,” she emphasized in a post.
Gramps Morgan
Gramps Morgan thought SOJA’s win was a well-deserved one. “Congratulations to some hard working brother @sojagram it’s Y’all time enjoy your family and let’s hit the Road!!” he mentioned in one post.
In another post, he re-shared a clip of SOJA’s Grammy post-win interview.
“My bredrens SOJA put in the work congratulations @sojagram on your 3rd Grammy Nomination and 1st Win @bumbleblee @elliottlharrington @recordingacademy,” Morgan wrote.
Shaggy
According to Recording Academy rules, membership is open to creative or technical music professionals, such as singers, composers, producers, art directors, and engineers. Voting members must have been either producers, performers, or engineers on six or more tracks of a commercially released album or 12 or more digital tracks, a requirement that most of Jamaica’s music professionals of all ages, easily meet. Prospective members are also required to provide two recommendations from their peers and must pay a $100 membership fee yearly.
Dancehall superstar Shaggy has previously encouraged members of the local music fraternity to get involved in the voting process, to counteract allegedly unfair treatment from the Academy.
The Grammy award-winning entertainer, who was also at Sunday’s Las Vegas awards show had a mouthful to say on his social media, particularly to Spice, having played an integral role in the production of her debut album. “What an experience! I’ve been to many of these awards, some I’ve won, some I’ve left without a win,” he wrote on Monday.
Mr. Boombastic also hailed Spice for her dedication to perfecting the album, and her outstanding work ethic that has gotten her many accolades.
“@spiceofficial you were and are a constant professional, I’m so proud of you, the journey you have traveled and the artist you are becoming, you are indeed the hardest working artist I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” the Angel singer wrote.
“Many may not know that you were in Vegas from Thursday filming Love and Hip Hop, tho it was a growling shoot every day, even I was like wait!!!….. “A no sleep team this” you still came out to the red carpet making a statement!!! ….every media house wanted a chance to talk to you, even those who weren’t too familiar with you, wanted to know who was this girl on the red carpet that every one is talking about.”
“You didn’t leave with the Grammy, but you certainly made your mark and everyone is looking forward to seeing you back here again. #guhdungdeh is heating up India, UAE and the Turkish charts .. so it’s just the beginning .. spice global!!!”
Shaggy, along with Sean Paul collaborated on her track Go Down Deh, which formed part of the set. The veteran Dancehall artist encouraged her to remain hopeful moving forward, and also congratulated SOJA on their win.
“Keep ya chin up kid … the Ranch team is here in full support and can’t wait to drop these gems you got in store.”
“Big up to @duttypaul for the support, great party on Saturday night , great unity within the genre, big up all who were in attendance and to all the nominees who represented the culture 🇯🇲, congratulations to @sojagram one love let’s keep our genre alive!!”