Vybz Kartel Earns Second Grammy Nod; Keznamdi, Lila Iké & Mortimer Score First

Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel earns his second Grammy nod with Heart & Soul, alongside Jesse Royal. Keznamdi’s Blxxd & Fyah, Lila Iké’s debut Treasure Self Love, and a surprise entry from Mortimer with From Within round out the final five.

The Recording Academy on Friday announced the five nominees for Best Reggae Album of the Year, with the winner set to be revealed at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel earns his second consecutive nomination, following last year’s recognition for Party With Me. He returns to the category with his Heart & Soul EP, produced by Greedy Lion Music in collaboration with Vybz Kartel Music.

Keznamdi also makes the shortlist with his critically acclaimed album Blxxd & Fyah, which has positioned him among the frontrunners for the prestigious award.

Reggae singer Jesse Royal earns his second nomination, having first been recognized in 2022 for his sophomore album Royal. He secures another nod this year with his recently released 10-track project No Place Like Home.

Reggae princess Lila Iké celebrates her first Grammy nomination with her debut full-length album Treasure Self Love, released in August.

Rounding out the list is Mortimer, a surprise finalist who earns his first Grammy nomination with his soul-rich project From Within.

Projects like Mojo Morgan’s solo effort Jamaica Love, along with Mr. Vegas’ album Ghetto Reggae, both of which were widely predicted to receive nominations, were ultimately left out of the final cut.

According to the Academy, the final five nominees were selected from 75 submissions initially entered for consideration.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on February 1, marking the final year the ceremony will be hosted at the venue. The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.