Reggae band SOJA makes history as the second non-Jamaican reggae band to win best Reggae album for Beauty in the Silence at the 2022 Grammy Awards. SOJA which means Soldiers of Jah Army is an American Oscar-nominated reggae band based in Arlington, Morocco. Formed in 1997, their music is currently produced under ATO Records. Their third full-length album Born in Babylon peaked at #11 on the Top Heatseekers chart, while their 2012 album Strength to Survive topped the Billboard Reggae Album Chart. The last non-Jamaican reggae band to win the award was Steele Pulse in 1987 with Babylon the Bandit.
Steel Pulse, were the first reggae band to appear on the Tonight television show.
SOJA edged out Jamaican reggae artists Spice, Etana, Jesse Royal, Gramps Morgan, and international recording superstar Sean Paul.
The group thanked the island of Jamaica for the inspiration as they collected the award.
“To the founding fathers of Reggae and the island of Jamaica, you’ve inspired us all”
Social media reaction to the win with much surprise and disappointment with one person saying, “The decision to award SOJA is an affront to the sensibilities of the Jamaican people #GRAMMYs
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“Another saying, “How SOJA win reggae Grammy award HOWWWWW PEOPLE HOWWWWWW smh Grammys ain’t for us no way.”
SOJA released their seventh studio album, Beauty In Silence on September 24, 2021. Parts of the album were recorded at 1994 Reggae Grammy winners Inner Circle‘s legendary Circle House Studios in Miami, Florida by Niko Marzouca and Rob Marks. The album’s featured artist include: Collie Buddz, Dirty Heads, J Boog, Nanpa Basico, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and UB40.
It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Reggae Albums charts and No. 34 on Billboard’s Current Albums Sales chart, and No. 52 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. Billboard describes the album as, “Contemporary reggae with a forthright social conscience.”
In December 2021, Beauty In The Silence was nominated for the fans-choice “2021 Album of the Year” award by Surf Roots TV & Radio.
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