The Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, established in 1985 (As Best Reggae Recording), has served as a benchmark for excellence in reggae. Here’s a look at some of the highest-selling reggae albums that earned Grammy recognition along with their commercial success in the U.S. according to Billboard Sales Tracker Luminate.
“Love Is My Religion” (2006) by Ziggy Marley
Album Sales: 352,000 (Pure Album Sales: 183K; Streams: 157.3M)
Ziggy Marley’s second solo album, Love Is My Religion, was released on July 2, 2006, under Tuff Gong Worldwide, the label founded by his legendary father, Bob Marley. The album blends reggae-pop melodies with thought-provoking themes, continuing the sonic direction established in his 2003 debut solo effort, Dragonfly. Released after Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers disbanded in 2000, this project solidified his solo career. It won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in 2007, further cementing Ziggy’s status as one of reggae’s premier torchbearers.
“Art and Life” (2000) by Beenie Man
Album Sales: 477,000 (Pure Album Sales: 400K; Streams: 96.2M)
Beenie Man’s Grammy-winning album Art and Life, released by Virgin Records in 2000, has achieved impressive sales of 477,000 units in the U.S., including 400,000 pure copies and 96.2 million on-demand streams. With just 23,000 more units, Art and Life would earn Beenie Man his first Gold album certification in the U.S.
The success of Art and Life was propelled by a series of reggae fusion hits, including the Rockwilder-produced “Love Me Now” featuring Wyclef Jean and the fan-favorite “Girls Dem Sugar” featuring Mya. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, peaked at No. 18 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and reached No. 68 on the Billboard 200 chart. Its blend of infectious rhythms and cross-genre collaborations made it a milestone in Beenie Man’s illustrious career.
“One Bright Day” (1990) by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
Album Sales: 500,000 (Pure Album Sales: 9K | Streams: 1.6M)
This is Ziggy Marley’s second album to win a Grammy, becoming the first reggae act to win back-to-back wins.
“As Raw as Ever” (1992) by Shabba Ranks
Sales: 679K and 522K (Streams: 87.1M)
Shabba Ranks dominated with consecutive Grammy wins. As Raw as Ever reached #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
“X-tra Naked” (1993) by Shabba Ranks
Sales: 522K (52 million streams)
X-tra Naked features the Gold-selling hit “Slow and Sexy” with Johnny Gill and made Shabba the second act to have back to back wins.
“Conscious Party” (1989) by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
Album Sales: 1 Million (Pure Album Sales: 100K | Streams: 2.5M)
This album was Ziggy’s first win and featured hits like “Tumblin’ Down” and “Tomorrow People.”
“Bad Boys” (1994) by Inner Circle
Album Sales: 1.1 Million (Pure Album Sales: 900K | Streams: 362.6M)
The album, with hits like “Sweat (A La La La La Long)” and “Bad Boys,” brought reggae to mainstream audiences worldwide.
“Welcome to Jamrock” (2005) by Damian Marley
Album Sales: 1.2M (Pure Album Sales: 900K; Streams: 366.3M)
Damian Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock marked a monumental moment in his career, cementing his status as a global reggae icon. Released on September 12, 2005, just in time for the Grammy nominations cutoff, the album became a cultural phenomenon. It earned Damian two Grammy Awards at the 2006 ceremony: Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the title track, Welcome to Jamrock.
This milestone made Damian the first and only reggae artist to win two Grammys in a single night. The album’s raw energy and potent social commentary resonated across genres, solidifying its place as a modern reggae classic.
“Boombastic” (1995) by Shaggy
Album Sales: 1.2 Million (Pure Album Sales: 1M | Streams: 201.4M)
Shaggy became a global icon with Boombastic. The album’s title track, featured in a Levi’s commercial, propelled its success.
“Dutty Rock” (2002) by Sean Paul
Album Sales: 3.5 Million (Pure Album Sales: 2.8M | Streams: 824.2M)
Sean Paul reintroduced dancehall to the world with hits like “Get Busy” and “Baby Boy.” The Grammy-winning album became a cultural phenomenon, achieving massive commercial success.
You may read the full list here.
