Radio and podcast host Charlamagne Tha God has come out in support of hardcore dancehall artist Spice whose debut album 10 was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 64th Annual Grammy awards. The award was given to Virginia based reggae band SOJA.
“If you ask me who should win that category, I would say Spice, you know why? Cause I like Spice, I haven’t heard the music though,” said the shock jock on his weekly Brilliant Idiots podcast.
He later substantiated,”I have heard Spice’s records.”
“By the way I have never heard this white group but I don’t care, it’s the Grammys,” Charlamagne told his fellow co-hosts Andrew Schultz and Wax 100.
The Comedy Central TV host, observing the social media backlash by black twitter and Jamaican twitter as a result of the surprise reggae Grammy award last Sunday, said no one should allow the Grammys to get them upset. “Why do y’all allow the Grammys to make y’all mad about things.”
“The Grammys has never historically gotten it right,” he reflected.
The Breakfast Club co-host admitted the lack of mainstream attention to reggae at the Grammys and said, “We wouldn’t have noticed that category (reggae) if people hadn’t got mad about it on social media.”
“And if Spice woulda won, which she probably should have we wouldn’t even that much conversation around her winning the way we do around these white guys winning, we have to stop doing that. Why do we continuously do that,” he assessed.
“The Grammys is not ours,” he concluded.
Spice was nominated for the Grammy award in the reggae category alongside Jamaican artists Jesse Royal, Sean Paul, Gramps Morgan, and Etana. SOJA is the second non-Jamaican reggae band to win the award.
Immediately following their win the band took to social media to credit Jamaican reggae pioneers as they celebrated their Grammy win. The group posted on their instagram:
“I can remember in the days we used to watch Buju Banton, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh.”
Their US based reggae group further stated,
“Pick up a six-string and just tell me where to go
If you could tell me then about now, I would never know
And now the tour bus is pulling up to every city
And all my old friends are still the ones who playing with me
And every single song that I sing, I’m still smiling
Remember that the journey is all about the timing…” #SOJA #Grammys2022 #BeautyInTheSilence @recordingacademy”
The reggae industry and fans alike have responded with mixed reactions with backlash coming from artists like Bounty Killer, Shenseea and artist manager Julian Jones Griffiths.
Bounty Killer who won a grammy for Hey Baby with white rock group No Doubt posted a video of SOJA collecting their prize with the caption;
F*CK DI GRAMMY’S #adgaf”.
She also posted “Why unu dweet???” on The Shade Room where an image of SOJA was shared. King Of the dancehall Beenie Man commented: “Smh.”
“My perspective – out of respect/homage for the music and culture that inspired and pays them well, when nominated why not say we are truly honored by the nod but please remove us from consideration for the Grammy and let it go to an Artist from Jamaica.”
“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 was nominated for his debut album Chronology but lost to Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Stony Hill in 2016.
Spice posted, “Besties don’t cry we’ve come along way. Remember I came from Homeless to this day so I’m really still very humbled and grateful, I see all your support and disappointments but you know we never give up, we back at it again tomorrow I love you all so much, watch little Gracie pan Grammy red Carpet.”
Although she didn’t win the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award, Spice was featured on several best dressed lists, including Rollings Stones and Yahoo!
On September 24, 2021, SOJA unveiled their seventh studio album, “Beauty In Silence”. Portions of the album were captured at Inner Circle’s renowned Circle House Studios in Miami, Florida, helmed by Niko Marzouca and Rob Marks. Additionally, recording sessions took place at Sterling Sound in New Jersey and Dave Matthews’ Haunted Hollow Studio in Charlottesville, Virginia. The album boasts collaborations with esteemed guest artists such as Collie Buddz, Dirty Heads, J Boog, Nanpa Basico, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and UB40.
